Tiger cross country teams race in unique Rust Buster Relays

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The Slaton Tiger cross country team had a bit of an unusual race competing in the LCU Rust Buster Relays Saturday (Aug. 28) at Lubbock Christian University’s Golf Course.

Head Coach Landon Sims said the event was not a traditional race – two miles for the girls and three miles for the boys.

Instead, teams were paired off and ran their races. The girls each ran a one and a half mile loop for three miles total while the boys each had to run the lap twice, totaling six miles.

Sims added it was a different race, but one that the team could use to hone their skills. “It was unusual for the High School because we ran an actual meet in Midland last week,” he said. “However it is a good way to start the season for junior high some have never run cross country before so it gives them a taste of what it is about.”

Top team for the boys was Elijah Culver and Isaiah Chapa, who placed 17th with a total combined time of 36:17.

Also finishing were Xavier Riojas and Thomas Cardenas, 44th (39:10), Ishmal Gonzales and Ivan Venzor, 56th (40:38), Anguel Lopez and Curtis Holland, 60th (41:00), and Dausyn Claborn, Alberto Luera and Trevor Clearley, 96th (46:42).

Top finisher for the girls was Kathryn Castillo and Kira Cogburn, 52nd with a combined time of 23:06.

Also finishing were Kaitlyn Parker and Kaylynn Salazar, 72nd (24:18), Presley Alford and Kamryn Barrera, 77th (24:32); Lillian Powell and Meagan Hersom, 92nd (26:04), Desirae Chapa and Gabby Romo, 96th (26:27); and Giselle Mendez, Annesa Gonzales and Jocelyn Santos, 105th (27:39).

This Saturday (Sept. 4), Slaton will host their own relay, Slaton Invitational, Old Slaton Golf Course.

Sims said they were looking forward to having a race back at home after several years. “We just wanted to bring a cross country meet back to the community of Slaton. Back in April, Elijah Culver and Zach Gonzales were running the course to prepare for track and I saw the potential,” he said.

High School girls will compete at 9 a.m. and the boys at 9:30 a.m., while the Junior High girls team will start at 8 a.m. and Junior High boys at 8:30 a.m.

Teams competing will be Slaton, Sudan, Roosevelt, Brownfield, Lamesa and Southland.