Competing on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Escalon cross country Cougars had their Trans-Valley League Championship Meet at Ceres River Bluff Park against the other six schools of the TVL.

“The JV girls performed well as a team and individually, placing second overall,” said head coach Arend Jones.

Senior Miroslava Torres placed 8th, medaling, with a time of 15:49. Sophomore Amy Alvarado placed 9th, medaling, with a personal best of 16:00. Sophomore Trisha Freitas placed 16th, medaling, with a time of 17:07. Junior Vivienne Harp placed 17th, medaling, with a personal best of 17:09. Freshman Melissa Flores placed 19th, medaling, with a personal best of 17:20.

The JV boys placed third overall, Jones said. Sophomore Brandon Gonzalez placed 4th, medaling, with a personal best of 12:24. Freshman Thomas Oliveira placed 11th, medaling, with a personal best of 12:48. Senior Rylan Eproson placed 18th with a personal best of 13:27. Freshman Ismael Delgado placed 20th with a personal best of 13:36. Senior Maximilliano Diaz placed 29th with a personal best of 14:18.

“The varsity girls placed sixth overall, only running six of their 10 girl team,” the coach noted, adding that they were paced by senior Victoria Calderon, who placed 19th with a season best of 22:57.

Senior Peyton Houser-Keaton placed 29th with a personal best of 25:23. Freshman Jocelynn Jelinek placed 30th with a personal best of 25:26. Senior Leigh Garside placed 37th with a season best of 26:10. Senior Jaslene Rodriguez placed 42nd with a personal best of 26:35.

“The varsity boys placed seventh, very close behind Hilmar and Ripon Christian,” Jones said.

Senior Kenneth Vargas placed 29th with a personal best of 19:22. Sophomore Alden Schultz placed 32nd with a personal best of 19:45. Junior Ethan Young placed 35th with a personal best of 20:01. Sophomore Easton Beneux placed 38th with a personal best of 20:22. Junior Rigoberto Ramirez placed 39th with a season best of 20:24.

“On Friday, some of the team went down to Fresno for the Woodward Park Classic,” Jones shared. “Those athletes all ran well on Friday especially considering they ran hard just two days earlier at the TVL Finals.”

For the JV boys in Fresno, Brandon Gonzalez ran the 5k for the first time, running the course in 21:02. Freshman Ivan Isidro ran the 5k for the first time as well, with a time of 21:34.

For the varsity boys, Kenneth Vargas ran a time of 19:35 and Ethan Young ran a time of 20:04.

For the varsity girls, sophomore Sofia Lozano ran a personal best of 26:51 and Jaslene Rodriguez ran a time of 27:03.

The Cougars now train this week to compete at Sub-Sections, scheduled at the Calaveras Fairgrounds in Angels Camp on Saturday morning, Nov. 7.