Toros XC places fifth in state

Tyler Takeda/The madera Tribune

The Matilda Torres boys cross country team huddles together before the CIF Div. III State Championship race on Saturday in Woodward Park. The Toros ended up fifth. 

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FRESNO — Fresh off its Div. III Central Section championship, the Matilda Torres Toros boys cross country team was hoping for a podium (top three) finish at Saturday CIF State Championship at Woodward Park. 

Torres ended up in an eight-point pack for third through sixth place. The Toros finished with a team score of 216 points, just five points from third, and four from fourth. They finished two points in front of sixth. 

“It hurts a little bit because I know where they belong and I know what they can run,” head coach Jose Herrera said. “Everyone ran a good race. They were feeling good before the race. After the race, Hunter (Hannah) said he tripped over a log. Now, I’m thinking what could have changed if he didn’t trip. We could have gotten third because we were only five points away. It’s a whole team result. The other guys could have made up the points, too.”