Cuero High School freshman Elena Gomez cappedoffastandoutdebut cross country season with a new personal best at the Region IV-4A Cross Country Championships held at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Oct. 21.
Gomez clocked a time of 12:29 on the two-mile course, earning 21st place overall and the third- best freshman finish in the region. Her performance narrowly missedatriptothestate meet by just four places and seven seconds.
“We knew going in it was going to be very close,” said head coach Edgar Vander Stucken, who watched the race unfold. “She was either going to sneak in or barely miss the qualifying mark. She gave her very best effort — she gotoutfast,movedupin the standings, and left everything she had on the course.”
Over the course of the season, Gomez trimmed morethan90secondsoff her time, starting with a 13:51 at an early-season meet in Corpus Christi where she placed in the Top20.
Vander Stucken credited Gomez’s work ethic and ability to balance multiple sports. “Elena does a great job managing her cross country and soccer schedules,” he said. “We work together so everyone benefits.”
Thecoachbelievesthis season is just the beginning for Gomez and the Cuerocrosscountryprogram. “Placing third at district and running to the third-best freshman time in the region doesn’t happen by accident,” Vander Stucken said. “Elena and her teammates have a strong foundation. The goal next year is to get both varsity teams to regionals —andbeyond.”
