2009-2010 News

WTC Runner Finishes 20th in Nation

WTC freshman Jessica Rodriguez placed 20th at the National Junior College Cross Country Championship in Peoria, Il. Over the weekend, becoming the first All-American in the sport in school history.

Rodriguez finished with a time of 19:04 and was fourth among Region V competitors in the race. She placed eighth in the regional meet.

“It’s the best I’ve seen her run in a big race, which is a good sign,” said head coach Garret Hicks.

Marcus Garza was in prime position for a strong finish, but a leg cramp knocked him out of position. He did complete the race.

“He was in perfect position, and then I saw him grimace,” said Hicks. “It’s tough for that to happen (at nationals).”

The cross country concluded the season and track and field competitors will resume workouts soon.

Frosh Runner Dedicated to Cross Country

Jessica Rodriguez will represent WTC in National Meet

Western Texas College runner Jessica Rodriguez can’t really say what she would do in her spare time, because she has so little of it.

“I mostly run. Between practice class and study hall, I’m too tired to do anything else,” said the freshman from Winters High School, who has been running since fifth grade.

“My whole family runs and I wanted to be like my uncles who ran in college,” she said.

That dedication has led Rodriguez to the Number 12 ranking in NJCAA women’s cross country and trip to the national meet at Illinois Central College in Peoria Saturday.

Marcus Garza of the men’s team also will run in the national meet.

Rodriguez hopes to cut about 45 seconds from her season best time of 18:13, with the goal of 17:30 in the national title meet. The physically demanding sport requires endurance and a mental discipline, something Coach Garrett Hicks stresses with his charges.

“He is a really good coach,” Rodriguez said. “I really like the running program here – he pushes us and motivates us during the races.”

Hicks said that Rodriguez does not know her own potential.

“I don’t know if she realizes how good she can really be,” he said. “She is a hard worker and has a great attitude.”

Practices for cross country began this year with base workouts and moved into speed training. In addition, she does a base 800-meter run and a 45-minute run.

Rodriguez also does a Temple run, which is a fast three miles, but she is not alone. Despite being the lone female to advance, the rest of her team continues to do what it can to motivate her.

“I love them,” she said. “Although I am the only (female) going to nationals, they still run with me every day.”

Regardless of her placement in nationals, Rodriguez already has decided that she will continue her distance running career once she graduates from WTC and moves on to a four-year institution, where she intends on studying business education and kinesiology.

“I want to be a coach – cross country and track of course,” she said.

As far as her time at WTC, Rodriguez plans on enjoying the closeness with her friends and teammates on the campus where she resides.

“It’s really good – there aren’t that many people so I know everybody and that’s fun,” she said.

WTC Cross Country Teams Crack National Top 25

The Western Texas College Cross Country teams are both ranked in the national NJCAA Hill N Dale Division I Top 25 rankings.
The men’s team is ranked 24th in the nation after two weeks of competition, while the women’s team cracked the poll at 25 – the first-ever ranking for the WTC women.
Five members of the men’s team – Gavino Hernandez, John Rios, Angel Soriano, Johnny Lee and Marcus Garza – finished in the top 10 at the WTC Six Shooter meet Sept. 5. Jessica Rodriguez placed fourth in that meet for the women.

The cross country clubs will run again Friday in Lubbock at the Texas Tech Invitational.

SNYDER (Sept. 7, 2009) – Five Western Texas College men’s cross country runners placed in the Top 10 over the weekend at the WTC Six Shooter meet at Sammy Baugh golf course.
Freshman Gavino Hernandez paced the Westerners, coming in fourth place with a time of 32:28. John Rios was just behind his teammate, crossing the line in 33:00 for sixth place. Angel Soriano (33:06) was seventh, while Johnny Lee (34:05) was ninth. Marcus Garza (34:05) was tenth.
On the women’s side, Jessica Rodriguez was fourth with a time of 21:04.

Schools participating in the women’s race were WTC, Odessa College, New Mexico JC and South Plains. On the men’s side, South Plains and Odessa competed against host WTC.