Reese Pena of Lubbock High made sure that the Girls Division I race at the Odessa XC Invitational was over almost before it started.
Pena, a sophomore, immediately sprinted out of the mass start and opened a lead of more than 30 yards before the race was 30 seconds old.
Just about 19 minutes later, she cruised across the finish line in dominating fashion to capture the crown.
Pena stopped the clock in 19:19.1 seconds, with Lubbock Coronado’s Zanashia Harris finishing second in 20:05.2.
Bailey Springer of Lubbock Monterey was third in 20:47.5.
Permian’s Briannah Garcia finished 11th in 21:52.1 to pace the Lady Panthers, while Odessa High’s Raquel Martinez was 18th in 22:29.7 to lead the Lady Bronchos.
San Angelo Central won the team crown with 61 points, with Midland Legacy second at 74 and Lubbock High finishing third with 92 points.
Lubbock Monterey was fourth with 93 points, while Lubbock Coronado rounded out the top five with 104 points.
Odessa High and Permian tied with 139 points, with the Lady Bronchos taking sixth courtesy of their sixth runner finishing higher than the Lady Panthers’ athlete.
Lady Bronchos coach Ricky Santiago was disappointed with his team’s effort.
“They didn’t do what I expected them to do,” Santiago said. “Last night we had a little coaches bonding talked about what places the girls would be in and what places the boys would be in and really thought they would be in the top three.
“If I was going to be in the top three, then I knew that I had a chance of getting out of district next week. We just had a meeting, team meeting, and I asked ‘Did you guys run your best?’ and not one hand went up except for my freshman; she’s really good and she gave it her all and I could tell.”
That freshman was Alyana Gonzales, who finished 26th in 23.18.7, the second fastest for Odessa High on the day.
The District 2-6A Championships will be held over the same course on Oct. 13.
It was a bit of the same script for the Permian squad, which put no seniors on the course.
The Lady Panthers are young with four sophomores and two juniors, but head coach Jasmin Torres was still hoping for more out of her group.
“It was all right but I think our girls could have run a little bit harder but it’s a nice littler opener for us before district next week,” she said. “It’s just getting out there and running as hard as you can; you can’t expect anything more or anything less.
“The one thing we have to stamp in our kid’s mind is that you run your pace, your race, because you do anything about what anyone is doing. If you’re running what you’re supposed to be running, then you’re good.”
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ODESSA XC INVITATIONAL
Thursday, UTPB Park
GIRLS (3 miles)
Team standings
1. San Angelo Central, 61; 2. Midland Legacy, 74; 3. Lubbock High, 92; 4. Lubbock Monterey 93; 5. Lubbock Coronado, 104; 6. Odessa High, 139; 7. Permian, 139; 8. Lubbock-Cooper, 207; 9. Midland High, 239.
Top 10 Individuals
1. Reese Pena, Lubbock High, 19 minutes, 19.1 seconds; 2. Zanashia Harris, Lubbock Coronado, 20:05.2; 3. Bailey Springer, Lubbock Monterey, 20:47.5; 4. Emma George, San Angelo Central, 20:54.5; 5. Sydney Smothers, Lubbock Monterey, 21:14.8; 6. Naomi Bageant, San Angelo Central, 21:19.2; 7. Tayley Bullen, Lubbock–Cooper, 21:21.2; 8. Roslyn Rodriguez, Lubbock Monterey, 21:25.1; 9. Mia Regalado, Midland Legacy, 21:28.4; 10. Faith Zint, Lubbock Coronado, 21:46.6.
Other Area Runners
Odessa High: 18. Raquel Martinez, 22:29.7; 26. Alyana Gonzales, 23:18.7; 28. Victoria Rivera, 23:24.7; 33. Amada Gonzales, 23:44.6; 34. Nitzel Ramirez, 23:44.6. 42. ANgie Antillon, 24:18.7; 47. Alexia Angel Lopez, 25:05.4; Jolexi Galindo, 25.21.9; Carmen Cruz, 26:14.0.
Permian: 11. Briannah Garcia, 21:52.1; 19. Maranda Chavez, 22:30.2; 29. Favela Gabriella, 23:26.3; 37. Laila Alvarado, 24.01.7; 43. Janelle Saravia, 24:20.0; 52. Rochely Banuelos-Sifuentes, 25.42.7.
Midland Legacy: 12. Isabella Reyna, 22:04.7; 13. Rocio Almanza, 22:04.7; 17. Kyndall Jones, 22:27.9; 23. Nicole Patel, 23:01.7; 49. Saida Deleon, 25:12.0.
Midland High: 38. Mia Arreola, 24:02.6; 45. Celine Maldanado, 24.34.0; 46. Laney Copeland, 24:37.9; 54. Kassandra Miller, 26.24.9; 56. Mariana Sanchez Sanchez, 26.49.7; 60. Victoria Reyes, 28.51.1.
