Marble Falls cross country to rely on vets, newcomers this season
CAPTION: The 2025 Marble Falls Independent School District runners recently posed for a photo after one of their practices during the first week of practice. Courtesy photo
The Marble Falls High School cross country program started organized practices for the 2025 season last week and head coach Brenda Gonzalez said she is encouraged by several revelations.
Top of the list are the number of experienced runners returning to the boys team. The program doesn’t have a senior.
“Everyone is back,” she said.
That includes junior lettermen Owen Martin, Colton Rutland, Brazos White and Connor Yaklin and sophomore lettermen Graham Goggans and Logan Hargraves. Other sophomores are Hudson Dehorty, Landon Fletcher and Santiago Gaytan.
The team also has three freshmen: twins Tanner and Taylor Alford and J.J. Walker.
Graduate Tyler Hamblin, who was the squad’s leader a year ago, has been running with his former teammates. Gonzalez said Hamblin intends to try to walk-on at the University of Houston’s program.
“Tyler being here is big for them,” she said.
As for the Lady Mustangs, Savannah Hamblin, Tyler’s younger sister, Abigail Henderson, Hadalye Hernandez and Natalie Nagowski return. Hamblin and Hernandez posted new personal bests at the District 24-4A meet last year and Nagowski is the junior varsity individual district champion. Newcomers are freshmen Sapana Khatri and Kat Mosley and sophomore Sonoma “Sonny” Damuth.
Gonzalez said some veterans were still on vacation last week. But
“They have been showing up,” she said. “It’s a very young group.”
She praised Hamblin’s leadership, pointing out the runner makes it a point to unify the team in different ways. Sometimes it’s encouraging them to wear the same colors for practices. Or she might bring bows to give to her teammates.
“She’s a good leader,” Gonzalez said. “She’s very similar to Tyler. She’s a good athlete and a good runner. She brings some energy and welcomes everyone. She’s a good teammate and wants everyone to do well.”
The coach appreciates “the effort” they’re all putting in “from the start to the end.”
“They give me their best effort. I heard great things about (the freshmen) from the (Marble Falls) middle school coaches,’ Gonzalez said. “I’m excited for the freshman group of girls and the sophomore group of girls.”
The runners start workouts earlier than other sports because of the training that’s required to meet this sport’s challenges. The boys course is a 5K, while the girls run two miles.
Last season the Mustangs finished second at the District 24-4A meet paced by Hamblin, who won the individual district championship by clocking 15 minutes and 54 seconds. Goggans was ninth overall in 17:21, Owen came in 11th in 17:22, White was 22nd in 18:41, and Hargraves took 23rd in 18:58.
The Lady Mustangs were sixth overall.
The 2025 season begins Aug. 16 at the Mud, Sweat and Cheers Relay hosted by College Station High School at the Top tier Training Camp at Caldwell. The district meet is Oct. 7 hosted by Lampasas High School.
