Folks have gotten used to seeing the Aledo cross country program represented at state come early November of each year.
This season they are getting a double dose as, for what is believed to be the first time ever, both the Ladycats and Bearcats will be competing on the 5-kilometer course at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock on Nov. 3.
The Ladycats qualified as a team by winning the program’s first regional championship, taking the Class 5A Region I title Monday, Oct. 23 at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock. The boys qualified to join them by finishing fourth in their division.
The Ladycats scored 45 points to win convincingly over runner-up Colleyville Heritage with 82. The Bearcats finished with 135 points, while El Paso won with 104.
Freshman Micah Neal led all Aledo runners, taking the girls individual championship with a time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds over the 5K course.
The top four teams and the top 10 individuals not on those qualifying teams earned the right to compete at state.
“Both teams ran really well. Both groups attained the goals we had set for them.” said coach Mike Pinkerton. “I am so proud of these kids, and thankful for all the hard work they put in day-in and day-out.
“I’d also like to thank all the parents who have helped us so much throughout the season.”
This is the seventh consecutive year Aledo will be represented at state. Pinkerton led the Bearcats to state as a team in 2019 and 2021 previously, along with the Ladycats last season. The program also had individual qualifiers in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
In winning regionals, Neal topped the runner-up by 14 seconds. Sophomores Molly Garrison and Madison Larsen were fourth and seventh, respectively, with times of 18:38.60 and 18:50.80.
Two more sophomores rounded out the Ladycats’ scoring. Sofia Brandenburg was 21st (19:47.00) and Mykel Murry was 22nd (19:47.40).
The five fastest times comprise the team score.
Juniors Layton Ybarra and Jack Fink led the Bearcats, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively, clocking 16:10.40 and 16:10.50. Sophomore Dominick Barrera finished 30th (16:56.10), junior Luke Schabel was 43rd (17:07.80) and sophomore Anderson Smith was 71st (17:28.30).
Also running for the Ladycats were sophomore Elizabeth Griffin, 39th, 20:33.10; and freshman Mayden Mitchell, 52nd, 20:45.90. Also running for the Bearcats were freshman Tyler Connelly, 79th, 17:32.10; and sophomore Bo Merrill, 105th, 17:55.90.
For Fink, this will be his third consecutive season to compete at state. He qualified with the team in 2021 and individually last season, finishing 32nd.
Griffin, Garrison and Brandenburg competed with the Ladycats team last season at state, finishing 21st, 41st and 53rd, respectively.
At state, the girls will run at 8:30 a.m. and the boys at 9:10 a.m.
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