KING CITY — The Chalone Peaks Middle School Colts cross country team continued its successful season with strong performances at two meets over the past two weeks, competing at the Salinas Valley Middle School Cross Country Meet #2 in Salinas on Sept. 18, followed by the Judkins Middle School Mountain Goat Race in Pismo Beach on Sept. 26.
Across the two meets, Colts runners recorded multiple individual victories, numerous top-five finishes and strong performances in every grade level.
Salinas Valley Middle School Cross Country Meet #2
The sixth-grade girls were led by an exciting one-two finish. Bethanny Dias won the race with a time of 10:38, while teammate Yessenya Ramirez finished just one second behind her in 10:39 to take second place. Emily Arreola also represented the Colts well, finishing seventh overall in 13:39.
The sixth-grade boys delivered another outstanding performance, sweeping the top three spots. Kevin Chavez won the race in 9:26, followed by teammate Jareth Garcia, who finished second in 10:25. Jenrry Mendez completed the Colts’ one-two-three finish, taking third in 10:27.
The seventh-grade girls added another victory for Chalone Peaks. Vanessa Ayala-Gaxiola won her race with an impressive time of 9:20. Yaneli Fernando finished fourth in 10:18, while Rocio Guzman placed seventh overall in 10:43.
The eighth-grade girls also had several strong performances. Alexa Chavez Silva finished third in 10:29, while Janelle Mendoza placed fifth in 10:57. Camila Guerra crossed the finish line in 10:49.
In the eighth-grade boys race, Damian Rangel was the first Colt across the finish line, placing seventh overall in 8:47. Hector Mandujano III finished eighth in 8:58, followed by Ayden Lopez in 14th place at 9:19 and Gael Fernandez at 9:21.
Colts Continue Their Success in Pismo Beach
Eight days later, the Colts traveled to Pismo Beach for the Judkins Middle School Mountain Goat Race on September 26. Once again, Chalone Peaks runners competed near the front of their respective races.
The sixth-grade girls continued their strong performances. Yessenya Ramirez finished fifth in 7:58, followed closely by Bethanny Dias, who placed sixth in 8:02.
In the sixth-grade boys race, Kevin Chavez was the top Colt, finishing fifth in 7:10. Jose Lizarraga placed eighth in 7:48, while Jareth Garcia also finished in 7:48, placing ninth.
The seventh-grade girls were once again led by Vanessa Ayala-Gaxiola, who captured another individual victory, winning the race in an impressive 8:36. Yaneli Fernando finished sixth in 9:13, while Rocio Guzman placed 10th in 10:13.
The Colts also had representation in the seventh-grade boys race, with William Miguel finishing 15th in 9:09.
The eighth-grade girls continued to compete near the front of their race. Alexa Chavez Silva finished seventh in 9:37, Janelle Mendoza placed 10th in 10:05, and Molli Dominguez finished 15th in 10:32.
The eighth-grade boys were led by Hector Mandujano III, who finished ninth in 8:18. Damian Rangel followed in eighteenth place with a time of 8:41, while Gael Fernandez placed 20th in 8:55.
A Sign of Continued Growth
The two meets demonstrated the continued growth and depth of the Chalone Peaks cross country program. Runners from sixth through eighth grade consistently competed near the front of their races while gaining valuable experience against schools from throughout the Central Coast.
The results were highlighted by four individual victories across the two meets, including two wins by seventh-grader Vanessa Ayala-Gaxiola, as well as victories by Bethanny Dias and Kevin Chavez at the Salinas meet.
Beyond the individual accomplishments, the Colts continue to build a team culture centered on hard work, improvement and supporting one another. With each meet, runners are gaining confidence and learning how to compete at the middle school level.
For a program that continues to grow, the performances in Salinas and Pismo Beach are another encouraging sign of what the Colts can accomplish as the season moves toward.
The Colts are continuing to make their mark on the local middle school cross country scene — one race at a time.
