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Snyder senior Christian Escobedo won the District 5-4A district cross country meet in 2019. Both Snyder cross country teams took first in the event. -
Snyder head cross country coach Bob Campbell (left) presented Escobedo with an all-state recognition award. Escobedo is a three-time state finalist in cross country.
Snyder senior Christian Escobedo has qualified for the state cross country championship meet every year of his high school career. That record brings with it high expectations for his senior season.
Since he was a freshman at Snyder High School, Escobedo has been successful.
As a freshman, Escobedo qualified for his first state cross country meet in which he finished 44th with a time of 17:14.
He made a big leap as a sophomore, finishing seventh overall with a time of 16:12. Escobedo cracked the top five in 2019 with a fourth place finish.
He ran a 15:33. He told coach Bob Campbell that this year, he wants to do even better.
“Christian sets high goals for himself,” Campbell said. “He said he wants to get on the podium at the state meet. He has been working towards that since the last one.”
Campbell has been working with Escobedo since he was at Snyder Junior High School and Campbell said he has always seen Escobedo’s drive to succeed.
“He has the natural talent to be a runner and he enjoys it,” he said.
“His work ethic, his support, his family is all behind him. I can remember back in junior high when he realized that he had a future in running.”
To go along with his individual success, Escobedo has become a driving force for the entire Snyder cross country team and led the way as the Tiger and Lady Tiger cross country teams won District 5-4A championships in 2019. Despite the off-season struggles caused by COVID-19, Campbell said Escobedo has continued to embrace a leadership role heading into his senior season.
“The other runners feed off him,” he said. “They are doing a lot of running together. His attitude is contagious. I hope the other kids buy-in to what he is doing. He is really excited for his senior year.”
While Escobedo also competes in track and soccer, cross country may offer his best opportunity to bring a state title to Snyder High School.
Campbell believes that he can make that happen in 2020.
“If he can stay healthy, I really feel like he has a shot,” he said. “He can be around the 15-minute mark. Christian realizes this is his last shot.”
The Snyder cross country teams are scheduled to start the year at the Jim Ned cross country meet on August 29.