Several East Texas runners heading to state cross country meet

Published 4:34 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2022

There will be plenty of East Texas representation at the UIL Cross Country State Championships on Friday and Saturday at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock.

Classes 4A, 6A and 2A will race on Friday, while Classes 3A, 5A and 1A will run on Saturday.

The first race will be the Class 4A girls at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Among those representing East Texas in that race will be Lindale junior Adalyn Kobs, Bullard junior Riley Roberts, Jacksonville junior Emily Martinez and Canton’s team of senior Lana Stapleton, juniors Mykah Mebane and Graycee Wilson, sophomore Kimber Holly and freshmen Justynne Earl, Kate Wallis and Keana Whitlock.

Martinez placed sixth at the Class 4A Region III meet with a time of 12:35.30. Roberts was 16th in the race with a time of 12:58.90.

“We are so excited for Riley to make her return to state this year,” Bullard cross country coach Marisa Ledkins said. “She made the trip to Round Rock as a freshman representing Region 2 and missed her sophomore year by two spots. This year has been quite the testimony to her work ethic and drive to get where she wants to be. Riley had the goal to make it state this year while facing a lot of unknowns moving into a new district and a new region entirely. She has trained extremely well during the postseason, all while competing with Lady Panther volleyball. I am very proud of Riley and ready to see her compete in Round Rock on Friday morning.”

Wilson placed eighth in the Class 4A Region II race with a time of 11:57.61 and will also be competing with her team at Round Rock. Kobs was 19th with a time of 12:30.59.

“Adalyn has a tremendous work ethic and has proven to be a really special competitor,” Lindale cross country coach Chris Grotemat said “She has battled a significant calf injury throughout the back half of the season, yet willed her way to regionals and now to state due to her immense competitive drive.”

Also from East Texas in the 4A girls race will be Kilgore’s Ruby Almanza and Danna Requena; and Gilmer’s team of Melody Chavez, Michelle Chaves, Sadie Henson, Sophia Roach, Makenna Sprouse, Vanessa Munoz and Rosabella Vickers.

The Class 4A boys race will be at 9 a.m. Friday.

Among those representing East Texas in that race will be Chapel Hill senior Emery Crayton, Van sophomore Isaiah Colorado, Cumberland Academy junior Abel Solorio, Canton junior Miguel Arce, Athens senior Hardy Swann, Pittsburg’s Jacob Berryhill and Palestine’s Kevin Quincin and Jalbert Sandoval.

Crayton took third in the Class 4A Region III race with a time of 15:54.

“For the second year in a row, Emery Crayton has qualified for the state cross country championship,” Chapel Hill cross country coach Aaron Steele said. “Countless hours and miles have gone into preparation for this competition. He finished No. 15 in the state at last year’s meet. This year, his initial goal is top 10 with the ultimate goal of getting onto the medal stand. Good luck Emery.”

Arce was second in the Class 4A Region II race with a time of 15:51.25. Berryhill was third with a time of 15:58. Swann was fourth with a time of 16:05.76, and Solorio was fifth with a time of 16:16.63. Van’s Colorado was 13th with a time of 17:14.56.

“This will be my third time competing at the Cross Country State Championships,” Solorio said. “I’m more than excited for this year’s state meet. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been and hope to prove that on Friday. My ultimate goal is to finish within the top 5 and finish the race knowing I’ve run to the best of my abilities. No matter if that means collapsing at the finish or crawling through the finish, I will make sure to give it my all.

Also running for East Texas is Jacksonville’s team of seniors Jacinto Flores, Cristobal Gallegos and Jonathan Lambert, junior Angel Luna, sophomores Sebastian Juarez and Cole Killingsworth and freshman Juan Diego Salazar.

The Class 6A races will be at 10 a.m. Friday for the girls and 10:30 a.m. Friday for the boys.

The Class 2A girls race will be at 11:40 a.m. Friday.

Among those representing East Texas in that race are Martin’s Mill senior Mattie Burns and LaPoynor junior Savanna Thaw and freshman Emily White.

Burns was fourth in the Class 2A Region III race with a time of 13:23.60. White was eighth in a time of 13:36.90, and Thaw was 11th with a time of 13:47.90.

