The Pampa cross-country teams turned in another strong performance Saturday in Dalhart, bringing home plenty of medals, personal records and a runner-up team finish.
From the junior high runners to the varsity squads, Pampa head coach Otis Chunn was pleased with the way his athletes competed and supported one another.
“The team showed up to run,” Chunn said. “It was another outstanding day for the Harvesters.”
Junior High Girls
The Pampa junior high girls continued to compete well against a strong field in Dalhart.
Eighth-grader Kaitlyn Resendiz led the Lady Harvesters, finishing inside the top 30 to pace the junior high girls.
While the junior high girls did not fill the medal standings like some of Pampa’s older runners, Chunn was pleased with the effort and continued improvement shown by the group.
Junior High Boys
The junior high boys also put together a solid day, highlighted by a pair of medal-winning performances.
Eighth-grader Tiago Silva narrowly missed cracking the top 10, finishing 11th overall. Eighth-grader Wade Camden also earned a medal with a 19th-place finish.
The performances continued a strong stretch for Pampa’s younger runners as they gain experience and build toward the remainder of the season.
High School Boys
Pampa’s high school boys entered the meet shorthanded, forcing several runners who normally compete at the junior varsity level to move up and race varsity.
It did little to slow the Harvesters.
Pampa narrowly missed claiming the team championship and finished a close second overall.
“We were a few guys short, so JV runners that would have medaled ran varsity,” Chunn said. “We just missed out on being team champion, but we were a close second. It was just another example of these kids’ team spirit.”
The Harvesters placed three runners inside the top 10.
Senior Ryan Resendiz led Pampa with a fourth-place finish, followed immediately by Junior Said Saldierna in fifth. Junior Jesus Montano added a ninth-place performance to give the Harvesters three top-10 finishers.
All three also established new personal records.
“Three in the top 10, and all three PR’d again,” Chunn said.
High School Girls
All three Pampa high school girls competing in Dalhart earned medals.
Junior Perla Hernandez led the Lady Harvesters with a fourth-place varsity finish, while Sophomore Zoe Reynolds also cracked the top 10 by placing ninth.
Both Hernandez and Reynolds recorded new personal-best times.
Freshman Alexis Valles competed in the high school girls junior varsity division and earned a medal with a 14th-place finish.
The successful weekend gives Pampa another boost as the schedule becomes even more challenging. The Harvesters and Lady Harvesters will travel to Canyon next Saturday for their next competition.
“It does not get any easier as we head to Canyon next Saturday,” Chunn said. “When I asked, ‘Are you ready for it?’ their answer was, ‘We will be waiting on you, Coach. Don’t be late. Another outstanding day for the Harvesters.”
