KING CITY — The Chalone Peaks Middle School cross country teams from King City continued their debut season with a series of standout performances over the past few weeks, culminating in a historic team victory and remarkable individual improvements.
Most recently, on Oct. 4, the boys’ team achieved its first team title of the season at the Amanda Garcia Memorial Invitational at Atwater High School. Running a 1.4-mile course, the boys’ squad demonstrated exceptional pack running, finishing with a low score of 22 points and outpacing rivals Hilmar (34) and Ross (77).
Hector Mandujano III led the charge, finishing fourth with a time of 8:44, followed closely by Damian Rangel in fifth (8:51) and Jael Reyes Hernandez in sixth (9:02). Gael Fernandez kept the top pack tight, finishing ninth (9:18). Rounding out the top seven for Chalone Peaks were Braulio Juarez (18th place, 10:55), Aaron Marthin Bucio-A (28th place, 12:46) and Estiven Flores (33rd place, 14:44).
The girls’ team continued their consistent streak of success, powered by multiple athletes breaking the 10-minute barrier on the short course.
The top runner for Chalone Peaks was Vanessa Ayala-Gaxiola, who finished sixth overall with a time of 9:36. She was followed closely by Emily Lizbeth Silva-Cabrera in 11th place (9:57) and Rocio Guzman in 13th place (10:10). Completing the team’s top seven were Joanna Avendano-Lopez (27th, 11:30), Melanie Flores (30th, 11:47), Janeth Cortes-Mendoza (31st, 11:49) and Evelyn Jacobo (35th, 12:28).
The highlight of the meet was the significant time improvement demonstrated by virtually every runner. Many athletes sliced minutes off their best season times, demonstrating the success of the rigorous practice schedule.
“This was an incredible day for the entire program,” said Coach Hector Mandujano. “Watching the boys earn that first team title was fantastic, but honestly, the biggest win was seeing every single athlete improve their times. That commitment to personal excellence is what cross country is all about, and we are right where we want to be as we head deeper into the season.”
Prior to the recent triumph, the King City teams had a successful showing at the Thunder XC Classic on Sept. 27, where both the boys and girls displayed their growing strength on the 2-mile course.
The girls finished third overall with 66 points, led by Vanessa Ayala-Gaxiola, who placed fifth with a time of 15:34, and Rocio Guzman in seventh (16:17), followed by Emily Lizbeth Silva-Cabrera in ninth place (17:01). Rounding out the top five scorers were Melanie Flores, who came in 24th (19:55), and Janeth Cortes-Mendoza in 29th (21:05).
The boys’ team finished second with 52 points, thanks to three top-10 finishers: Hector Mandujano III (sixth, 14:11), Damian Rangel (seventh, 14:34) and Jael Reyes Hernandez (9th, 14:45). Gael Fernandez was the fourth scorer, placing 13th (15:05), while Aaron Bucio rounded out the top five.
“This team has shown incredible commitment in practice, and it paid off with strong times today,” said Coach Karen Garcia. “Securing second- and third-place finishes in a strong field is a testament to their hard work. We are proud of their competitive spirit and look forward to building on this momentum.”
With their recent successes, the Chalone Peaks teams are now preparing for the next challenge: the Rotary Elementary and Middle School XC Championship in Arroyo Grande on Saturday, Oct. 18.
