JUST fewer than 200 student-athletes made their way to the L.P. Untalan Middle School campus in Tiyan to take part in the final meet of the Interscholastic Middle School Cross Country League.
In the girls' division, the final 1.5 miles of the season was as exciting as the previous four weeks of competition. Entering their final meet, the Agueda Lady Pirates held on to an unblemished 6-0 record and were poised to add another win to their record as they were scheduled to take on the VSAB Lady Roadrunners. However, because the Lady Roadrunners didn’t have a team, all Agueda needed was for five runners to finish the race.
Despite not taking on an opponent, the Lady Pirates attacked the course giving everything they got and laying everything out in their final race.
Dominating all season long, the Lady Pirates duo of Johnecia Mendiola and Janiko Gogue followed suit with their team record as they crossed the finish line in one-two fashion. Mendiola blazed through the course in 8:36, while Gogue cruised past the finish line two seconds later.
The Lady Pirates continued to make their presence felt among the field of runners. Finishing fifth overall was Adrianna Dupriest who recorded an official time of 9:02. Agueda officially sealed a perfect season when Samantha Quinata and Jaelene Manibusan became the fourth and fifth runners respectively to complete the race. Quinata and Manibusan posted times of 9:46 and 9:53, respectively.
Hawks soar over Knights
The always tough F.B. Leon Guerrero Lady Hawks cruised past the Lady Knights 18-43. With their team size large in numbers, the Hawks were first to put points on the board when a trio of runners crossed the finish line. Adhara Balansan (8:46), Ha’ani Igcasenza (9:09), and Luvi Ruemau (9:20) cruised through the Untalan campus with ease.
The Lady Knights managed to put a temporary stop to the bleeding when Maygann Dela Paz recorded a time of 9:38.
However, the Hawks’ Jaenaynn Cruz came in nine seconds behind Dela Paz to put any hopes of the Lady Knights making a move to rest.
Oceanview’s Frezzia Edubalad was the second Lady Knight to come in and did so in 9:58. Before the Lady Knights pushed their final three runners across, FBLG continued to pour out the punishment as a slew of runners completed the race.
Oceanview’s Aubriaunne Esplana, Edrianne Lorenzo and Kari Meno finished third through fifth respectively for their team.
Other results
Inarajan Lady Warriors defeated L.P. Untalan Wildcats, 20-37; Astumbo Lady Dragons defeated JLGR Lady Voyagers, 19-40.
Click here to view the top 20 finishers of the Interscholastic Middle School Cross Country League.
