The Orestimba High cross country team got their first chance to stretch their legs in competition on Aug. 24 at the Screamin’ Scott Showdown hosted by Atwater High School.

The cross country match saw teams from Merced and Stanislaus counties run either a short course of 2.2 miles or a long course of 3 miles.

In the girls’ long course run Orestimba had two runners. Sophomore Samantha De la Cruz placed 13th with a time of 20:21.22. Senior Kaelin Stevens came in at 39th with a time of 23:39.75.

Patterson Junior Natalie Arriaza placed first with a time of 17:41.30.  Hilmar finished as the top team in the girls’ long course.

Orestimba did not have any girls competing in the girls’ short course. The first place runner was Freshman Eleanor Hampton of Merced who posted a time of 13:52.31. The winning team for the girls’ short course was Livingston.

In the boys’ long course run, Orestimba Senior Patricio Kearney took the top spot with a time of 15:34.13.

Orestimba Sophomore Joseph Garcia came in at 31st with a time of 17:23.07. Junior Hector Madrigal was 72nd with a time of 19:01.06. Sophomore Diego Mendoza was 79th with a time of 19:20.87. Sophomore Noel Madrigal was 89th with a time of 20:22.82. Sophomore Giovani Cerna finished at 103rd with a time of 21:51.95.

As a team, the Orestimba boys’ cross country finished in ninth place with a score of 204, Oakdale took the team victory with a score of 47.

In the short course Freshman Emmanuel Garrabito placed 71st for Orestimba with a time of 14:50.32. Sophomore Christopher Enriquez came in at 146 with a time of 19:48.93. Livingston Junior Moises Cortes Garcia won the short course with a time of 11:56.22. Hughson won the team competition with a score of 30.