College cross country: Ramirez learning to love new sport

Raul Ramirez is used to working in short flurries, ducking and getting in a quick jab before going on the defense.

Those skills don’t quite translate to cross country, but Ramirez is using a love for boxing to become a star in a sport he is only learning to like.

Ramirez grew up boxing at the Odessa Top Club and competed in the sport until he was 19. Ramirez still trains, but he no longer fights.

He hated running and only did it for conditioning and only at the behest of his dad, Carlos, and brother, Eddie.

Now, Ramirez enjoys running and came to UTPB to participate in the sport.

“I started (running) to stay in shape,” he said. “I used to be lazy so they made me run. I kind of hate it, but I am starting to like it.”

Ramirez was born in Carmo, Chihuahua, Mexico, before moving to Odessa. He started boxing when he was 9 years old, and he didn’t compete in his first cross-country event until high school at Permian.

“My junior year I did pretty good for only three days of working out,” Ramirez said. “My high school coach told me to keep running.”

He did.

On Saturday, Ramirez finished 12th in 28 minutes, 56 seconds to lead UTPB at the UTPB Invitational at Comanche Trails Park. The Falcons were third as a team.

Ramirez was not very happy with the way he ran Saturday and is hoping to improve before the Heartland Conference meet in two weeks.

“I tried hard, but people I beat two weeks ago caught up to me,” he said. “I am improving, but I didn’t have a good day. I have to stay focused and hopefully I will see some of these teams Tuesday (at the San Angelo Invitational) and do better.”

Robert Menjo won the event in a course-record 25:58 to help El Paso Community College finish first with 25 points. Texas Tech was second with 41 points.

Ventura Ramirez was 23rd in 31:31 for Odessa College, which did not have enough runners to qualify for the team scoring.