The beginning of a new season always starts with nerves and jitters. That's even the case for one of the best returning runners of the 2021 cross country season.
Coming off the 2021 UIL track and field season, El Paso Coronado junior Luis Pastor enters the cross country season as one of the fastest Texas boys distance runners . He had an exceptional Region 1-6A championship track and field meet where he ran 4:18.65 - 1,600m and 9:12.03 - 3,200m PRs to qualify for the UIL 6A state meet in the latter as he went on to finish fifth overall.
But even that couldn't stave off the nerves a new season brings, "I was running a little bit nervous, I didn't know if I was going to be able to compete with these guys," Pastor admitted about his first race of the year.
Many runners dream of being elite and performing on the big stages, and that is where Pastor finds himself at the beginning of his junior year. After the nerves wore off, he was ready to do what he does well - - run fast.
Despite the unassuming modesty and humility similar to that of a baby shark, Pastor has a legit possibility of being the best runner in the state; he still has the necessary mindset to become just that. "I'm definitely looking for a fight, I like when people push me to my limits," he shared.
"I'm definitely looking for a fight, I like when people push me to my limits,"Luis Pastor, El Paso Coronado junior
The Coronado star got just the push and the fight he was looking for last weekend. This year, El Paso will have to be big enough for a cast of at least three talented runners (Pastor, Israel David (El Paso Eastlake), and Isaac Mendoza (El Paso Eastwood)). For the first time since Daniel Bernal (Eastwood), El Paso could have one the state's best individual boys distance runners and it could be between anyone of the three.
The first battle between Pastor and Mendoza came last weekend at the Montwood Midnight Madness. The race came down to a deciding sprint to determine Pastor as the winner.
The Coronado camp believes he could be ready for the long season, "Coach (Thomas) Corrigan reassured me that I'm fit and I'm ready." Training this year is getting back to the typical training that Coronado does and that has turned out several talented runners for years, "we are working a lot on longer distance runs just building up my base." That has the nerves turning into excitement, "we're excited for cross country and looking for sub 15 effort and also looking to go sub 4:10 and sub 9 minutes in the 3,200."