New meet record, personal bests highlight Leo Manzano Invitational at Marble Falls

CAPTION: Marble Falls runners Blake Cockrell and Marco Almazan finish first and fifth at the Leonel Manzano Invitational Oct. 1. Photo by Brynn Holland/Ludecke Photography

Area cross country runners showed their talent and grit during the Leonel Manzano Invitational Saturday, Oct. 1, at Marble Falls High School.

The meet served as a District 24-4A preview for Burnet, Georgetown Gateway, Jarrell, Lago Vista and Lampasas by allowing members to experience the course and check out the competition. And they weren’t disappointed beginning with the winner of the boys Class 5A and 6A division — Burnet senior Hudson Bennett, who clocked 15 minutes and 27.4 seconds for a new meet record.

Marble Falls runners Nick Dahl, a junior, and Tyler Hamblin, a sophomore, finished in the top 12 of the division by running 28 seconds faster than other Mustang runners on the course in the history of the meet.

Dahl clocked 16:12.3 for fifth at the meet and eighth fastest in the program history, while Hamblin finished in 16:14.8 for ninth at the meet and 12th fastest in program history.

“Tyler and Nick continue to improve with each workout and each race,” Marble Falls head coach Chris Schrader said.

Mustang Blake Cockrell won the Class 4A division thanks to finishing in 17:18.

“Blake seized the moment and won the race with a blazing fast last 500 meters,” Schrader said. “He was taking down the runners ahead of him when he came onto the soccer fields. As each race progresses, Blake becomes a more confident racer.”

Also competing in the Class 4A division was Faith Academy of Marble Falls.

“This was a very competitive meet and with some strong cross country teams,” head coach Steve McCannon said. “This was a great opportunity to run locally and compete with teams that will make us better. We need to take it up one notch as we head to the meets that really count — district and state. We need to be more consistent and confident. We were in good position at the halfway point. I know we will be ready when it counts.”

In the girls varsity two-mile race, Faith Murphy of Faith Academy won the race in 11:51.30.

“Faith had another great race tactically and picked up another great win,” McCannon said. “She is ready to compete.”

Marble Falls’ Tori Thompson was 14th in 13:10.01 for a new personal best by 63 seconds, while teammate Carmella Lozano was 48th in 14:45.3 for a new personal best by 1:02.

“Tori Thompson and Carmella Lozano handled themselves amazingly well,” Schrader said. “These two young ladies are training extremely hard and the results become more focused as the season progresses.”

The Lady Mustangs junior varsity won this division. Many of the runners also are soccer players.

“These young ladies show up at 6:30A a.m., and they are a committed and tough group of athletes,” Schrader said. “Our soccer team is looking great, and we plan on running some of these girls on the varsity at the district meet. It’s amazing what a little bit of work will do for an athlete. (We coaches) love watching the school pride and team chemistry as each athlete finds that place where digging deep when the chips are on the line is paying dividends.”

Faith Academy will compete at the Leander Founders Classical Academy Meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8.

Marble Falls and Burnet will compete at the district meet Monday, Oct. 10, at Marble Falls High School 2101 Mustang Drive in Marble Falls.

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RESULTS

BOYS (5K)

Class 5A and 6A

1, Hudson Bennett (Burnet), 15:27.4 (new meet record); 5, Nick Dahl (Marble Falls), 16:12.3 (ranks eighth all time in top finishes); 9, Tyler Hamblin (Marble Falls), 16:14.8 (ranks 12th all time in top finishes); 12, Victor Aviles (Burnet), 16:25.30

Class 4A

Varsity

1, Blake Cockrell (Marble Falls), 17:18; 5, Marco Almazan (Marble Falls), 17:35; 10, Isaias Zarate (Burnet), 17:37.90; 18, Ezekiel Atkinson (Marble Falls), 18:10.9; 25, Jett Murphy (Faith Academy), 18:50.70; 30, William Eppler (Faith Academy), 19:10.10; 39, Josvanny Ramierez (Burnet), 19:41.90; 45, Will Lewis (Faith Academy), 20:29.40; 47, Gustavk Vega (Burnet), 20:39; 53, Hunter Holder (Marble Falls) 21:49; 54, Derek Hillman, 22:01.9; 68, Noah Frederick (Faith Academy), 23:28.50

Junior Varsity

16, Matthew Resendez (Burnet), 20:48.60; 23, Thomas McAnally (Burnet), 22:33.30; 34, Andrew Resendez (Burnet), 24:41.30

GIRLS (two miles)

Class 4A

Varsity

1, Faith Murphy (Faith Academy), 11:51.30; 6, Asah Roy (Burnet), 12:26.80; 14, Tori Thompson (Marble Falls), 13:10.01 (new personal best); 16, Amelia Griffin (Burnet), 13:20.30; 19, Kori Haile (Burnet), 13:22.60; 21, Cierra Blunt-Culpepper (Burnet) 13:25.90; 28, Halle Maxwell (Burnet), 13:47.90; 32, Autumn Stires (Burnet), 13:51; 33, Caroline Valencia 13:51.10; 45, Mackenzie Ahrlett (Faith Academy), 14:33; 46, Nicole Rorie (Burnet), 14:34.20; 48, Carmella Lozano (Marble Falls), 14:45.3; 50, Claire Poage (Faith Academy), 14:36.30; 53, Brooke Bowman (Burnet), 14:48.80; 54, Kara Kwan (Faith Academy), 59, Ella Schooler (Faith Academy), 15:07.50; 60, Audri Poage (Faith Academy), 15:12.40; 62, Carly Owens (Faith Academy), 15:30.10; 71, Susanna Slyker (Faith Academy), 17:26.40; 72, Haley Kruger (Faith Academy), 18:30.60; 73, Chloe Ellis (Marble Falls), 21:28.10

Junior Varsity

Marble Falls won the team race

1, Josie McDavid (Burnet), 14:26.80; 5, Leslie Camacho (Burnet), 15:17.60; 6, Amberlyn Glasscock (Burnet), 15:18.30; 9, Lynette Sital (Marble Falls), 15:39.1; 13, Ashley Ferreira (Marble Falls), 15:58.4; 20, Citaly Gonzales (Marble Falls), 16:22.2; 21, Briseah Rivera (Marble Falls), 16:44.4; 23, Jaylee Messer (Burnet), 17:09.30; 33, Angelee Shaw (Marble Falls), 17:08.8; 24, Calie Brydon (Marble Falls), 17:16.1; 28, Dluce Maclas (Marble Falls), 17:24.9; 34, Alizae Gonzales (Marble Falls), 17:59.2; 35, Haley France (Marble Falls), 17:59.5; 37, Ruby Carrillo (Marble Falls), 18:10.4; 39, Allison Harris (Marble Falls), 18:24.3; 42, Sofia Bolanos (Marble Falls), 19:12.5; 44, Beyonce Aldava (Marble Falls), 19:21.6; 46, Amanda Rivera (Marble Falls), 21:53.0; 47, Andrea Olvera (Marble Falls), 22:59.1; 48, Ava McNamara (Marble Falls), 23:02.8; 49, Miranda Martin (Marble Falls), 24:16.4.