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Trail Blazers ready for the 2013 season are Jessica Rodriguez, Nathaniel Lopez, Colbey Stratton, Jared Gonzales, Eneida Quintero, and Diana Medina. (Frank Smith photo)
By Frank Smith
San Manuel Miner
The 2013 edition of the San Manuel High School Cross Country team will be led by second year Head Coach Maria Lopez, who was recently honored Division III/IV Boys track coach of the year, along with assistant Lisa Uttecht. The two will look to bring San Manuel a region title and more as the Miners will be hard at work blazing the trails in the Arizona deserts.
San Manuel lost four starters off last year’s team but will hit the ground running with Returning Starters, Seniors: Nathaniel Lopez, and Breyden Main; Juniors: Jared Gonzales, Diana Medina, Jessica Lopez, James Duarte, Colton Stratton, and Marco Salas; Sophomores: Patrick Lopez, Carlos Salas, Andrea Casteneda, and Omar Gallego.
Top Returners include: Nathaniel Lopez – Boy’s Captain, Jared Gonzales – Boy’s Captain, Diana Medina – Girl’s Captain, Jessica Lopez – Girl’s Captain, Sophomores – Patrick Lopez, James Duarte, and Colton Stratton.
Top Newcomers to this year’s squad are Senior Amara Apuron, Freshmen: Colbey Stratton, and Eneida Quintero.
Rounding out the rest of the Cross Country team are Sophomores:Esperanza Carbajal, Andrea Casteneda, Carlos Salas, Taylor Woods, and Freshman: Tylo Montes.
“Our team is returning many experienced runners. Our team should fair well against the competition this season. We will be logging in lots of mileage getting ready for big invitationals coming up,” said Coach Lopez. “Our team motto for this season is “Having fun, but getting the work done.”
The Miners will put their work to the test on Aug. 28 as they host a meet to the open up the season against Bisbee, Baboquivari, and San Carlos with a start time of 3:30 p.m.
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