What else is new?

To the very surprise of, well, pretty much no one, the Aledo Bearcats and Ladycats once again came home with the District 5-5A championship Friday, Oct. 13 at Central Park in White Settlement.

The Ladycats scored 18 points to easily outdistance runner-up Azle with 59. The Bearcats had a little closer competition, but edged Granbury 35-39 to successfully defend their title.

Both teams now advance to the Class 5A Region I Meet at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock on Oct. 23. The top three teams and top 10 individuals from district qualified for regionals.

From the regional meet, the top four teams and top 10 runners not on the qualifying teams will move on to state at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock on Nov. 3. The Ladycats qualified as a team for state last season, while Jack Fink qualified individually for the Bearcats.

"It was a tough course, and very windy, but the teams competed really well!" Aledo coach Mike Pinkerton exclaimed.

The Bearcats and Ladycats also had the top two finishers in their divisions. Micah Neal paced the Aledo girls, posting a time of 19 minutes, 3.99 seconds over the 5-kilometer course, while 2022 district champion Molly Garrison was second with a 19:20.34.

Fink led the varsity boys, clocking a 16:38.35 to repeat as district champion, with Layton Ybarra next at 16:43.36.

"Fantastic showing by all!" Pinkerton said with excitement.

Also for the Ladycats, Madison Larsen was fourth (19:54.90), Mykel Murry took fifth (20:09.91) and Sophia Brandenburg placed sixth (20:53.71) to round out the scoring.

The five fastest runners comprise the team score.

Also scoring for the Bearcats were Dominick Barrera, seventh (17:32.50); Tyler Connally, 12th, (17:55.46); and Luke Schabel, 13th (17:59.86).

Mayden Mitchell also ran for the Ladycats and finished ninth in 21:41.29 and Elizabeth Griffin posted a 22:16.37 for 14th.

Garrison, Brandenburg, Griffin and Aubrey Connally, who won this season's junior varsity girls championship, were on the Ladycats' state team last season.

Bo Merrill placed 14th for the Bearcats with an 18:04.86 and Ian Robbins' time of 18:24.69 placed him 18th.

Connally's winning time among the JV girls was 22:40.65. Anderson Smith won the JV boys with a time of 18:07.36. 

As a team, the JV Bearcats won district and the Ladycats JV was third.

Also running for the JV boys were Vincent Luffey, second, 18:50.85; Landon Eaton, third, 19:07.16; Reed Murray, 12th, 20:16.26; Reese Copeland, 13th, 20:18.69; Zach Rivas, 14th, 20:30.27; Jaden Delgado, 25th, 21:29.20; Ethan Matthews, 28th, 21:33.30; Caden West, 49th, 23:14.30; and Isaac Brooks, 59th, 24:13.27.

Other competitors for the JV girls were Sadie Williams, fourth, 23:42.39; Alexa Estrada, 23rd, 28:09.02; Allie Graham, 25th, 28:22.16; Giana Anaya, 35th, 30:46.98; Emily Lewis, 37th, 32:01.85; and Julia Bettencourt, 45th, 35:33.16.

At the regional meet, the varsity girls will race at 9 a.m. and the varsity boys at 9:30 a.m.