Big 7 Cross Country runners prepare for state championships
Two weeks ago, all the best cross-country runners in South Texas gathered in Corpus Christi, Texas, to compete at the Region IV Regional Cross Country Championships. Big 7 Cross Country teams were well represented and put forth strong performances against some of the toughest competition around. Of the runners that competed, three runners, two boys, and one girl, rose above the rest. Nathan Salinas, David Zuniga, and Dolores Ramirez all qualified for the state meet this Saturday in Round Rock, Texas.
Here are some words from each runner about their upcoming championship appearances, along with words about them from their coaches:
Nathan Salinas, Sharyland High School
Regional Champion
Qualifying time: 15:52.27
Coach: Jorge Guerra
Nathan Salinas’s journey to the state meet has been filled with challenges and triumphs. He has worked tirelessly to perfect his craft and his time. This year, his hard work culminated in a regional cross-country championship. As the best runner in South Texas, he’s excited to challenge for a top spot at the state meet.
“Qualifying for the state cross-country meet feels amazing, especially after winning regionals. This achievement resulted from countless hours of hard work and great support from my family, friends, coaches, and teammates. Their encouragement has kept me motivated through tough workouts and challenges. Each practice and race has brought me closer to this moment, and I’m grateful for everyone who has been there with me. Now I’m preparing for state and feel very excited knowing that my hard work through this journey has paid off,” Salinas said about his journey to state.
“He’s a very talented kid. Since his freshman year, he has been a big part of our regional championship team. He was our number two guy and was always battling for second and third spot as a freshman on a very strong team. Now, as a junior, we don’t have the same kind of team, but it’s been very pleasing to see him improve in all aspects… thank God we have him for another year next year,” Coach Guerra said about his regional champion.
Dolores Ramirez, La Joya Palmview High School
Qualifying time: 19:13.27
Coach: Claudia Bazan
Sophomore Dolores Ramirez has spent this entire season blazing paths to victory. She won three meets, placed in the top three at the annual RGVCCCA Meet of Champions, and finished the season as the District 30-5A champion. With a time of 19:13.27, she led all female Big 7 runners. Ramirez is excited to compete at her first state championship meet and is thankful to everyone whose support got her this far.
“I was proud of myself for qualifying for state. I worked hard every day to put myself in this position, and I love making my coach and parents proud. I attribute my success to coach Bazan for pushing and training me to be in this position. I also attribute my success to my parents for making time to drop me off in early morning practices and supporting me in all my meets. Lastly, I want to thank my teammates and brother for always keeping me company during my runs,” Ramirez said about her state championship appearance.
“I am most proud of our team’s growth and dedication this year. Watching a young group of runners embrace both the physical and mental demands of the sport has been remarkable. Our success came from the commitment each runner showed toward supporting one another, building a sense of unity that goes beyond wins and losses. Coaching an athlete like Dolores, who is self-driven and highly competitive, has been incredibly rewarding. Her relentless effort and determination to reach her best inspires all of us. Working with someone so motivated makes every coaching moment enjoyable and fulfilling,” Coach Bazan said about her team and star runner.
David Zuniga, Sharyland Pioneer High School
Qualifying time: 16.38.77
Coach: Alexis Pena
David Zuniga has battled self-doubt, pain, and injuries to this point in his cross-country career. As a senior, Zuniga has placed in the top 15 in 6 of his last 7 meets and will look to repeat that accomplishment this weekend. His regional time wasn’t his best, but Zuniga can run sub-16 5ks, something he did twice before the regional meet. This weekend, he’ll have to run the best race of his life to finish his career.
“I think about the mornings I felt I couldn’t get out of bed and the times I felt I wanted to quit for good. This year, especially, I have persevered through a lot of trials and tribulations, and I am excited for this opportunity to run with the best runners in the state. I thank God and my loving family for all that I have achieved throughout my life. They have been there from the beginning of my running journey and still guide me along to this day. I thank my coaches for paving the road to success and my teammates for going along the same road as me. The friends I surround myself with, that cheer me on in everything that I do. And to my old team, Robinson, back in Virginia, I would have never returned to running without you all. Thank you for helping me find my love again while giving me memories I will cherish for the rest of my life,” said Zuniga when asked about his feelings on competing at state.
“Making a team regional appearance after a couple of years of just taking individuals to regionals and state is sweet. Seeing them work toward a shared goal is awesome. The collective effort to be better…Taking a young team, seeing the valley succeed, and seeing that it is possible and attainable made them want to improve. I have been blessed to coach several amazing valley runners. Runners are a special breed. They have tremendous self-discipline and a love for pain… David is no different; he is part of a brotherhood that knows the amazing journey of being a runner. He has a unique journey, one that led him to New Mexico and Virginia and his last two years here. What makes David different is his desire to make those around him better. The belief he has in others is that they can be better. I’m blessed to have worked with him,” Coach Pena said about his team and Zuniga’s impact.