Cross country: Odessa High boys embrace new role

Odessa High School's boys cross country team has won four district team titles the last six years and finished as a close runner-up in the other two.

During both of those non-team title years, the Bronchos had individuals qualify for the state meet. In fact, they have sent individual runners to state every year since 2003.

So to say the very least, Odessa High really isn't accustomed to being in the underdog role it has today heading into the District 2-5A Cross Country Championships at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock.

"It's different for us, but at the same time they know they can do it," OHS boys head coach Randy Thompson said of his runners. "Definitely it would be an upset for us to win, which is weird. Our main goal is to run at the front and stay there. It's in our hands to do what we've got to do and take care of it."

Amarillo Tascosa and Lubbock Coronado, led by individual favorite Donovan Torres, have had the most consistent results throughout the season and are favored to battle for the title. Odessa High is a darkhorse for the crown, but still expected to earn a top-three finish necessary to qualify as a team for the Region I-5A Championships, scheduled for Nov. 8 on the same Mae Simmons course.

The top three teams and top 10 individuals not on a qualifying team will earn trips to the regional meet.

Permian was a regional team qualifier last season but would need to have a breakout meet to get into the top three today. That doesn't mean, however, the Panthers don't expect to be competitive.

David Hernandez, a sophomore, figures to be among the top individuals in the field. Permian head coach Jeep Shanks also has been pleased by what his inexperienced team has done throughout the year.

"We're in a building phase right now and hopefully the program is getting stronger and stronger," Shanks said. "David's ready to roll and hopefully the rest of them are ready to roll with him. He's just getting better and better and his workouts are getting better and better. He's a very unique individual."

Odessa High senior Eric Carrasco, a first-year varsity runner, finished ninth individually last week on a tough course in Ruidoso, N.M., and appears ready to help lead the way today with senior Ryan Herrera and junior Edwar Zubiate.

Both Herrera and Zubiate were on Odessa High's district championship team last season, and Thompson is steadfast that three months of training leads to this stage of the season.

"The whole process is we work for this week," Thompson said. "Eric is running tremendous and if Ryan does what he's capable of doing, I think the other guys will step up. We've just got to close the gap and run faster. We run good as a pack, but we've got to run faster."

THE BASICS

District 2-5A Cross Country Championships

>> Course: Mae Simmons Park, Lubbock.

>> Race times: JV girls, 5 p.m.; JV boys, 5:20 p.m.; varsity girls, 5:50 p.m.; varsity boys, 6:10 p.m.

>> Teams: Amarillo High, Amarillo Tascosa, Lubbock High, Lubbock Coronado, Lubbock Monterey, Odessa High, Permian, Midland High, Midland Lee, San Angelo Central.

>> Moving on: The top three teams and top 10 individuals not on a qualifying team earn trips to the Region I Championships, scheduled for Nov. 8 in Lubbock.