ELKHART – The Palestine Wildcats and Ladycats Cross Country teams had a dominant day at the Elkhart Invitational Wednesday, with both the boys and girls claiming victory in all three divisions; varsity, junior varsity and junior high. Palestine would also see three runners, Kevin Quincin, Dylan Hernandez and Anayi Ledesma, take home individual wins.
Scoring for the varsity boys was led by Quincin, who would post a time of 17:56 en route to his first place finish. Rolando Gallegos, Jalbert Sandoval, Baltasar Quevedo and Nathan Gonzales would cross the finish line in succession for the Wildcats, placing fourth through seventh respectively. This is the varsity’s fifth team win in six events in 2023.
The junior varsity boys would claim a perfect score on the day, taking the top five spots in their race. Hernandez would post a time of 21:24 in his win. He would be followed, in order, by Manny Campa, 21:49, Devine Amoke, 22:03, Ismael Gonzalez, 22:13, and Sebastian DeSantiago, 23:20.
Izayiah Lara would finish with a team high third place for the junior high boys in their win. Other scoring runners include Emiliano Najera, Jaylon Harris, Alonzo Escareno and Eduardo Farias.
Cali Scarbrough, with a time of 13:32 in the approximately two mile race, would take the silver medal for the event, helping to propel the Ladycats to the winners circle. Other scoring runners for the Ladycats included Yarizta Rodriguez, seventh, Ana Ibarra, eighth, Yukari Sanchez, 11th, with Andrea Grimaldo finishing 16th.
The final individual winner for Palestine, Ledesma, would post a time of 15:24. She would be followed by seven more Ladycats, as Palestine would claim the top eight spots in the girls junior varsity race. The top eight spots, in order, were Ledesma, Emily Marroquin, Jessica Fabian, Cherish Vernado, Emerith Hernandez, Berenice Medrano, Jayleigh Arrianga and Karla Rocha.
Isabella Hernandez would finish in fifth place in the junior high division, leading her Ladycats to yet another victory in the meet. Hernandez was followed by Kayla Martinez, 11th, Kaydence Savage, 16th, Nazolia Adams, 21st, Yvanna Ledesma, 23rd, Isabelle Chavez, 24th and Kundal Pickard, 27th.
