The Cuero Cross Country team showcased their impressive abilities at the District Cross Country meet held at Starke Park in Seguin on Oct. 8.
The competition was fierce, with teams from across the district vying for top honors. The Cuero Varsity Girls’ team finished strong in fourth place, while the Varsity Boys’ team also secured a fourth-place finish, marking significant achievements for the program.
Lady Gobbler Team Highlights
Among the standout performances for the Cuero Varsity Girls was freshman Elena Gomez, who crossed the finish line in 3rd place with a remarkable time of 12:42, achieving a new personal record (*PR*). Coach Edgar Vanderstucken reflected on her performance, highlighting her strategic racing tactics. “Elena jumped into the top 10 early in the district race, exactly as we expect our runners to do. That benefitted her as the paces slowed and she picked off runners one by one. Winning the bronze medal in her freshman season is a huge accomplishment, establishing her as one of the premier distance runners along the Gulf Coast,” he said.
Other members of the girls’ team also contributed with commendable finishes. Kamryn Villa secured 19th place with a time of 14:25, and Bailey Blank followed closely behind in 23rd place with a personal best of 14:33. Maria Gonzales (29th, 15:34), Jeana Naranjo (31st, 15:35), and Jaylee Sanchez (33rd, 15:51) demonstrated great potential, helping the team to a solid overall performance.
Looking ahead, Coach Vanderstucken emphasized their anticipation for regionals in Corpus Christi. “We look forward to watching Elena race at regionals on October 21 at 8 am,” he noted, expressing confidence in his team’s ability to further excel.
Gobblers Team Performance
On the boys’ side, Logan Garcia led the charge, finishing 23rd with a time of 20:08. Despite not achieving their best team performance, Coach Vanderstucken remained optimistic about the growth and resilience of the team. “This was a great season of growth for these boys. They added mileage to their routine and ran personal bests in the two-mile and threemile races.”
The boys’ team saw strong performances from Furman Saldana (26th, 21:49), who showcased his dedication to improving his speed as well. Although the team finished in fourth place, Vanderstucken highlighted the long-term potential for the program. “We will return eight of our 10 runners, including seven freshmen. When you add a few incoming freshmen, we look forward to a bright future,” he said.
Vanderstucken’s commitment to developing strength and camaraderie was clear as he outlined their approach for the upcoming seasons. “In 2026 we will continue to stress summer workouts, running longer distances, building up our endurance, and doing it together. We have several individual standouts, but when our runners run together, they are stronger, faster, and run for each other, not themselves. That’s what championship programs do.” The cross-country teams from Cuero have laid a solid foundation this season, showcasing both talent and teamwork. As they look forward to regionals and future growth, they continue to represent their school with pride and determination. Each race brings new opportunities, and the Cuero runners are determined for success both now and in the future.
