Molly Garrison had a flashback during the Class 5A Cross Country Meet Friday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
"As I ran past the spot where I passed out last year I said to myself, 'Hey, I'm still on my feet!'" the sophomore Aledo Ladycat said.
And, unlike last year, which ended in disappointment just a few hundred feet from the finish line, she jetted to a 12th-place individual finish. It was part of an unforgettable day for the Ladycats as a whole as they finished second in the team standings with 81 points, second only to another powerhouse, Lucas Lovejoy with 40.
It is believed to be the best finish for an Aledo cross country team at state.
Garrison clocked a time of 18 minutes, 24.9 seconds over the 5-kilometer course.
Freshman Micah Neal had the best overall finish for Aledo. She placed seventh individually with a time of 18:14.4.
"You want to stay out of the comfort zone," Neal said of pushing herself throughout the race. "I'm really proud of us. We ran really close, and this was a great way to end the season."
Coach Mike Pinkerton said he felt entering state the Ladycats had the potential to make history.
"Going in I thought we were a top-three team. That's just how well the kids have been running all year long," Pinkerton said. "Micah is amazing. All these girls are amazing.
"And Molly, my gosh I am just so happy for her, especially after what happened last year."
The Bearcats finished 10th among the boys division, which was also won by Lovejoy. Jack Fink had the highest individual finish, placing 20th with a time of 15:55.1.
It was Fink's third consecutive season to reach state. He competed with the entire boys team in 2021 and individually last season, with this being his best finish.
"This was my fourth time running this course and I PR'd (personal record). I am excited about how this season turned out," he said. "I pushed all the way through and I broke 16 on this course."
Fink overcame his own hardship to reach the stage he is on now. As a freshman he was hit by a deer during a practice run with his teammates and was hospitalized. He recovered in time to compete at state, but said he is much more cautious about nature.
"We still run that course in practice and when we come up over that hill I still look out for them," he said with a smile.
"The kid's come a long way," Pinkerton said of Fink. "You talk about a kid with a lot of heart."
Rounding out the Ladycats' scoring were sophomores Madison Larsen, 22nd, 18:46.4; Sofia Brandenburg, 48th, 19:25.3; and Mykel Murry, 49th, 19:25.8. Also running, but not scoring, were sophomore Elizabeth Griffin, 67th, 19:46.2; and freshman Mayden Mitchell, 124th, 20:45.8.
Also scoring for the Bearcats were junior Layton Ybarra, 44th, 16:22.1; sophomores Dominick Barrera and Anderson Smith, 107th and 17:11.2 and 110th and 17:13.3, respectively; and junior Luke Schabel, 112th, 17:20.6. In addition, but not scoring, freshman Tyler Connelly, 117th, 17:22.9; and sophomore Bo Merrill, 120th, 17:24.4, ran for the Bearcats.
"I am so proud of both the girls and the boys," Pinkerton said. "It was just a great season, a really fun season."
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here