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DESPITE the continuous rain showers that Mother Nature continued to provide, hundreds of the island’s public school student-athletes headed south to Inarajan Middle School yesterday afternoon to participate in an Interscholastic Middle School Cross Country League meet.

Entering their fourth week of competition, runners were ready to put forth nothing but their best. However, the athletes were greeted with a very tough and challenging 1.5 mile course that went through the southern school’s campus.

“The race that we ran today was very challenging, I think the rain throughout the week and yesterday made things a bit tougher,” said Inarajan Lady Warriors’ Isanna Taijeron. “Even with the conditions it was still very fun.”

With a little less than 100 females running, the tough conditions kept most guessing if results would differ from previous weeks. However, despite having to battle through deep mud and standing water, the Agueda Johnston Lady Pirates duo of Johnecia Mendiola and Janiko Gogue worked their way to a one-two finish. Clinching her fourth straight victory this season, Mendiola crossed the finish line in 12:33. Gogue was not too far behind as she came in four seconds behind her teammate, but had to fend off a very determined JLGR Abrianni Chargualaf who managed to claim stake to third place after finishing in 12:38.

The Pirates weren’t the only team that had a strong duo of runners in the race as JLGR’s Alandra Mesa finished behind Chargualaf in 13:29. Both Mesa and Chargualaf prevented a one, two, three finish for Agueda as the Pirates’ Adrianna Dupriest clinched the fifth spot after recording an official time of 13:36. Things got a bit more interesting as the battle between sixth and eighth place came down to five seconds. Oceanview’s Frezzia Edubalad beat out Astumbo’s Rozie Larcia and JLGR’s Elizabeth Quintanilla to finish in sixth. Larcia and Quintanilla followed after with times of 13:46 and 13:49, respectively. Rounding out the top 10 slots for the females were FBLG’s Luvi Ruemau and Ha’ani Igcasenza. The two Lady Hawks completed the course in 14:04 and 14:15.

“It was a very tough course to run in, especially with the type of weather conditions we’ve been having all week to include yesterday,” said Inarajan Athletic Director Steve Paulino. “All athletes were presented with a very mental and physical challenge throughout the race. In the end, I believe all the student-athletes had fun.”

Interscholastic Middle School Cross Country action resumes next week Thursday with several teams going head-to-head in their final meet of the season.

Head-to-Head Results (Girls)

• Agueda Pirates defeated Untalan Wildcats, 17-45.
• JLGR Voyagers defeated Oceanview Knights, 20-35.
• FBLG Hawks defeated Astumbo Dragons, 22-36.
• FBLG Hawks defeated Inarajan Warriors, 20-37.