Douglas High School’s cross country teams began its season this past Saturday with a last place finish at the Sue Fletcher Invitational which was held at Buena High School.

Photo courtesy David Bond Kayla Arnejo leads Marilyn Grijalva at the Sue Fletcher Invitational Saturday in Sierra Vista. Arnejo finished 43rd overall with a time of 26:52 while Grijalva led the Lady Bulldogs finishing 42nd with a time of 26:47.

In the boys meet Nogales was the overall winner finishing with 47 points. Ironwood Ridge was second with 51 and Sabino third with 75.

The Bulldogs finished seventh with 162 points.

John Winfield of Ironwood Ridge was the overall winner finishing with a time of 16:13 on the three mile course.

Alfonso Mejia led Douglas with a 16th place finish and a time of 18:28.

Ricky Larez was next in 29th place and a time of 19:43.

Both Mejia and Larez medaled for Douglas recording personal best times for each and showing the Douglas coaches that their summer running paid off.

Thomas Fredrickson finished 36th for Douglas with a time of 20:36; Brian Meza was 40th, 22:21; Leonel Pereyda 41st, 22:23 and Franciso Grijalva 44th, 25:15.

In the girls meet Ironwood Ridge was the invitational winner finishing with 56 points.Nogales was second with 69 points finishing ahead of Cienega who also had 69 points. Douglas wound up in eighth place with a time of 229 points.

Sabino’s Emme Smith was the overall female winner finishing with a time of 18:49 on the three mile course.

Marilyn Grijalva led the Lady Bulldogs finishing 42nd with a time of 26:47.

Kayla Arnejo was 43rd five seconds back at 26:52; Karla Loreto 47th, 30:08; Stephany Romero 48th, 35:48 and Karaima Barrera 49th, 36-minutes.

Douglas’ cross country coach David Bond said even those his girls team finished in last place with very slow times he was encouraged to see that all five of his runners finished the race without walking.

“This is the first time most of them have completed that distance,” the coach said. “We do have other girls that we hope to work into the races. Obviously we have so much room for improvement. That improvement is inevitable.”

Coach Bond said he was not surprised his boys team struggled.

“Three of the six runners had never raced before and have had, at most, three weeks of practice,” the coach said.

Coach Bond said Meza, Pereyda and Grijalva all improved on their practice times.

“We get a break before our next race at Palo Verde Sept. 15,” Coach Bond said. “Our only other invitational will not be until Oct. 16 so we have weeks to become a little more respectable.”

Coach Bond said he expects big improvements in race times and individual runners are expected to knock minutes off their times.