Marble Falls cross country continues dropping times at state preview

CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School cross country team includes head coach Brenda Gonzalez (front row, left), Graham Goggans, Connor Yaklin, Reese Massey, Katelynn Folts, Chloe Ellis, Abbie Henderson, Savannah Hamblin and Tyler Hamblin; Matthew Ozuna (back row, left), Brazos White, Owen Martin, Colton Rutland, Santiago Gaytan, Hudson Dehorty, Landon Fletcher, Logan Hargraves, Hunter Holder and assistant coach Alex Lozoya. Contributed photo

Wanting to get a glimpse of the University Interscholastic League’s cross country state course, the Marble Falls High School program made its way to Old Settlers Park Sept. 20-21.

Meet officials organized a gold division and a silver division Sept. 21. In order to compete in the gold race, runners had to meet a qualifying standard.

One Mustang, senior Tyler Hamblin, met that standard and finished 12th with a time of 15 minutes and 40.7 seconds on the 5K course. The race featured 265 runners. Hamblin’s qualifying time was 15:38 that he set at the Southlake XC Invite two weeks ago.

Head coach Brenda Gonzalez noted Hamblin found another gear in the final 800 meters.

“He got boxed in,” she said. “When I saw him, he was 15th. He passed someone. There were some good things. It was a learning experience and staying hungry. There are certain things I want him to do better that keeps him hungry for the next race. He was OK with today.”

Two others, sophomore Owen Martin and freshman Graham Goggans, competed in the silver division that also was a 5K course. Martin finished 66th in 17:37.7, which set a new personal record by seven seconds, while Goggans was 86th in 17:54.4 out of 206 runners.

After the race, Martin indicated he “could have gone faster.”

“Let’s see what we can do can next time,” Gonzalez told him. “It’s another learning experience. He’s a sophomore. We’re trying to figure it out.”

She told Goggans that most runners don’t set new personal bests in every race.

“You have to be competitive and know your competition and go for it,” she said. “It’s learning how to finish a race and knowing to push and not being afraid. It’s being competitive and getting the bulldog inside you out. You’re learning how to go for it and compete. They know they did some good things to get better.”

The rest of the program competed in the Classes 1A-4A divisions Sept. 20.

The Lady Mustangs all posted new personal bests or season bests.

Freshman Reese Massey finished seventh in 11:57.80 to set a new personal record, while senior Chloe Ellis was done in 13:44.9 for 139th to set a new season best. Freshman Savannah Hamblin clocked 14:48.90 for 252nd, freshman Abigail Henderson finished in 16:06.30 for 314th, and freshman Katelynn Folts was done in 19:54.90 for 368th.

Massey added her fourth medal in a row.

“That was the biggest meet any of those girls have ever run,” Gonzalez said, noting it had 369 runners. “Reese set a new personal record by 30 seconds. Her calf was bothering her, but she’s a competitor. She wants to get better. Her efforts at practices are high quality. The details she puts in, and she broke the 12-minute mark.”

The coach pointed out that getting in the 14s is huge for Savannah Hamblin.

“Abbie is slowly getting better and better,” she said. “Katelynn’s been putting in the work. She had tears of joy because of where she started to where she is now. She went from the 23s to the 22s. Her finishes are getting better from the first time to the last.”

The Mustangs also had some great finishes.

Sophomore Brazos White led Marble Falls with a time of 19:30.7, good enough for 155th followed by sophomore Colton Rutland, who clocked 20:04.40 for 205th, freshman Logan Hargarves finished in 20:24.90 for 229th, junior Hunter Holder was done in 20:30.8 for 235th, and senior Matthew Ozuna clocked 21:44.6 for 288th. The race had 339 runners.

“The times didn’t indicate how well they raced,” Gonzalez said. “They looked good. The times didn’t indicate that.”

In the junior varsity division, freshman Landon Fletcher finished in 22:55 for 69th overall, followed by freshman Santiago Gaytan, who was done in 26:01.20 for 144th, and freshman Hudson Dehorty clocked 27:10.50 for 173rd.

“Landon did a good job,” the coach said. “He’s been consistent and doing a good job. He’s getting better every meet. I’m very proud of them all.”

Marble Falls hosts its Leonel Manzano Invitational and Rick Edwards Memorial meet Saturday, Sept. 28.

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RESULTS

BOYS

Gold Division (5,000 meters; 265 runners)

12, Tyler Hamblin, 15:40.70

Silver Division (5,000 meters, 206 runners)

66, Owen Martin, 17:37.70 (personal record); 86, Graham Goggans, 17:54.4

1A-4A Division

Varsity (339 runners)

155, Brazos White, 19:30.7; 205, Colton Rutland, 20:04.40; 229, Logan Hargraves, 20:24.90; 235, Hunter Holder, 20:30.8; 288, Matthew Azuna, 21:44.6

Junior varsity (226 runners)

69, Landon Fletcher, 22:55; 144, Santiago Gaytan, 26:1.20; 173, Hudson Dehorty, 27:10.50

GIRLS

1A-4A Division (369 runners)

7, Reese Massey, 11:57.80; 139, Chloe Ellis, 13:44.90; 252, Savannah Hamblin, 14:48.90; 314, Abigail Henderson, 16:06.30; 368, Katelynn Folts, 19:54.90