Well, a state-level cross-country team was forged on Monday at the Region IV Cross Country Championship when the Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles made history by becoming the first ever girls team from EPHS to qualify as a team to the State 6-A Cross Country Championships with a resounding 26 point victory to garner that golden ticket to state this season.

Shanya Luna (19.01) powered her way to an amazing fourth place finish at the Region IV Meet followed closely by Monica Rivera (19:30)  who placed ninth, Jackeline Garza (28th), Andrea Garcia (30th) and Ana Cristina Alvarez (61st) to cumulatively garner the second fewest amount of points, 132, to become Region IV Runner-Up Champions for 2017.

"I can't find words to describe it," said Coach Juan Gonzalez. "It's one of these days when you're trying to slow things down to savor the moment."

This is truly a testament to the hard work these young ladies and men have put into perfecting their craft as they can be seen on any given morning and afternoon working in the hot South Texas sun.

"These girls have committed their summers to get this, and as far as I know, it's the first time in school history that this has been accomplished. The girls ran a beautiful race together," Gonzalez concluded, joined by Assistant Coach Hugo Sanchez. "They ran as a team."

Gonzalez said the team, including boys qualifier Nathan Kowalski, who will compete as an individual at the state level who came in with a  strong 13th place, 16:12, and a pace of 5:14 per mile, have achieved the goal set by all of Eagle Pass' runners at the beginning of the season.

Speaking of 'Macfarland USA', Coach Gonzalez said that after their much deserved team meal, they were thinking of taking the team to bask in their glory on the beaches of Corpus Christi, much like Kevin Kostner's team did in the now famous Walt Disney picture.