Marble Falls cross country performs well Manzano-Edwards meet

CAPTION: Marble Falls High School runners Hunter Holder (left), Santiago Gaytan, Logan Hargraves, Graham Goggans, Owen Martin, Joaquim Edwards, Jahir Garcia, Landon Fletcher and J.J. Walker wear their gold medals after winning their home meet. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls Independent School District cross country program hosted its annual Leonel Manzano-Rick Edwards Memorial meet Sept. 26 and the runners posted their fastest times of the year.

The Mustangs won the varsity division thanks to five runners finishing in the top 10 and two others finishing in the top 15.

Leading the way was sophomore Graham Goggans, who took individual gold, while junior Owen Martin earned silver and sophomore Logan Hargraves took bronze.

“Graham Goggans and Owen Martin both had incredible bounce-back races after a tough outing at McNeil,” head coach Brenda Gonzalez said. “I was really proud to see them respond the way they did and break the 17-minute mark. Logan Hargraves had an incredible run and really closed the gap between our first and second runners. It was a great race for him. Joaquim Edwards also competed well, and I was pleased with how Jahir Garcia and J.J. Walker ran. Overall, I was proud to see the group finish close together and race with that kind of competitiveness. It was a great prep for (the District 24-4A meet).”

Freshman Joaquim Edwards finished seventh and classmate Jahir Garcia was 10th.

Gonzalez noted those freshmen finishing in the top 10 is “a huge deal.”

“They ran really well, and I loved seeing Jahir close the gap between himself and Joaquim,” she said. “That kind of effort right before district is exactly what we want to see — guys stepping up, competing hard and tightening up those gaps.”

On the girls side, sophomore Reese Massey was sixth overall in the individual standings to lead the Lady Mustangs to a third-place finish in the team standings.

“Reese is getting more and more comfortable with each race, and this weekend was no different,” the coach said. “She competed well, ran with confidence and is really hitting her stride at the right time. I’m proud of her.”

Contributing to the team score were Sapana Kahtri, who was 12th in 13:32.80, Katerina Moseley, who finished 20th in 14:14.10, Savannah Hamblin, who was 21st in 14:15.20, and Graci Nelson, who came in 25th in 14:25.40.

The coach called their run to the podium “a big confidence boost.”

“Sapana closed the gap on Reese, which was huge for her,” she said. “Katerina raced really well after being out since Lago Vista. Savannah and Graci have done a great job of working together, and I love how the girls are closing gaps between each other and making one another better. Hadalye Hernandez (36th in 15:07.30) also had a strong race. I’m proud of what they’re building in the program – it’s exciting momentum heading into district.”

Not to be outdone, the boys junior varsity team was second in the standings.

“I really love the way they’re working together as a team and putting it all together when it matters,” Gonzalez said. “Ending the regular season as varsity meet champions, and with our JV boys finishing second led by Connor Yaklin and Hudson Dehorty was a great way to finish. Several athletes set (personal records) on the day, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

The district meet is Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Lampasas.

CAPTION: Reese Massey (front, left), Katerina Moseley, Hadalye Hernandez Savannah Hamblin (white cap) and the rest of the Lady Mustangs gather before taking their places at the starting line. Courtesy photo

RESULTS

BOYS

Varsity (46 runners)

1, Graham Goggans, 16:41.80; 2, Owen Martin, 16:46.20; 3, Logan Hargraves, 16:48.30; 7, Joaquim Edwards, 17:16.70; 10, Jahir Garcia, 17:51.40; 14, Jerry Walker, 18:06.80; 16, Colton Rutland, 18:22.40; 17, Colton Mason (Faith Academy), 18:35.30; 18, Seasmus Rasmussen (Faith Academy), 18:45; 22, Santiago Gaytan, 19:07.60; 24, Landon Fletcher, 19:23.40; 41, Hunter Holder, 21:13.70; 43, Joel Sain (Faith Academy), 22:04.80;

Junior varsity (27 runners)

5, Connor Yaklin, 19:39.50; 9, Hudson Dehorty, 20:45.50; 15, Tanner Alford, 21:44.10; 20, Easton Carey, 22:41.60; 25 Taylor Alford, 23:28.80

Eighth grade (121 runners)

9, Everett Brasher (Marble Falls), 12:16.40; 27, Jakob Bales (Marble Falls), 13:03.70; 32, Isaiah Cruz (Marble Falls), 13:11.10; 38, Alexander Machuca (Marble Falls), 13:20.70; 42, Cooper Haltom (Marble Falls), 13:25.20; 57, Cadyn Lash (Faith Academy), 14:24.70; 61, Adrian Lozano, 14:28; 89, Liam Campbell (Marble Falls), 15:55.60; 102, Logan Christian (Marble Falls), 17:27.10; 115, Lane Campbell (Marble Falls), 20:07.70

Seventh grade (128 runners)

19, Aiden Rodriguez (Faith Academy), 13:36.60; 25, Reese Butler (Marble Falls), 13:51.10; 28, Zach Dunn (Marble Falls), 13:54.50; 44, Anson Cox (Marble Falls), 14:31; 49, Van Michael (Marble Falls), 14:44.40; 59, Ben Mycue (Faith Academy), 15:17; 100, Charlie Dean (Marble Falls), 17:49; 112, Peyton Bennett, 18:51.70; 123, Parker McKinney (Faith Academy), 21:40.70; 124, Justus Rasmussen (Faith Academy), 22:09.90

GIRLS

Varsity (51 runners)

6, Reese Massey, 12:55.60; 12, Sapana Kahtri, 13:32.80; 20, Katerina Moseley, 14:14.10; 21, Savannah Hamblin, 14:15.20; 25, Graci Nelson, 14:25.40; 36, Hadalye Hernandez, 15:07.30; 38, Marlei Faz, 15:21.70; 39, Sonoma Damuth, 15:25.20; 40, Jasmine Young (Faith Academy), 15:26.90; 44, Abigail Henderson, 16:37.80; 50, Selby Sanchez (Faith Academy), 20:24.40

Eighth grade (113 runners)

11, Eleny Garcia (Marble Falls), 14:18; 39, Elissa Solorzano (Marble Falls), 15:47.40; 53, Tonya Hernandez (Marble Falls), 16:29.80; 64, Annyka Heyen (Marble Falls), 16:56.60; 69, Martha Campos (Marble Falls), 17:11.50; 90, Patricia Spruill (Marble Falls), 18:33.90; 101, Samantha Yaklin (Marble Falls), 20:46.80; 106, Olivia Meija (Marble Falls), 21:55.40

Seventh grade (119 runners)

2, Josie Brasher (Marble Falls), 13:22.80; 32, Sofia Lozano (Marble Falls), 16:03.70; 39, Layla Ojeda, 16:33.80; 40, Quanah Hall, 16:35.70; 52, Blakely Graff (Marble Falls), 17:23.20; 64, Skye Figueroa, 18:27.70; 105, Isabella Rangel (Marble Falls), 22:07.30

CAPTION: Junior varsity runners Hudson Dehorty (left), Tanner Alford, Connor Yaklin, Easton Carey and Taylor Alford complete an impressive run at their home meet. Courtesy photo