David Soto (Center) turned in a runner-up finish at the Gerald Richey Region II Preview
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David Soto out of Class 3A Winnsboro has drawn accolades in recent weeks with gold medal finishes at Greenville's Clay Minton Invitational on August 20 and again at Pittsburg's Troy Segura Classic on September 1.
While the Greenville victory provided a solid baseline for Soto's senior campaign, it was his performance at the Southlake XC Invitational that put him on the map when he shaved 50 seconds from the previous week's time. Soto finished 79th in the Elite Boys division and turned in a time of 16 minutes, 33 seconds.
Five days later, he cruised across the finish line at Pittsburg with a time of 16:04. And he kept things rolling with a second-place finish at Grand Prairie in the Gerald Richey XC Invitational on September 10. A UIL Region 2 preview meet, Soto posted a time of 16:16.9 in the Class 1A-4A division; it was a faster time than the best times posted in the Division 1 & 2 races that are typically stocked with athletes from higher classifications.
The senior mixes exceptional natural ability with superior work ethic, a combination that produces athletes with the stamina and mental aptitude to compete at the highest levels.
Soto entered 2022 with strong credentials and a running pedigree. A state qualifier last fall, he placed 51st out of 151 Class 3A competitors and posted a time of 17:27.
A late comer to distance running, he entered the field late in his sophomore season. Father Rey was a multi-year state qualifier out of Dilley High School and a member of the 1997 Class 2A state championship team.
"A lot of athletes rely on talent. That gets them only so far. David will go out and work harder. That makes him stand out. I would put him up against any runner in Texas."Joe Hallonguist, Winnsboro head coach
"I loved to run cross country in my high school days, so when David decided to run cross country, I was ecstatic. Watching him run in his senior year, I am in awe," said Rey.
The proud father and his old high school coach Robert Salazar have both commented on the similarities in the father-son running styles.
"He has natural talent and ability, but his leadership, work ethic, and competitiveness sets him apart. To say I am proud of him would be an understatement," said Rey.
Winnsboro coach Joe Hallonguist said, "A lot of athletes rely on talent. That gets them only so far. David will go out and work harder. That makes him stand out. I would put him up against any runner in Texas."
Always a hard worker in every endeavor, David has also become a student of the sport. He said he has talked to other top runners around the region, and he understands that hard work and consistency are the keys to elite status.
"It is not necessarily about doing the most workouts. It is about getting the most out of yourself and quality workouts," said David.
He has worked this year to polish an already efficient stride to create a long, smooth gait that feel comfortable.
"He is a natural. He is perfect in his stride, his pacing. When he needs to kick it into gear, he can do that," said Hallonquist.
The mental aspect always comes into play in a sport like cross country where competitors must push through pain to achieve success.
"You have to be strong mentally to keep and pick up the pace, and even slow down. I still struggle with that sometimes, trying to push the pace," said David.
"In certain races, I am competing against myself in time, but races at Southlake or Invitationals or regional previews, there are a lot of people who push me."
