El Paso Eastwood a distance power house in the city took its first step into the post season with the District Championship held this past Thursday. Many in the city thought it would be a close race for first but the Troopers had different plans.
In the boys' race Eastwood seniors, Anthony Molina and Gabe Armijo pushed each other throughout. In the final four hundred meters Molina pulled ahead of Armijo to claim the individual title. Molina ran a 16:00.83 to claim first but quickly behind him followed Armijo in 16:11.51 for second place. Liam Walsh of El Paso Coronado who ran with the two for most of the race ended up in third with a time of 16:23.26.
The Eastwood boys claimed the team title by a landslide, scoring an impressive 23 points and earning their seventh straight district title. The troopers ended up placing their top five runners in the top ten. Following the troopers was Coronado in second place with 71 points and El Paso Americas in third with 73 points.
On the girls' side of the race, it was controlled by Eva Jess of El Paso Franklin who led from the gun and pushed hard. The freshman ran
an impressive 18:39.58 to earn the district title, in the process putting a
thirty-four second gap between her and second. Jannelle Jaeger-Darakjy of
Coronado came in second place with a time of 19:13.99 and Franklin's Andrea Perez ran 19:34.99 for third.
At the end of the day the Eastwood girls claimed the district title which earned them their tenth title in the past twelve years. The troopers were led by sophomore Eileen McLain who finished in seventh by running 20:06.74. The lady troopers scored 47 points to take first, followed by Coronado in second with 64 points and Americas in third with 77 points.
The troopers are looking to continue their momentum next week at Region I-6A. Both teams are looking to earn a top four finish and qualify for state.
