Ryan Torres and Alec Steinberg were a one-two punch for the Ripon High boys cross country team at Wednesday’s Trans Valley League meet.

Torres took first-place overall at the Legion Park’s 5-kilometer course in Modesto with a time of 17 minutes, 09 seconds. Steinberg took second place (17:39).

But it was Alex Norling who made the difference. Ripon and Riverbank were tied at 34-34. The tie-breaker came down to the best time from each team’s No. 6 runner.

In this case, Norling had the better time (19:03) while finishing in 13th place.

Hughson was third (58) while Orestimba (118) and Escalon (135) took fourth and fifth, respectively.

In addition, Ripon’s Chris Vitale (18:41) finished ninth. Teammates’ Kyle Bailey (18:43) and Antonio Pelaez (19:00) came in 10th- and 12th- place.

“We had good grouping (of runners),” said Indians coach Paul Calkins. “We’ve really been working hard this year.”

Expectations are running high on the distaff side.

The Ripon girls only trailed Riverbank’s Mikayla Flores (20:09) while claiming the team crown.

Individually, Alexis Keylon (22:22), Jessica Carmona (22:40), Ellie Waters (22:44) and Ana Hermosillo (22:55) filled in the second- through fifth- place spots, respectively.

Analisa Rangel (24:43) came in 14th place.

“Our motto this year is ‘run through the pain,’” Calkins said. “Our girls are doing just that. They’re running very strong right now.”

Frosh-soph

Ripon boys took fourth (95 overall points) while the girls were third (60).

Hughson (19) easily finished ahead of Riverbank (86) and Orestimba (95) to claim first place for the boys.

For the girls, Riverbank defeated Escalon, 49-60.