Mustang boys tackling Region IV meet Saturday
“It’s going to be a tough meet,” coach Stephen Sanders said. “There are some runners in this meet who have put up some impressive times.”
Three of the Mustangs — Jesus Manzano, Anjel Guererro and Rene Perez — finished in the top 10 at the district meet. Even without the whole team qualifying for the regional meet, these runners would have advanced.
At regionals, the top three teams and top 10 individuals qualify for the state cross country meet Nov. 15 at Old Settlers’ Park in Round Rock.
Sanders said the Mustangs have a shot as a team to make the state meet. Much of it depends on the teams’ No. 4 and No. 5 runners.
While Manzano’s, Guererro’s and Perez’s placings open the possibility for the team to advance, much rests on the No. 4 and No. 5 runners. If these two can stay within a minute of the the top three, the chances of advancing increase dramatically. But if these two runners slip more than a minute off the top three’s times, it could be a lot tougher to make it to state as a team.
“If our one, two and three runners run like we think they can and four and five pull up a bit, we have a good chance of getting to the state meet,” Sanders said.
The coach said Manzano, Guererro and Perez have good shots at making it to state as individuals as well.
In the two weeks leading up to the regional meet, the coaches have changed the training. Last week, Sanders and assistant coach Jonathan Jarrett put the boys through a very intense running program. But this week there was a bit more focus on speed before tapering it back as the meet approached.
“We’re probably in the best shape we’ve been in all season,” Sanders said. “But we have a couple that are a bit banged up from playing a bit of soccer. So we’re resting up a bit.”
The coaches have also been getting the runners to pay attention to staying well hydrated as they prepare for the regional meet.
“We’re also getting them carbed up,” Sanders said. “It takes about two-and-a-half days to get enough carbohydrates in them for a race.”
By “carbed up” Sanders refers to the practice of endurance athletes consuming a higher level of carbohydrates as an energy source before a competition.
“We’re all excited and we’re looking forward to the meet,” Sanders said.
The Mustangs run at 12:50 p.m. at the Brooks City-Base in San Antonio.
daniel@thepicayune.com