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Johnson’s quest for gold remains on course
BY Matt Welch mwelch@acnpapers.com
A district already lauded for its depth in football and volleyball, 8-5A appears to hold quite a bit of sway in the cross country scene as well.
With the exception of a well-rounded surge by Southlake Carroll, Saturday’s Region I Championships looked to be very much a rerun of the District 8-5A Meet one week prior.
With the top three teams and top 10 individuals qualifying for the Class 5A Cross Country State Championships at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock on Saturday, District 8-5A advanced four total teams and four individual runners from last Saturday’s meet, held at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock.
Lutz, who blasted his district opposition by 46 seconds last weekend, eclipsed that mark against his regional competition by finishing 52 seconds ahead of the pack with a time of 14:02.06 and a first-place finish.
“Craig had a great run,” said Steve Telaneus, Marcus head coach. “He set a personal record on the course by 23 seconds and helped the team set the school record by 3:40, which is pretty significant. Craig ran well and Sean Canavin ran well. But when you set a school record by that much, you can't really single anyone out because they all did great to reach that achievement.”
As was the case at the district meet, it was another well-rounded team performance by the Marauders that carried the day on the boys’ side. Placing each of its top five runners in the three-mile race’s overall top 15, Marcus recorded the lowest team point total ever at the Region I Meet, posting a 33.
In addition to Lutz, the Marauders’ charge was spearheaded by Canavin, who clocked in at 15:05.63 to place third. Also contributing to the record-setting point total was Matt Mazur (15:17.38, fifth), Chase Brown (15:37.11, 11th) and Ryan Thomas (15:40.81, 13th).
For the dominance exhibited by Marcus in the boys draw, it was another commanding performance by Johnson that brought the Wildcat within reach of her first cross country state championship.
Finishing nine seconds ahead of her competition, Johnson recorded a two-mile run of 10:53.10 for first place from Lubbock, outlasting a familiar field along the way. Placing second on the run was Plano West’s Natalie Baker at 11:04.25, an effort that helmed a 114-point third-place team finish for the Lady Wolves and, as a result, a trip to Round Rock and the Class 5A State Meet.
“Both the boys and girls teams did a great job all season and it paid off at regionals,” said Richard Grubbs, West head coach. “They will cherish the memory of running at the state meet.”
Aiding in West’s finish was Rexi Parcells, who tabbed seventh place at 11:21.78, plus Gena Hurst (11:59.64, 31st), Savannah Borgsmiller (12:02.77, 34th) and Zoie Wilson (12:24.62, 67th).
In team competition, West was outlasted by fellow District 8-5A bunkmate Flower Mound, which took second overall with 91 points. The Jaguars combined for three runs that eclipsed the top 25, led Connor Ward (11:06.74, fourth) and supplanted by Taylor Light (11:34.95, 12th) and Kirsten Zeller (11:48.97, 22nd).
Coppell’s Kaleigh Ervin (11:12.10, fifth) and Hebron’s Rachel Jones (11:27.59, eighth) also punched their respective tickets to state.
But while it may have placed only one runner in the top 10, Southlake Carroll turned in the most well-rounded performance of the meet in advancing both its boys and girls squads to state. In the girls draw, the Lady Dragons took first with 78 points, despite not registering a single top 10 finish. Carroll managed to get all five of its runners in the top 30, including Sarah Roe (11:35.61, 13th), Shelby Chapin (11:36.08, 14th), Morgan Baulier (11:47.08, 20th), Courtney Kriegshauser (11:47.62, 21st) and Rachel Harper (11:55.48, 27th).
The Dragons posted second in the boys draw, totaling 68 points. Those runs were paced Joe Sansone at 15:19.51 for 10th place with Jordan Chavez tabbing 12th place with a time of 15:26.39.
Third place went to Flower Mound at 152 points, behind the running of Isaac Qureshi (15:49.28, 27th) and Jonathan Wyatt (15:56.86, 32nd).
While it may not have secured a state berth as a team, Hebron still advanced two people to Round Rock as Kevyn Hoyos (15:04.04) and Robert Dominic (15:10.70) placed fourth and sixth, respectively.
“Last year we sent one individual and this year we are sending three to state,” said Jason Grennier, Hebron head coach. “Hopefully we can continue building on that and get some teams out there in the future. I think Rob and Kevin can be right in the middle to fight for a medal. It will be a little tougher for Rachel because there are so many talented runners with similar times on the girls side.
“But after last week, I wouldn't put anything past her.”
Finishing just outside the top 10 pack, Plano East’s Nikolai Horbovetz took 13th with a time of 15:29.71.
In advancing to state, Lutz and Johnson emerge as likely favorites in their respective races. And after having already seen the district and regional fields, the toughest part of the cross country postseason may already be in the rearview mirror.
“The regional meets are of a much higher caliber of competition than the state meet,” Grubbs said, “because the best 12 teams are not always there. The fourth team place (Coppell) in our region could beat the top three teams in Region IV. So, there is no mental difference in preparing for this meet than any other.”
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