XC Boys take 1st, girls 4th in Plainview Invitational
By Melissa McCaghren
Slatonite GM
The Slaton Tiger Cross Country teams got a taste of how District was shaping up Saturday morning (Sept. 18) when they competed in the Plainview Invitational.
The boys won the meet with 34 points, while the girls finished fourth with 92 points. The lowest score, based on individual finishes, determines team placing.
Head Coach Landon Sims said he was pleased with how this race turned out. He switched to this meet from another so he could take a closer look at the District teams competing.
“I thought it went really well, the boys ran a very good race, they all ran their best times of the season and beat a really strong Dimmitt team to win the meet,” he said. “The girls did outstanding. It was 11:30 when they ran so it was a lot hotter, but their effort was off the charts. They competed really well on Saturday.”
Top runner for the boys was Elijah Culver, who finished second with a time of 16:41.
Other teammates placing were Curtis Holland, sixth (18:02.03), Xavier Riojas, seventh (18:02.55), Isaiah Chapa, ninth (18:20), Thomas Cardenas, 19th (19:11), Ishmal Gonzales, 21st (19:39), Ivan Venzor, 22nd (20:16) and Anguel Lopez, 23rd (20:26).
Top runner for the girls was 8. Kaitlyn Parker, eighth place with a time of 14:06.
Others teammates placing were Kat Castillo, 11th (14:17), Kira Cogburn, 22nd (15:17) Kaylynn Salazar, 26th (15:44), Meagan Hersom, 32nd (16:27) Desirae Chapa, 34th (16:45), Presley Alford, 37th (17:11) and Lillian Powell, 38th (17:41).
This week, the varsity teams will run at the Lubbock Invitational Saturday (Sept. 25) at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock. The girls will run at 3 p.m. while the boys will run at 3:30 p.m.
Sims said this meet will help the teams prepare for the District meet, which also will be conducted at Mae Simmons.
“It will give us a good preview for District that is for sure, I believe every district teams will be there, so it gives us a good chance to see where we stand with those teams,” he said.
Event and times are as of press time Tuesday (Sept. 21).
