John L. Braese
RICHLAND – The entire bus was happy as the Hermiston cross country team headed home from Richland as both the boys and girls claimed team victories at the MCC Championships on Thursday, Oct. 24
The boys, led by race champion and senior Jaysen Rodriguez, ended the day with 18 points, easily outpointing Walla Walla’s 50 points in second. Rodriguez was the lone runner of the day finishing in under 16 minutes, crossing the line in 15 minutes, 55.70 seconds. Teammate and freshman Leroy Lozano Mejia placed second with a time of 16:04.53.
Sophomore Gabriel Anderson and junior Miguel Fuentes also picked up top five finishes.
The Hermiston girls were 10 points better than second-place Southridge, 29 to 39.
The Bulldog girls saw senior Sukprit Kaur finish third with a time of 20:55.65 as the top Hermiston finish. Senior Lillian Fields crossed just outside the top five, placing sixth.
Boys Results
Team Scores: 1. Hermiston, 18. 2. Walla Walla, 50. 3. Kennewick, 91. 4. Southridge, 97.
Hermiston Individual Results: 1. Jaysen Rodriguez, 15:55.70. 2. Leroy Lozano Mejia, 16:04.53. 4. Gabriel Anderson, 16:33.35. 5. Miguel Fuentes, 16:35.88. 6. Franco Gonzalez Mendoza, 16:47.26. 9. Jose Juarez Rodriguez, 16:58.00. 13. Luis Silva Salas, 17:19.90. 17. Alexander Zacarias, 17:42.42. 19. Jacoby Rodriguez, 18:17.80.
Girls Results
Team Scores: 1. Hermiston, 29. 2. Southridge, 39. 3. Walla Walla, 67.
Hermiston Individual Results: 3. Sukhprit Kaur, 20:55.65. 6. Lillian Fields, 21:25.79. 7. Taylor Blackburn, 21:44.14. 8. Jeannine Heredia, 21:50.81. 10. Sophia Helfer, 22:40.48. 11. Evelyn Lozano, 22:48.19. 14. Makayla Thomas, 23:00.51.
