Benito Finishes With All-State Honor to Lead Panthers in Champioship

Running in his final cross country race for Hartnell College, sophomore Moises Benito was able to make up for an up-and-down season that began with an injury and but finished with his first All-State honor. Benito also lead the team to an eleven place team finish. 

With the sky opening up to a light rain, Benito ran amongst the top 20 in the first mile and would remain there through the hilly middle two mile section of the course. He would cross the 2 mile split in 10:19 and in 18th place. The the more difficult third mile, the Palma grad would move into the place he would eventually finish as he split 15:49. At the finish link, Benito would be in contention for All-American top 14 honors but couldn't quite catch one remaining runner. He would be rewarded with his best state championship performance covering the course in 20:46. That mark jumps him up to #13 all-time in Hartnell history passing 3:47 1500m school record holder Cristian Soratos. He was also the fifth Northern California finisher improving upon the eighth place he got just two weeks ago at the Northern California Championship. 

The remaining placing runners would begin with sophomore Mario Avila would placed 41st (21:32). Avila closes out his career with two consistent performances at the State Championships with 21:24 in 2021 and 21:32 this year. Next year's squad will be lead by Soledad graduate Elijah Melchor who would cover the course in 21:38 to place 50th overall. Melchor makes the Woodward Park All-Time list in his first year. Newcomer Alexis Zacharias (22:38) and sophomores Emiliano Ramirez (22:39) and Juan Gonzalez (22:41) all finished within three seconds and in 114th, 118th and 122nd place. Kaimana Cantere completed the team at 23:02 in 135th place.

The 2023 season concludes with the Panthers having placed second at the Mt. SAC Invitational, Moises Benito taking runner-up honors at Mt. SAC, three All-Coast Conference runners in Moises Benito, Elijah Melchor, and Alexis Zacharias, a second place team finish at the Northern California Championship and three All-Region runners with Benito and Mario Avila picking up second year honors, and Benito giving Hartnell an All-State runner. With Melchor, Zacharias, and Gonzalez all having remaining eligiblity next year, the Panthers will look to improve at the conference, regional and state levels.