For years the Father Duenas Friars have held a strong tradition and reputation as a football, basketball and rugby powerhouse. FD cross country has not been as glamorous or victorious as they school counterparts, but perhaps things are finally starting to come around for the Friar runners. The Friars started the 2013 season with a huge victory by handily defeating the Harvest Eagles 24-37 Friday afternoon at the Harvest campus in Barrigada.
FD’s Jaden Pangelinan and Harvest’s Ben Middlebrooke head down the stretch before Middlebrooke pulled away to take the top spot. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Harvest’s Ben Middlebrooke grabbed the top overall spot with a time of 20 minutes and 35 seconds, finishing ahead of FD’s Jaden Pangelinan (20:50). Middlebrooke and Pangelinan were in a tight battle throughout the race but Middlebrooke pulled away late for the individual victory. Kevin Cho of Harvest rounded out the top three with a time of 21:15, but a pack of six FD runners, led by Nathan Abril, finished right after to secure the team win.
“Our team has definitely worked hard,” said FD coach Napu Castro. “We changed a few routines in our workouts. We try to mix it up with long runs, hill runs, strength and conditioning, all the things that I picked up when I was in college we try to incorporate into this team. They worked really well with it, responded pretty well and now we are seeing the results.”
Pangelinan, now a senior, has been one of FD’s top runners since he was a freshman and was 12th overall at All-Island in 2012. Last year his Friars finished 5th as a team at All-Island but Pangelinan has his bigger goals for his team this season.
“I felt like I got closer to my team (today). We understood more how to work together, because some of them are new,” said Pangelinan. “I’m hoping that we can make at least third place in All-Island this year.”
In the girls race, the Academy Cougars squeaked by the lady Eagles by a single point with a score of 27-28. Harvest’s Domini Prudente was first overall in 27:05 and Academy’s Angelyn Sy was second in 27:57. From there a back and forth began with Academy taking the 3, 5, 8 and 9 spots, while Harvest placed 4, 6, 7 and 10, resulting in the smallest of victories for the Cougars.
“I’ve worked with these kids every day, so I’m seeing their potential start to come out,” Castro said. “It’s still the beginning of the season so we haven’t peaked yet and we’re still trying to get these guys to work on their strength and conditioning and their base still needs to be improved on. But I expected a good performance today.”
“It’s always good to start the season with a win, especially with our boys and girls and that should motivate the kids going through the season,” he added.
Notes: FD coach Castro is a 2003 graduate of GW and was a three-time All-Island individual champion from 2000-2002 and placed second overall at the 2002 Far East Cross Country Invitational held at Nimitz Golf Course…Castro ran collegiately for Central Missouri State University (now known as University of Central Missouri) and Chaminade University in Hawaii.
Okkodo vs GW
Boys 15-50 Okkodo; GW forfeit. Okkodo’s Mark Yoshida first in 18:48; GW’s Austin Mendiola second in 18:52.
Girls 50-50 double forfeit. GW’s Nicole Ericsson first in 23:09; Okkodo’s Nikki Del Castillo second in 23:39
Sanchez vs Southern
Boys 28-31 Sanchez; Southern top two places, led by Rainier Porras. Evander DeGuzman top Shark runner.
Girls 50-50 double forfeit.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Friars and Eagles runners go through the Harvest course in the opening meet of the 2013 Cross Country season. (photo by Jesse Castro)
Under cloudy skies, the high school cross country season gets underway. (photo by Jesse Castro)
One of the top finishers runs through the shoot. (photo by Jesse Castro)