Riverbank’s cross country season finished up on Friday with two medalists, but no one going to the state meet.

“Alondra Hernandez medaled, but she missed going to state by one place,” explained head coach Monte Wood. “She was sitting in perfect position going into the last mile but faded over the last mile, and two Hughson girls passed her.”

Diane Murillo also medaled in the frosh/girls race. Damian Lopez ended up being the top placer in the varsity boys race for Riverbank, and Isaiah Bargas was the top placer for the Bruins in the freshman boys race.

“Of the nine section qualifiers, six return next year, so we have a solid foundation for the future, but we have to continue to be more consistent throughout the year in all aspects of training to get back to the section meet as a team and back to the state meet,” Wood added. “Division 4 has become so tough. The section keeps dropping bigger school into Division 4, and they are teams that would usually qualify to state in Division 3.”

This year the Bruin boys team would have qualified to sections in Division 3 and Division 2, but finished one place out of qualifying in Division 4, said Wood.

“It is just tougher, and we have to do a better job of doing all the right things all the time,” the coach said.