INDIO — Both Chris Sanchez and Melina Hernandez are admittedly surprised by their success.

The two runners for the Indio High School cross country team broke records this year and it didn't take long for each to do so.

Sanchez, a senior, was a track and field competitor who decided to give cross country a try for his final high school year. He was the Desert Valley League champion in the mile, but thought cross country could make him even more of a threat this spring.

“I was training with (former school record holder) Joel Cota and he told me that I could go after the record,” said Sanchez who posted the new mark of 15 minutes, 7 seconds at the Apache Invitational at Arcadia Park, eclipsing the former record of 15:12. “I know I surprised myself, but I surprised a lot of people. Just this week Cota was telling me that I got as good in one year that took him three straight years of training to do that.”

Although Sanchez didn't win the first DVL meet of the season on his home course, it was team race strategy that kept him from the title. The Rajahs raced as a pack and Sanchez finished second at 16:08.

“Chris has made our boys team much more competitive and we were thrilled when he finally gave cross country a try,” said Indio coach Becky Baker, who watched Sanchez win at both Palm Desert (15:47) and Cathedral City (18:58).

“It has been very impressive that in his first cross country season, joining a team of veteran athletes, he took that No. 1 spot almost immediately. Chris raises the bar for the team, both in practice and in competition. We are also anxious to see what he can do in track, with the great base that he has accrued through the summer and fall.”

Hernandez, a junior, was No. 1 in the DVL since the start of the season.

She ran 19:12 at Indio, clocked a 18:37 at Palm Desert, then raced to a 19:12 at Cathedral City.

She jumped from her regular fourth-place mark on the team last year and a best of 19:32 to the top of the heap this season. She marvels at that.

“It surprises me a lot,” she said of her top finishes. “My best this year was 18:05 at Arcadia and it was really tough and competitive. I pushed myself and got 18th place and that was a pretty good spot for me.”

Baker says Hernandez continued to improve all season and has a chance to break the overall girls school record for her senior year. She already broke the Indio course record this year with her 18:14 at the Alumni Run.

“Melina has matured a lot since last spring, has been much more focused in practice, more disciplined, so her success this season is really no surprise,” said Baker. “She is six seconds off our 3-mile record of 17:59, set by Lorena Reyes in 1998, so if Melina doesn't get that record this season, it is hers for the taking her senior year.”

Hernandez even admits that she's come a long way since first joining the team as a freshman.

“I wasn't really that good when I started my freshman year,” said Hernandez. “I started running smarter and got more mature with my running. I didn't start off too fast this year like I did before. Honestly, it was all the training we've done and how I pushed myself harder than last year. I never thought I'd be a DVL champ, win first or second, so I'm so surprised. Coach Baker says she's amazed at the goals I've accomplished so far.”

So will Hernandez next follow Sanchez with a record-setting senior year?

“I think I can reach that,” she said. “I know I have the stamina to do it if I just push myself a little harder. I love running.”