SOUTHERN PINES — As a final tune-up to the Mid-South Conference championship meet later this week, Richmond Senior High School’s cross country teams ran one final regular-season race last Thursday.
Traveling to Pinecrest High School for the second meet there this season, the Raiders and Lady Raiders both finished third out of three teams.
Running a three-mile race, Richmond’s runners competed against the host Patriots and Lady Patriots, as well as Overhills High School.
Pinecrest’s boys and girls teams each won their respective races, ending the meet with 15 and 18 points. Overhills’ boys (50 points) and girls (47 points) were both second.
The Lady Raiders had a program-low score of 71 points in the meet, while the Raiders ended the day with a score of 85 points.
Three Lady Raiders record new PRs
At the front of the Lady Raiders’ group of six runners was sophomore Jazlyn Garcia, one of three Lady Raiders to set her fastest career time.
Placing 10th in the field of qualifying runners, Garcia timed in at 23:52.01, roughly nine seconds better than her run last week, which was her previous PR.
Also recording new PRs were senior Melanie Garcia and sophomore Karen Zamora, the next two Lady Raiders to cross the finish line. Taking 13th and 15th overall, Melanie Garcia had a time of 25:00.51 and Zamora clocked in at 27:30.40.
Taking four seconds off her PR was Melanie Garcia, while Zamora shaved 52 seconds off her time.
The Lady Raiders’ other three runners in contention for points were junior Janet Morales (28:00.91), senior Jada Scott (28:36.26) and junior Madyson Cloninger (29:11.40). Those three runners were 16th, 17th and 18th for points.
Trio of Raiders also run fastest times
Five of the six Raiders who ran this week either set a new PR or had their fastest time of the season.
Pacing the team was senior Jake Richardson, who collected 15 points with a time of 22:35.88. That was his best time this season and his third race finishing under the 23-minute mark.
Second to cross the finish line was sophomore Elliot Samuel, who recorded a time of 23:25.54 (16 points).
Richmond’s third and fourth runners — freshman Angel Vega and senior Elijah Shaw — both set new PRs. Vega’s new PR of 25:30.75 was 24 seconds better, while Shaw took an impressive 1:14 off his previous best time and clocked in at 26:23.25, which was also set at Pinecrest.
Richmond’s final two runners qualifying for points were senior Luke Gilliam and freshman Zion Barnes. Gilliam finished in 28:32.60, four seconds faster than his other fastest time this season.
Barnes was the other Raider to set a new PR, crossing the three-mile mark in 34:45.35, which was 1:16 better than his time in the first meet of the season.
Richmond’s teams will run in the MSC championship meet Wednesday at Pinecrest. The first race will begin at 5 p.m.
