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Having placed fifth and 11th, respectively, in the Central Coast Section cross country finals, Hollister High juniors Pri Chavez and Andrew Parra are heading to Fresno for the state meet on Nov. 29.
It will be Chavez’s second trip to the CIF State Cross Country Championships and the first for Parra.
Chavez placed first in the league finals this season before advancing to the state meet, and said her goal is to finish the 5K with a time in the low 18s.
She posted a time of 18:15.2, placing fifth in the section championships on Nov. 1 in Belmont, about 30 miles north of San Jose. Chavez competed against 69 other racers in the girls Division 1 category.
As a team, Hollister finished eighth in the standings out of 10 schools in the girls competition.
Chavez said competing in cross country and track and field not only helps her physically but also mentally.
“I know how to be mentally stronger and what to expect,” she said.
Head coach Ralph Chavez, who is Pri’s uncle, said she is a “naturally gifted runner.”
“With her natural talent, her work ethic, and her mindset, she’s a phenomenal runner,” he said.
Among her accomplishments this season is posting a time under 18 minutes for the first time in a three-mile race, which is shorter than the 5K (3.1 miles) she’ll run in Fresno. Ralph Chavez said that’s a difference of about a half of a lap.
Last year at state, she finished the race with a time of 19:14, finishing 88th out of 198 girls.
“The experience from last year benefits her for this year because she knows what that race is,” Ralph Chavez said, “she knows the intensity of the race so she’ll be able to fall back on her experience to achieve the goal that she’s trying to achieve this year.”
Parra, who also competes in track and field, said the consistent training and similar workouts for both sports allows them to maintain a level of speed and pace throughout the year.
He qualified for the state championships by posting a time of 15:34.6 at the CCS finals in the boys Division 1. He competed against 97 other racers.
As a team, Hollister finished 10th out of 14 schools in the boys competition.
Parra said what stands out this season is achieving his personal record of 15:29 at a Center Meet that took place on Oct. 15 in Monterey. He placed sixth in that race.
“It was fun because I was with another teammate who also broke 15:30,” he said, referring to junior Michael Briano, who posted a time of 15:22.
Parra said his goal at the state meet is to post a time around his personal best.
Ralph Chavez said Parra has improved significantly since his freshman year and that he has a great work ethic.
“His mindset for being able to push himself is far superior to what we see in most athletes,” he said.
The Hollister coach said what sets both runners apart is their leadership.
“You can talk all day long about how great runners they are, but probably more importantly is the support they bring to their team and constantly helping their teammates out and supporting them and guiding them as well,” he said.
Hollister High Student Activities Director Laurie Chavez, who is Pri’s mother, said it had been 10 years since the school had a representative compete at the state level before Pri qualified last year.
The championships will take place at Woodward Park in Fresno. Parra will race at 11:30 a.m. and Chavez at 1 p.m.
BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, Hollister Rotary, for helping expand the sports coverage around San Benito County. Rotary is a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian projects, encourages high ethical standards, and works toward world understanding. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.
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