Five of Mount Pleasant’s top distance runners received scholarships from Mount Pleasant High School last week. This year’s recipients were Buendy Fraire, Juan Gonzalez, Gill Landaverde, Lesley Ortiz, and Jennifer Soto. Fraire, Ortiz, and Soto helped secure a third-place finish in district this year for the girls’ team. Soto posted a season best 21:40.4 at the Mount Pleasant Titus County Fair Invitational and Fraire at the same meet posted her best time of 21:21.3. Landaverde was the anchor for the boys’ team that advanced to the regional meet. He finished second in district with a personal record 16:33.1. Gonzalez also ran well posting a PR of 17:15.9 at the Mount Pleasant meet.
Each runner received a cash award to help further their post high school goals whether that be entry into college, technical school, or trade. The cross-country scholarship was set up five years ago and is awarded to seniors that have been dedicated to the program and had a leadership role on the team. Most of the athletes that received the award participated in cross country all four years of high school as well as at the junior high level. This year’s recipients were all co-captains for the 2020 MPHS boys’ and girls’ teams. The Tigers and Lady Tigers are coached by Bryan Trickey and Jesus Garcia.