Ceres High’s varsity boys and girls cross country programs had a combined eight runners earn all-league honors this fall.

“We had such a great group on both sides,” coach Katie Thiele said. “They put maximum effort in. They were not just teammates. They were friends. They wanted to do better and win for each other.”

Jacqueline Rodriguez, Karina Baez, Esmeralda Garcia and Diana Del Real were rewarded for leading Ceres High’s girls squad to a second-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference overall standings.

Rodriguez, a senior, and Baez, a sophomore, were both named to the WAC First Team.

Rodriguez and Baez brought home individual medals from the conference finals.

Rodriguez and Baez took fifth and sixth, respectively.

Garcia, a sophomore, and Del Real, a senior, garnered second-team recognition.

Garcia and Del Real placed ninth and 10th, respectively, at the WAC Championships.

 “I’m really proud of all of us,” Rodriguez said. “We all worked hard.”

Rodriguez enjoyed a breakthrough season during her final season with the Bulldogs. She cut two-plus minutes off her 3-mile time in a four-year span.

“Usually when I set a goal, I do everything I can to achieve it,” Rodriguez said. “I did surprise myself. I didn’t think I could run that fast.”

Ronaldo Flores, Fabian Amparo, Bryan Erenas and Jossue Portillo were recognized for guiding Ceres High’s boys squad to a runner-up finish in the WAC overall standings.

Flores, a sophomore, received first-team accolades.

He brought home an eighth-place medal from the league championships.

Seniors Amparo, Erenas and Portillo were selected to the WAC Second Team.

Amparo, Erenas and Portillo finished ninth, 10th and 14th, respectively, at the conference finals.

“I’m very happy,” Flores said. “All of our hard work paid off. My teammates pushed me a lot.”

“When you have friendly competition, that’s when you’ll see more success,” Thiele added.