“Running down a dream,” has been the motto for the cross-country teams for three years running. This quote– made famous by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers– held true for this year’s team, who had two runners make it to regionals.

“I had a goal and I went after it,” senior Daniella Reyes said. “I am proud of myself and how far I got.”

Daniella Reyes and junior Jose Diaz ran in the Regional meet on Monday. The school held a send-off for the two and cheered as they walked through the halls. Although the team has reached regionals before, they have never had a sendoff for Cross-Country.  

“I’ve never had a send-off for anything I have competed in,” Reyes said. “It was humbling and exciting.”

In district, Reyes placed 10th and junior Jose Diaz placed third. The two advanced to regionals but fell short of advancing to state.

“Regionals was hard to get to,” Diaz said. “I didn’t expect to go to state, but I was kind of hoping that I could make it.”

At the meet, which was held in Huntsville, Reyes and Diaz ran against over 100 Cross-Country runners. Neither advanced to state, but the rest of their team said that they have never been more proud.

“Both of them are such good runners that I really expected them to make it to state,” junior Yomele Almeida said. “However, I still cheered them on throughout the entire race, even when they began to fall behind.”

For Reyes, this was her last year to get the chance to advance to state. However, for Diaz and many other runners, the chance is still there for them to take.

“I fell short of advancing to regionals by only a couple of places, but I still have a few years,” sophomore Joel Avalos said. “Like Coach Sheila Ruebel says, we are running down a dream in Cross-Country and mine is to make it to state.”