Cross Country

Ladycats fourth in elite Southlake meet

Three runners in top 20

Molly Garrison

Christopher Amos/The Community News

Posted Tuesday, September 10, 2024 10:05 am

Continuing their success in a season of prestigious and tough meets, the Aledo Ladycats placed fourth in the Southlake Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 7. It's the third top-five finish of the season in three meets, including a first-place finish in Waxahachie.

The Ladycats competed in the Elite Varsity Girls Division. The Bearcats, running in the Elite Varsity Boys Division, were 18th.

"What an amazing day to run," said Aledo coach Mike Pinkerton. "Although it was wet, the cooler temps were a welcome surprise as the Bearcats and Ladycats continue to work hard and improve.

"All athletes ran extremely well, with most improving their times yet again. The Varsity Ladycats are hot on the heels of Lovejoy (reigning state champions), coming up just 13 points shy of overtaking them."

The Ladycats finished second in the state last season. Varsity results Southlake over the 5K course were:

8. Molly Garrison, 18:19.9.

14. Micah Neal, 18:33.0

16. Mykel Murry, 18:35.3.

37. Sophia Brandenburg, 19:02.8.

69. Madison Larsen, 19:37.0.

95. Hadleigh Walton, 19:55.5.

111. Mayden Mitchell, 20:08.4.

Jack Fink

Boys results (5K) were:

30. Jack Fink, 15:49.3.

39. Tyler Connelly, 15:55.7.

121. Ian Robbins, 16:43.9.

144. Dominick Barrera, 16:56.6.

167. Luke Schabel, 17:12.0.

170. Thatcher Pettit, 17:12.8.

205. Reed Murray, 17:57.1.

Junior varsity girls (running Open Varsity Girls 5K division)

Team finished 16th. Individual places were:

33. Kjersten Loy, 20:30.8.

78. Carley Couch, 21:30.3.

97. Sadie Williams, 21:55.9.

135. Ashlynn Durnil, 23:04.4.

171. Maggie McQuatters, 25:15.0.

JV boys (running in Open Varsity Boys 5K Division)

126. Andrew Walsh, 18:34.5.

152. Ethan Matthews, 19:01.8.

172. Dylan Hoover, 19:48.1.

186. Nicholas Hale, 24:19.8.

JV Boys 5K division

359. Marcus Rodriguez, 23:13.3.

The Aledo JV was running in Glen Rose on Squaw Valley Golf Course at press time. The varsity teams will compete in the Texas A&M Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 in College Station.

Trinity Christian

The Trinity Christian Eagles placed second in the Assault of Eagle Summit race in Decatur on Sept. 7. They were led by Boren Merril, who won the individual championship with a time of 17:07.95 over 5K.

All five of the top Eagle finishers were in the top 16 individually. Jonah Brown was 12th in 19:69.62; Jonas O'Dell, 13th, 20:06.69; Harrison Brown, 15th, 20:14.58; and Tripp Morgan, 21:56.54.

Emma Saadeh paced the Lady Eagles, finishing eighth individually with a time of 12:52.15 over 2 miles. Olivia Quinn was 24th in 14:12.34, Isabelle Hooper's 14:14.38 was 25th, and Ellery Ward was 33rd in 15:01.19.

Five other TCA boy runners finished in the top 25 with John Brammer, 18th, 22:13.43; Luke Harless, 20th, 22:40.66; Alek Parker, 21st, 22:55.08; Andrew Cowley, 22nd, 23:50.94; and Ethan Gillespie, 23rd, 24:06.23.

TCA will compete again in the Jesuit Cross County Classic at Prestonwood Polo Club in Dallas on Sept. 28.