This year, Liberty’s boys team produced the strongest season in school history. Across all levels—Frosh-Soph, JV, and Varsity—the boys captured league championships. Both the Varsity and Frosh-Soph squads placed five runners in the top 10 at League Finals, with Salvador Quezada earning the Varsity individual league title and Levi Thompson winning the Frosh-Soph crown. The Varsity boys continued their record-breaking campaign with a fourth-place finish at the Division 1 Valley Championship, the highest in program history. Last season, the team finished eighth in Division 2, making this year’s leap even more impressive.
The Varsity squad came within 16 points of qualifying for the State Meet, despite two of its top five athletes falling during the race on a rain-soaked, muddy course. Final scores placed Liberty just behind the standout programs of Clovis North, Redwood, and Buchanan, but still ahead of many traditional powerhouses. Salvador Quezada advanced individually to the State Meet after finishing fourth at the Valley Championship.
Depth was a hallmark of the program, seen most clearly through the JV boys, who won six of ten races this year, including major invitationals such as Mt. SAC and the John Seaman meet. Their dominant performance at League Finals, sweeping places one through seven and led by league champion Vinicius Araujo, underscored the program’s competitive strength. With so many key athletes returning, the Varsity boys enter 2026 as early favorites to capture the Division 1 Valley Championship.
The girls team also made significant strides while competing in one of the state’s toughest divisions. After finishing seventh in Division 2 last season, the team placed ninth in Division 1 this year, demonstrating steady growth and resilience. With a small roster of just 11 athletes, Liberty still earned five league medals. Three runners placed in the top seven overall at the Varsity League Finals, showcasing both talent and promise for the future. Junior Kenzington Perez led the way with a fourth-place finish and helped guide the team to a second-place league result. Freshman standout Addison Ashplace finished fifth overall at League Finals and later led the girls to a ninth-place showing at the Valley Championship—an impressive debut for her first year in the program.
Reflecting on the season, Head Coach Pedro Cruz emphasized that the team’s accomplishments extended far beyond race results. “Success can be measured in many different ways,” he shared. “What I am most proud of is they were able to come together as a team and build unity. Every student has a role in our team that contributes to the community we are creating. They became a family. A sisterhood that will last a lifetime. A brotherhood that will last forever.”
As Liberty’s program continues to grow, both new and returning athletes are invited to join the cross country and distance running teams. Anyone interested can download the Remind app and use the code lhs26track for information. Practices are held Monday through Friday at 3:40 p.m., meeting at the track hurdles.
The future of Liberty cross country is bright, and this season has set a foundation of excellence, resilience, and lasting camaraderie that will carry the program forward for years to come.