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Hitting the trails

Sissies return four state qualifiers in new campaign



SPEEDY SISSIES — Bridgeport’s girls cross country team is returning four members of its 2021 4A state qualifying team — Yaritza Ruvalcaba, Star Fraga, Citlali Juarez and Kami Rivera. The Sissies open the season Friday at the Yellowjacket 6-mile relay at Boyd High School. MICAH MCCARTNEY/WCMESSENGER

SPEEDY SISSIES — Bridgeport’s girls cross country team is returning four members of its 2021 4A state qualifying team — Yaritza Ruvalcaba, Star Fraga, Citlali Juarez and Kami Rivera. The Sissies open the season Friday at the Yellowjacket 6-mile relay at Boyd High School. MICAH MCCARTNEY/WCMESSENGER

After making their first appearance at the 2021 4A state meet, the Bridgeport Sissies have a quartet of runners looking to punch their ticket back to Round Rock this year.

Senior Star Fraga and sophomores Citlali Juarez, Kami Rivera and Yaritza Ruvalcaba are preparing to lead the Sissies in the new season.

“We’re looking pretty good with four of our top runners returning,” Bridgeport coach Sandy Anderson said. “As a senior with the most experience, I expect Star to lead the group and to push our great group of sophomores. These girls love to run, and they love to compete. I think it’s going to be another great season.”

Last season, the Sissies’ young squad clinched the District 7-4A team title and added a silver finish at the 4A Region I meet at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock.

Bridgeport finished eighth with 218 points at the 2021 4A state championships at Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park.

Juarez, the defending league champion, ran 12:04 to claim 22nd in the 4A girls 2-mile race.

“As a leader, I feel like I’m very dedicated, and I want to help push us to our full potential,” Juarez said. “A lot of people think cross country is an individual sport, but it’s actually a team sport. We all have to work together to achieve our goals.”

Fraga, a two-time state qualifier, is hoping to finish her career at the championship meet. She took 32nd last year in 12:18.8.

“I’m sad my career is coming to an end, but I’m excited to run with these girls for one more year,” she said. “I’m hoping we’ll be competing for a state title again. I want to finish in the top 20 this year.”

Rivera placed 95th (12:57.8) in 4A last season. She’s expecting to use lessons learned last year to better her times in her sophomore campaign.

“Last year was very challenging. It was a lot of waking up early and running a lot of miles,” Rivera said. “One thing I learned was that early performances are really about getting better. It’s not how you start the season — it’s all about how you finish.”

With two weeks of practice in the books, Ruvalcaba likes her team’s chances to claim a state berth. She was 102nd (13:05.7) in 2021.

“We’ve got to be dedicated and disciplined,” she said. “I really think we’ve got a good chance to make it back again this year. We’re pushing each other in our practices, and competing against each other helps to make each of us better runners.”

Anderson believes the Sissies will battle with a familiar foe for the district title.

“The way I see it, it’s going to be between Bridgeport and Decatur,” she said. “Coach [David] Park does a great job with his program, and they certainly have had a lot of longevity on both sides of the sport. But I think we’ll be right there with them again.”

For the Bulls, Anderson sees senior Gio Lopez as the team’s leader, along with freshmen Xxavier Garza and Xzavier Verdugo.

“The boys are definitely running strong in practice,” Anderson said.

Bridgeport opens the season at the Boyd 6-mile relay Friday at Boyd High School.

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