Escalon’s cross country team went to the Mother Lode League meet in Angels Camp this week and came away with some topnotch times.

“This is their league meet. For years we have scrimmaged them but when all the leagues went to cluster meets instead of duals, we didn’t have a day to run with them that fit into every schedule,” explained head coach Rick Heflin. “So the MLL has allowed us to tag along on one of their league meets.”

Since it was the formal Mother Lode League meet, the results didn’t officially include Escalon, as they are in the Trans-Valley League. However, Heflin said, keeping track themselves, the Cougars ran strong.

“Going off our watches, our team did very well. I think the Escalon runners were a little surprised at how well they handled the first test on big hills,” said Heflin. “Since we don’t have even little hills here, I think that they didn’t expect to run as well as they did. We do a lot to build strength in our practices such as exercises, sprint repeats, yoga, and body weight lifts.”

Yajaira Salinas and Eddy Calderon both ran their personal records for the Frogtown course.

“Many runners had PRs for the day,” added Heflin. “I think the varsity girls team got second and the boys varsity got first. Frosh/soph boys got second.”

Freshmen Juan Lopez, Emiliano Ramirez, and Gabe Romero along with sophomore Sam Fletcher ran varsity at the meet. Rex Robbins, Zack Gardner and Eddy Calderon also made up the top seven.

“It is very exciting to see these young runners making a name for themselves,” Heflin said.

Along with Yajaira Salinas, Nora Nash, Jackie Lau, Marisol Aguayo, Bella Avalos, Lizeth Calderon, and Emily McPherrin made up the girls varsity team.

Next race for the Cougar squads is the TVL’s second league meet today, Wednesday, Sept. 28.