DHS runners host final home meet

The Douglas High School cross country teams closed out the home portion of their season Oct. 3 hosting Empire and Palo Verde in a triangular meet.

In the boys meet the Bulldogs came in first with 24 points, Empire was second with 34 and Palo Verde did not score failing to have the required five runners needed to score.

Douglas’ Ricky Larez was the overall winner covering the 3.1 mile course in a time of 18:25.

Gustavo Melendez finished third posting a time of 19:23; Jesus Loreto was fourth with a 19:28; Ricky Melendez seventh, 19:47; Alonso Sodari, ninth, 20:07 John Owen, 11th, 21:10; Manuel Acedo, 12th, 21:28; Josh Lujan, 13th, 22:06; Raul Montano, 14th, 22:20; Rafael Carrillo, 17th, 25:56 and Rafael Martinez, 18th, 26:34.

Twenty runners ran in the boy’s race.

In the girls race, Empire was first with 40 points, Palo Verde second with 48 and Douglas did not score.

Douglas’ Emeri Melendez was the overall winner finishing with a time of 23:14; Laura Hurtado was second with a 23:14 and Karla Loreto seventh with a time of 26 minutes.

Douglas’ cross country coach Nicole Gomez Mariscal said both her teams continue to run well.

“I’m very pleased with the times,” she said. “But we need to be more consistent. The wins are nice but the times are not where they need to be.”

The coach said its all going to come down to the regional meet which is scheduled to take place Oct. 27 at Marana Mountain View.

There will be an estimated 18 teams there and the top nine teams plus the top 25 individuals will advance to the state meet.

“On that day it all comes down to the individual runner,” she said.

The Bulldog runners are back in action this week running against Empire and Sabino in a triangular meet in Tucson.