Burnet, Marble Falls cross country meet at state preview

CAPTION: Marble Falls junior Blake Cockrell is the first Mustang to finish the Class 4A race of the Hoka/Round Rock McNeil Invitational Sept. 22. Courtesy photo

The Burnet and Marble Falls high school cross country teams competed at the Hoka/Round Rock McNeil Invitational Sept. 22-23, which is thought of as the state preview because of its location. The meet is conducted at Old Settler’s Park, site of the state meet.

The Bulldogs finished eighth overall in the team standings, while the Mustangs were 26th.

The county’s top finisher was Burnet junior Victor Aviles, who was 12th in 16 minutes and 59.10. Other Burnet finishers include junior Isaias Zarate, who was 21st in 17:19.10, freshman Hector Vega, who finished 54th in 18:04.60, junior Gustavo Vega, came in 79th in 18:33.60, and sophomore Josvanny Ramierez, who was 106th in 18:57.10.

Marble Falls junior Blake Cockrell was the first Mustang who crossed the finish line in 18:20.10 for 67th overall followed by junior Ezekiel Atkinson at 141st in 19:32.30, sophomore Hunter Holder came in 147th in 19:36.40, freshman Owen Martin was 168th in 20:10.20, freshman Colton Rutland at No. 170 in 20:11.40, and freshman Connor Yaklin was 239th in 21:31.00.

“Our freshmen did as well as they could,” head coach Chris Schrader said. “They’re not used to running against 200 people. Hunter Holder was two minutes faster than last year. “

Marble Falls senior Nick Dahl and junior Tyler Hamblin competed in the silver division of the meet that featured top runners, no matter the classification or size of their school.

Hamblin finished 22nd in 16:41.10 and Dahl was 27th in 16:47.40.

In the girls Class 4A division race, the Lady Dawgs finished 12th overall. Burnet sophomore Asah Roy finished seventh in 12:07.50. Freshman Abby Bennight was 48th in 13:13, senior Amelia Griffin finished 80th in 13:45.20, junior Kori Hale was 87th in 13:49.20, junior Brooke Bowman came in 95th in 13:56.80, senior Adriana Briggs came in 97th in 13:58.20, and senior Kaycie Banton was 98th in 13:58.30. Sophomore Halle Maxwell finished 127th in 14:18.30, senior Haylie Bartlett came in 191st in 15:17.90, and senior Cierra Blunt-Culpepper was 208th in 16:00.50.

In the girls junior varsity race, Burnet was third overall Junior Marissa Aviles was ninth in 15:02.80, sophomore Erica Flores came in 15th in 15:27.20, junior Hannah Webster was 16th in 15:27.50, sophomore Josie McDavid came in 18th in 15:44.20, freshman Savannah Griffin was 22nd in 15:50.20, junior Jaylee Messer finished 24th in 15:54.20, sophomore Myricle Calhoun was 31st in 16:23.70, senior Amberlyn Glasscock finished 39th in 16:45.90, freshman Makayla Cox was 45th in 17:13.90, sophomore Carina Flores finished 76th in 19:03.03, and senior Mara Davila was 93rd in 21:02.40.

Marble Falls freshman Ines Ruiz finished 27th in 16:06.

The District 24-4A meet, of which Burnet and Marble Falls will meet once more, is happening Monday, Oct. 9, at Marble Falls High School’s cross country course. The Mustangs won the district title and the Bulldogs finished as the runners-up.

Both programs bring the best out in each other, and Schrader believes that won’t be any different this year.

“Burnet is loaded and coming,” he said. “Marble Falls has work to do. Y’all are going to have to start racing. We have two weeks to start getting our heads up and get ready to go.”

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CAPTION: Marble Falls runners Tyler Hamblin (left) and Nick Dahl are running in the silver division of the Hoka/Round Rock McNeil Invitational Sept. 23 Courtesy photo