Men's Cross Country All-Decade Team Announced

Excited to announce the All-Decade Men's Cross Country Team!

Miguel Gallegos (2010-2011) came from North Monterey County High School where he finished his career as the top Condor. Miguel ran 16:25 at Toro Park and 16:29 at Woodward Park as a senior. While at Hartnell, Miguel was Coast conference champion as a frosh running a solid 21:00 at Toro Park. He was 2nd as a sophomore finishing behind fellow All-Decade honoree Soratos. Miguel twice finished in the top 7 at the Northern CA championship with the third best combined places of all this list. He was 7th as a freshman and 6th as a sophomore. At the State Championship he finished as the fourth best Norcal runner showing he was still improving that season. He lead the Panthers at state both years earning All American honors in 11th running 20:30 and 35th as a freshman in 21:09. His Woodward Park time is still #3 all-time. Miguel competed for NAIA national powerhouse Southern Oregon University after Hartnell Collge. 

Cristian Soratos (2010-2011) experienced the same meteoric rise at Hartnell College as the one he experienced down the street at Salinas High School. Cristian ran 16:52 at Toro Park and had never run on the championship course at Woodward Park. While at Hartnell College, he dominated nearly all of his second year making the jump from role runner to team leader in just one year. He won three regular season meets and placed third overall at the Fresno Invitational dropping over a minute at Woodward Park.He won the conference title over the previous year's champion teammate Gallegos and was 5th at Norcals after finishing 19th as a freshman. Cristian completed his career with his second sub 21:00 clocking at Woodward Park and 29th at State. Only Leon and Ramirez on this list achieved this feat as well. Cristian is the school record holder at 1500 meters (3:47.03). He signed a scholarship with NCAA DI Montana State University. He competed professionally for Adidas and finished second in the USA Indoor Championship Mile. He retired with a lifetime best 3:54 mile. 

Michel Ramirez (2012-2013) was brand new to the sport of cross country before enrolling at Hartnell College from Salinas High School. His accomplishments overs two years are all the more impressive given he had only run one season of track for the Cowboys and his 1600 meter personal best is the slowest of the seven. Michel was twice all conference with 6th and 2nd with running 20:37 at Toro Park in his runner-up effort. He was all region with 10th and 3rd, twice leading the Panthers at the Northern California Championship. In his final race he was trampled at the start but Michel added to his legend by getting up and finishing 9th at state for All American honors.  Despite the fal,l his 20:32 Woodward Park performanceis #5 all-time. Michel signed with the University of Alaska Anchorage after Hartnell College. 

Diego Leon (2013-2014) was nearly unknown coming out of CIF Division V Anzar High School. He did run 16:20 at Toro Park and 16:47 at Woodward Park but no one could have predicted his accomplishments as a Panther. Diego won the Coast  Conference and Northern California titles as a sophomore. He saved his best for last becoming the program's only state champion of the decade and second in program history. His freshman year he was 4th at Norcals and 3rd at conference. Diego produced a  21:09 at Woodward Park time in his first race as a Panther, the second best of the group but his 20:10 to complete career is the fastest in program history. Diego also established the Toro Park program record before it was bettered by Esqueda in 2017. He is #2 all-time at Crystal Springs beind only Hartnell's other state champion Danny Tapia, both holding sub 21:00 clockings for the 4.195 course. His 20:10 is also #2 all-time behind Tapia at Woodward Park. Diego is the Hartnell College 5000 meter school record holder and won three state championships in his final track season for the Panthers. Diego signed an athletic scholarship to NCAA DI Montana State University. He set the MSU record in the 5000m (13:39) in his final season. 

Edgar Bonilla (2015-2016) entered Hartnell College as the most decorated cross country runner of this group. He paced the King City Mustangs with two top 10 CIF State finishes and had a Woodward Park best of 15:46. He also had the fastest Toro Park performance at 15:45. Edgar was twice Coast Conference champ both times on the famed 4.195 course at Crystal Springs. He showed his ability at the regional championship placing 5th as a true freshman running 20:35 at Toro Park which stands as the #5 all-time mark. He won the presitigous Fresno Invitational establishing himself as a state championship contender with only Leon winning the same meet during the decade. He ran side by side with Jorge Sanchez to finish as runner-up at the regional championship by a fraction of a second as a sophomore. Edgar is the decade's best state performer earning All American with 9th and 5th place finishes his two years. He ran sub 21:00 at Woodward Park three times, the most of anyone on this list. Edgar has the #4 best mark at Woodward Park and

Jorge Sanchez (2015-2016) the lone Everett Alvarez Eagle on the list with a Toro Park best of 16:17 as a senior. Jorge never ran at Woodward Park until he became a Panther. Jorge was a two time All Coast Conference performan and the conference runner-up as sophomore to teammate Bonilla. Jorge jumped up to Norcal champion as a sophomore after placing 10th as a freshman. He was the second Panther at state as as freshman but returned for his second year to jump nearly 30 places and to 9th overall for All American. A consistent high performer, Jorge's sophomore season was highlighted with breakout races. Jorge won the state championship in the 5000 meters his final season as a Panther. He continued his career on scholarship at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Ricky Esqueda (2017) like Shimabukuro on the women's list found his way to Hartnell College from San Benito High School after a few years away from the sport. Ricky brought previous experience at Toro Park to the tune of a 16:14 best from his senior year, the second best of this group. Ricky had one year with the Panthers but squeezed a whole career into his six month fall. He won the Coast Conference title comfortably. Ricky became the third Northern CA champion of the decade for the Panthers on his home course at Toro Park. Set Toro Park course for Hartnell (20:15). He finished his one Hartnell season with All American honors at state in 12th place. His 20:40 is #7 all-time. Ricky won the Northern CA 10,000 meter title in his one track season for the Panthers. After Hartnell College, Ricky signed with NCAA DII Western State University in Gunnison, Colorado. He would be a member of the 3rd place national finish team.