Marble Falls cross country continues dropping times
CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School cross country team competed at the Pro-Fit Invitational. The team includes head coach Brenda Gonzalez (front row, left), Savannah Hamblin, Hadalye Hernandez, Abigail Henderson, Chloe Ellis, Ines Ruiz, Reese Massey, Tyler Hamblin; Graham Goggans (second row, left), Connor Yaklin, Hunter Holder, Brazos White, Owen Martin, Matthew Ozuna, Santiago Gaytan, Logan Hargraves, Hudson Dehorty, Landon Fletcher and assistant coach Alex Lozoya. Courtesy photo
The Marble Falls High School cross country team brought home a couple of medals from the Pro-Fit Invitational in Temple Aug. 30.
Reese Massey won the girls varsity two-mile race, clocking 12 minutes and 51.7 seconds. Tyler Hamblin was third in the Class 5A and 6A boys 5K in 16:03.2.
This is the third gold medal Massey has earned in as many races.
“She definitely wants to be the best and put out her best effort,” head coach Brenda Gonzalez said. “I told her it was like any other race. She was way ahead. She was ahead of everyone else by almost a minute.”
Massey’s drive to be the best is what fuels her. It’s why she trains with some of the Mustangs, who push her to be faster.
“We have different groups,” Gonzalez said. “I call her group ‘Reese’s group.’ (On Sept. 3) I put her with (some of the Mustangs). It was a hard workout. It challenged her in a different way. She isn’t leading, but it’s moving her up with the older kids to challenge her in different ways. Even in her warmups, she wants to do it well.”
Gonzalez said she was happy with the way the other Lady Mustangs ran.
“The kids were tired,” she said. “Even though they were tired, they stayed around the same time they did last week.”
She pointed out that Savannah Hamblin played on the varsity team tennis team that swept Salado in District 25-4A play the day before. Her addition to the squad was because another Lady Mustang wasn’t playing. And Savannah Hamblin contributed to Marble Falls 19-0 win against the Eagles.
“She ran well after competing in so many matches,” the coach said. “That was huge.”
Chloe Ellis was battling allergies and congestion but chose to run anyway, Hadalye Hernandez “didn’t like her time” and Abigail Henderson set a new personal best. All of that encouraged the coach.
“I look forward to seeing what (Ellis) can do,” Gonzalez said. “I’m seeing good things.”
As for the boys Class 5A and 6A race, Tyler Hamblin, Owen Martin, Graham Goggans, Hunter Holder, Brazos White and Logan Hargraves all competed and ran well.
“I figured the 5A and 6A race was more competitive,” Gonzalez said. “When I looked at the times in the 1A-4A race, it was kind of even. Tyler got third, and I think he was a little conservative.”
The elder Hamblin ran the same race as a sophomore and finished in over 19 minutes. As a senior, he was done in 16:03.2. Gonzalez used his times to show his teammates what they can accomplish, too, if they stick with it and train.
“I have freshmen who are running in the 17s and 18s,” she said. “The dedication and commitment is what matters. I was happy for Tyler. He had a good performance.”
This was the first 5K race for freshmen Goggans and Hargraves.
“They ran well together,” the coach said, noting that Hargraves, who is a member of the high school swim team, participated in a practice the day before the meet. “He’s going to have to manage being a multi-sport athlete.”
The others competed in the 1A-4A division, and Gonzalez noted the similar times.
“I think they know they’re fighting for that seventh spot (on the varsity team),” she said. “I have to see who’s going to bring it. We have three freshmen who ran their first ever three miles (race). They did well.”
Tyler Hamblin, Martin and Goggans will compete at the Southlake Carroll Invitational Saturday, Sept. 7.
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RESULTS
Boys
Class 5A-6A division
3, Tyler Hamblin, 16:03.2; 37, Owen Martin, 17:17.4; 52, Graham Goggans, 17:34.1; 105, Hunter Holder, 18:09.9; 112, Brazos White, 18:15.1; 120, Logan Hargraves, 18:27.2
Class 1A-4A division
77, Matthew Ozuna, 19:28.4; 78, Colton Rutland, 19:29.7, 108, Connor Yaklin, 20:07.8; 136, Landon Fletcher, 21:10.2; 152, Santiago Gaytan, 21:58.5; 159, Hudson Dehorty, 22:26.5
Girls
1A-4A division
1, Reese Massey, 12:51.7; 51, Chloe Ellis, 15:23.9; 61, Ines Ruiz, 15:31.0; 95, Savannah Hamblin, 16:19.7; 132, Hadalye Hernandez, 17:56.3; 133, Abigail Henderson, 17:58.6
