The Pampa Harvesters and Lady Harvesters cross-country teams traveled to Canyon on Friday, October 16, to compete in the District 4-4A Cross Country Championships. After a season of hard work, dedication and improvement, Pampa’s runners entered the district meet hoping to turn their efforts into strong performances and earn qualifying spots at the regional championships. With the season on the line, the Harvesters and Lady Harvesters looked to leave everything on the course in hopes of extending their seasons for another week.The top three teams and the top 10 individuals shall qualify from district to the regional meet. An individual qualifier may also be a team member of one of the qualifying teams.
The junior high will finish their season on Saturday. Look for a recap of that later this weekend.
“Cross country ended its season today at the District 4-4A Meet in Canyon. Our runners competed well, but when you’re competing in arguably the toughest district in the state, the competition is unforgiving. I’m proud of the way our athletes competed and represented Pampa High School,” head coach Otis Chunn said.
Pampa Lady Harvesters – Varsity District Cross Country Meet
Junior Perla Hernandez led the Lady Harvesters with a 34th-place finish in 13:16.70, while freshman Alexis Valles finished 50th with a time of 15:16.06.
“Our girls competed well, and both recorded personal records. Unfortunately, competing in one of the toughest districts in Texas, those performances weren’t enough to advance. Our JV boys finally had the opportunity to compete at the JV level, and they saw just how challenging the road ahead will be, with our top finisher placing 17th,” Chunn said.
Pampa Harvesters – Varsity District Cross Country Meet
“Our boys competed well all season long, and the future looks bright. With four freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors returning, we have a young group that gained valuable experience this year. I’m excited about what lies ahead for this program,” Chunn said.
Senior Ryan Resendiz led the Harvesters with a 14th-place finish in 16:59.70, followed by junior Said Saldierna in 24th (17:48.91) and junior Jesus Montano in 33rd (18:07.35). Freshman Guillermo Robledo finished 44th (19:22.81), followed by freshman Damarrio “Pancho” Ortega in 46th (19:27.46), senior Edwin Madrid in 48th (19:36.71) and sophomore Max McClendon in 51st (20:10.31).
“Ryan Resendiz was our top finisher, placing 14th and earning a medal. Unfortunately, only the top 10 individuals advance to regionals. In just about any other district, Ryan would have qualified easily. Even though his name won’t be on the state roster, he will always be a champion in my book,” Chunn said.
Pampa Harvesters – Junior Varsity District Cross Country Meet
There were no junior varsity girls representing Pampa at the district cross-country meet. On the boys’ side, freshman Benson Owens led the Harvesters with a 25th-place finish in 20:23.58, followed by freshman Clark Campbell in 29th (20:35.12) and sophomore Jeremiah Ojeda in 35th (21:08.85).
“I want to give a special shoutout to our two seniors, Ryan Resendiz and Edwin Madrid. Both helped teach this team how to compete, and they will certainly be missed. Ryan has been an outstanding team captain and one of our top runners. The leadership these two young men provided has meant so much to our program,” Chunn said.
With no Pampa runners qualifying for the regional championships, Friday’s district meet marked the conclusion of the 2026 cross-country season for the Harvesters and Lady Harvesters. Despite falling short of advancing, Pampa’s athletes have plenty to be proud of after a season filled with hard work, dedication and continued improvement. The growth shown by these young runners throughout the season is a testament to their commitment to the program, and the future remains bright for Pampa cross-country.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team and the way they competed throughout the season. These young men and women represented Pampa High School with pride, honor and integrity. That’s what being a Harvester is all about. GO HARVESTERS GO!” Chunn said. “I also want to give a special thank you to Zac Green and the Pampa Newspaper for their continued coverage and support of our cross country program. Their dedication to recognizing our athletes and sharing their accomplishments with the community means a great deal to our runners and coaches. We truly appreciate everything they do for our program.”
