Cross country runners from Riverbank competed at the Artichoke Invitational at Half Moon Bay High School earlier this month, running the course on Saturday, Oct. 5.

“We ended having eight medalists overall,” said coach Monte Wood. “Kim Ruvalcaba and Joslyn Beliera both finished in the top 10 of the frosh/soph girls race. Sabrina Garcia and Haley Richardson medaled in the varsity girls race. We ran without Mikayla Florez because she was taking the SAT.”

In the frosh/soph boys race, Ruben Paredez and Diego Ruiz medaled. In the varsity boys race, Jonathen Beliera and Moises Gomez both medaled.

“This past Friday, the cross country team competed at the Roughrider Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno,” said Wood. “Both (varsity) teams ended up finishing sixth overall in a very competitive field.”

Luis Figueroa and Jonathen Beliera medaled for the guys team. Both of them ran personal best record times. Figueroa ran 16:41 and Beliera ran 16:59. Moises Gomez also set a personal record in 17:38.

“The girls team had to end up running without Joslyn Beliera who is one of the top five runners on the team,” Wood explained. “Despite that, they finished sixth overall. If Joslyn Beliera had run they would likely have placed third overall.”

Individually, Florez did battle her way to third place overall.

“She was in third place at the mile mark and had faded to sixth at the 2-mile mark, but hung with a pack of girls and then outkicked them for third,” Wood said.

Overall, he added, the varsity girls did not have their best run.

“I think most of them were really disappointed that Josyln couldn’t run,” he said. “Plus, we have had some tough workouts over the last week, so they were a little flat. It was 85 degrees, and we hadn’t competed in the heat since Hawaii.

“We are hoping to bounce back and run well at the TVL Championship Meet on Oct. 30.”