The cross country teams have advanced and will compete in the Region III meet at Kate Barr Ross Park in Huntsville tomorrow.
“Our region is probably the toughest one to compete with,” head coach Dani German said. “There are a lot of strong teams and individuals that we will be competing against. The kids have been putting in a lot of miles, so I know they are ready.”
Varsity boys earned first place school at the district meet in Fairfield on October 9.
“I am extremely proud of our XC teams for winning the district meet,” German said. “Our goal for Regionals is to keep the momentum going. This group has a lot of fight in them, so I am ready to see what they have in store for Regionals.”
Varsity girls and junior varsity girls all received first place team at the district meet.
“Teams that make it to the regional meet are at the top of their district which means the teams are being narrowed down to the best teams to compete against,” assistant coach Elizabeth Partain said. “At regionals and state, you will see some of the best runners in the state of Texas, which is a huge concept to compete against.”
At District, John Kuzmich was 1st place for varsity boys, Addison Shipley was 1st place for varsity girls, and Anna Allen was 1st place for junior varsity girls.
“I started running in 7th grade, I just wanted to try something new, and because I knew that I’m not a fast runner when it comes to short distance races,” freshman Anna Allen said. “After that year I wasn’t satisfied with my performance, so I decided to try again in 8th grade, but that’s when my grandpa passed on. He was one of the most supportive people in my life, and he loved that I was a runner. I decided then and there that I would continue running and doing my best, to lift up his spirit.”
Complete District results were as follows: Varsity Girls, 1st place overall & advancing to Regionals, Addison Shipley- 1st place, Madison Russell- 3rd place, Madyn Mitchael- 4th place, Isabella Campise- 6th place, Kaylee Williams- 8th place, Zada Pjetrovic- 12th place; Varsity Boys, 1st place overall & advancing to Regionals, John Kuzmich- 1st place, Collen Loviette- 4th place, Jerry Draper- 5th place, Christian Sanchez- 10th place, Noah Hoskins- 12th place; JV Girls, 1st place overall, Anna Allen- 1st place, Lynette Portillo- 2nd place, Jhanvi Patel- 3rd place, Ambrlyn Wright- 4th place, Trinity Glass- 5th place; JV Boys, Saeed Pjetrovic- 4th place and Isaiah Chavez- 7th place.
“I am pretty nervous [about the regional meet], considering that I had been on JV most of this season, but I’m very excited to be a part of something so important for the HS Cross Country team,” Allen said. “I have worked very hard this year to get where I am now, and this shows how my hard work is paying off.”
The state meet will be located at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock on November 2.
“I’d like to focus on one step at a time and our teams need to make it in the top four at Regionals in Huntsville on October 22 to earn a place at the state meet,” Partain said. “It’ll be a challenge to make it in the top four, but a challenge we can accomplish.”
