The Escalon cross country team headed to Sonora on Wednesday, Sept. 20 for the annual Mother Lode League Meet.

“The Mother Lode League is our toughest competition outside of league. Last year our boys varsity team placed fifth in the section,” explained head coach Rick Heflin. “We were the most senior dominated team in our top seven with two seniors. The section is very strong and very young.”

Amador and Calaveras are two of the teams that stand in Escalon’s way of earning top status in the section, Heflin noted.

“We placed third behind them on Wednesday,” Heflin said of the placement behind Amador and Calaveras. “We ran well and showed a lot of improvement but we know there is more work to be done. We did score well without two of our starters so that was awesome.”

The JV boys team placed second behind Calaveras, while the varsity girls are looking stronger. Jackie Lau, Lizeth Calderon, and Marisol Aguayo keep moving up in the ranks, said the coach.

This week the Cougars have their second Trans-Valley League Meet on Sept. 20 and the annual training weekend.

“Every year we take the team up to the mountains for hill training and team bonding,” Heflin said. “Thank you to all of you that donated to our fundraiser.”