Other East Texans in the race are Mount Enterprise’s DeDe Davis; Ore City’s Lesly Dominguez; Cross Roads’ team of Brook Locke, Alanah Logan, Lizeth Lopez, Alexis Sudduth, Calista Turner, Cassity Turner and Gabriela Vazquez; James Bowie’s Alleyah Franco; Union Grove’s team of Analeice Jones, Sophie Pyle, Jenna Scott, Gracie Stanford, Keira Taylor, Kenia Velazquez and Gracie Winn; and Douglass’ team of Isabella Ball, Georgiana Burns, Anahi Mayes, Tessa Reeves, Abigail Richardson, Leah Roach and Addie Rose Sinz.

Davis was fourth in the Class 2A Region III race with a time of 13:17.10.

The Class 2A boys race will be at 12:10 p.m. Friday.

Among those representing East Texas will be LaPoynor sophomore Jacob Scott. He was 19th in the Class 2A Region III race with a time of 18:30.70.

Also running from East Texas are Tenaha’s team of Eustorgio Flores, Marco Gonzales, Jario Hernandez, Misael Hernandez, Daniel Loredo, Evan Plata and Adrian Ramirez; New Summerfield’s team of Ary Hernandez, Jovanny Hernandez, Brayden Lueckemeyer, Raul Munoz, Andrew Ornelas, Brian Vargas and Bryan Zavala; and Douglass’ team of Tristan Ball, Drake Freeman, Cade Fuchs, Wrangler Johnson, Luke Jones, Noah Jones and Garret Karns.

Tenaha grabbed the first, second and fourth spots at the Class 2A Region III meet with Misael Hernandz, Evan Plata and Adrian Ramirez. New Summerfield’s Ary Hernandez was third.

The Class 3A girls race will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Among those representing East Texas in that race are Troup freshman Kambry Nelson and Mineola sophomore Olivia Hughes.

Hughes was sixth in the Class 3A Region II race with a time of 14:35.05, and Nelson was 18th with a time of 15:19.71.

Other East Texans in the race are Tatum’s Akeira Oden and Patience Price; Quitman’s team of Amanita Bautista, Kendall Davis, Katie Degorstiza, Madyson Pence, Bonnie Vanderschaaf, Braleigh Wood and McKenna Wood; Elysian Fields’ Cara Sims; and Atlanta’s team of Emma Allen, Markavia Garner, Addie Giesler, Aurelia Giesler, Amelia Jones, Lucy Ransom and Ella Stewart.

The Class 3A boys race is at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Among those representing East Texas in the race are Winnsboro senior David Soto and Winona sophomore Kason Miles.

Soto won the Class 3A Region II race with a time of 17:35.31. Miles was 13th with a time of 13:39.24.

Also from East Texas in the race are Waskom’s David Magdaleno; Elysian Fields’ Drew Simms and Grant Sims; Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill’s Lucas Thomas; Harmony’s Owen Clark; and Atlanta’s team of Andrew Allen, Will Davis, Landon Moore, Mathew Morin, Eli Riojas, Ethan Scott and Chris Swanson.

The Class 5A girls race is at 10 a.m. Saturday. Representing East Texas are Lufkin’s Paula Bautista; and Hallsville’s team of River Gaston, Kenzy Glass, Addison Hatchett, Kylea Hatfield, Haylea Jordan, Avery Perkins and Cara Sullens.

The Class 5A boys race is at 10:40 a.m. Saturday, Representing East Texas are Mount Pleasant’s Giovanni Calderon and Davis Lee; and Pine Tree’s Malachi Gray.

The Class 1A girls race is at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Representing East Texas is Neches’ team of Abigail Fletcher, Bre Fredrickson, Joely Jenkins, Aubrey Kincade, Lacie Macias, Libby Raine and Addison Spaith.

The Class 1A boys race is at 12:10 p.m. Saturday. Representing East Texas is Slocum’s team of Brock Evers, Elijah Grabiel, Caden Lovelady, Nathan Marr, Caleb Neal, Ayden Sarraf and Carter Sbrucsch.