Marble Falls cross country sets personal records at Vista Ridge Invitational

CAPTION: Marble Falls runners Natalie Nogowski (left) and Sapana Khatri show their medals for their top five finishes at the Cedar Park Vista Ridge Invitational. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School cross country team competed at the Cedar Park Vista Ridge Invitational Aug. 21.

The Mustangs ran in the silver division of the boys 5K race. Jahir Garcia turned in the team’s best finish, clocking 18 minutes and 49 seconds for 11th on the individual leader board in the 5K race. Logan Hargraves was 24th in 19:57, Landon Fletcher came in 42nd in 20:45, and Nicolai Monette was 74th in 22:25.

“Jahir ran in the wrong race,” head coach Cody Taylor said. “He was supposed to run in the big school division. But he wound up going to the line with his boys, so he got scored separately, and it kind of killed our team score because they scored him in a different race.”

As for the Lady Mustangs, Sapana Kahtri finished fifth in the girls junior varsity 5K race in 22:14.

“She got up front, and she actually ran a really mature, controlled race,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t say she sped up each lap, but she moved up in place each lap, and it was a three-lap race, so it was three one-mile loops. I think she was eighth or ninth at the mile marker, and then moved into seventh at the two-mile marker, and by the time she came around at the two-and-a-halfish, she was in fourth or fifth. Then she she maintained that and didn’t get passed by a single person after the first lap. She ran real strong.”

In the girls junior varsity two-mile race, Natalie Nogowski won gold in 13:17, while Eleny Garcia came in 13th in 14:37, Graci Nelson was 18th in 15:14, Magnolia Payson was 32nd in 16:02, and Estefanny Perez-Mencia came in 35th in 16:14.

“That was cool to see,” the coach said. “The girls were coming off the finish line right out the gate just smile after smile. I looked over at (assistant) coach (Cody) Schroeder, and I was like, ‘Man, something really bad’s gonna happen. This is too easy, it’s going too easy right now.’ It was (personal record) after PR on that girls’ side – tons of times are just going to keep coming down. As we get more mileage under us, those times will keep dropping.”

He added that Nogowski believes she’s ready for the longer race.

“Natalie wants to run the 5K, but I don’t think she’s ready for it yet, and I ‘m just trying to keep her healthy,” the coach said. “She’s playing a lot of soccer right now, so I’m trying to instill the idea of the 5K.”

The reason, Taylor said, is because coaches want to see the cross country distances match what runners on the collegiate level run, which are 5Ks.

“I’m pretty sure the (Class) 4A schools voted for the 5K in the last survey,” he said. “I think we’re finally there in Texas where we’re not backing down from the 5K. So that’ll be nice.”

The University Interscholastic League’s Legislative Council and the Texas Commissioner of Education are charged with deciding to increase the distance or not.

RESULTS

BOYS

Varsity (117 runners)

11, Jahir Garcia, 18:49; 24, Logan Hargraves, 19:57; 42, Landon Fletcher, 20:45; 74, Nicolai Monette, 22:25

Junior varsity (65 runners)

16, Santiago Gaytan, 22:29; 18, Luke Ochoa, 22:36; 21, Adrian Lozano, 22:39; 25, Zellam Payson, 22:52, 26, Tanner Alford, 22:58; 34, Jesse Turland, 23:44; 39, Connor Kraenzel, 24:21; 40, Taylor Alford, 24:22; 41, Easton Carey, 24:27; 44, Hudson Dehorty, 24:45; 56, Liam Campbell, 25:43; 62, Mason Rutland, 31:08

GIRLS

Junior varsity

5K (246 runners)

5, Sapana Kahtri, 22:14;

Two miles (118 runners)

1, Natalie Nogowski, 13:17, 13, Eleny Garcia, 14:37; 18, Graci Nelson, 15:14; 32, Magnolia Payson, 16:02; 35, Estefanny Perez-Mencia, 16:14; 54, Tonya Hernandez, 17:07; 57, Marlei Faz, 17:16