September 11, 2019

HICO – After claiming team championships at back-to-back meets to open the season, the Meridian girls cross country team settled for second place at the highly-competitive Keene Invitational Sept. 4. The Meridian boys and girls teams will be in Hico today to compete in the Bluebonnet Invitational at 3 p.m.

“The varsity girls finished second behind a very strong 4A Godley team,” Meridian cross country head coach Jill Kendall said. “Six out of 10 girls finished with their season best.

Led by a fifth place finish by senior Dakota Cassidy, the Lady Jackets finished with 127 points, trailing meet champion Godley with 53. Other Meridian girls with strong runs were junior Norah Lira (18th), senior Mallory Paruszewski (31st), freshman Cambree White (32nd), senior Reese Errington (44th) and junior Faith Paruszewski (45th)

“I’m super excited about this fantastic group of athletes who are pushing each other to be better and better every meet. I have 10 high school girls running cross country for only seven spots on varsity. All 10 are capable of running at the varsity level.”

The Lady Jackets also delivered strong performances at the lower levels with freshman Meryl Roberson placing sixth in the Junior Varsity Division, while Daylyn Cassidy claimed a bronze medal in the 8th Grade Division.

Competing with a full team for the first time this season, the Meridian boys placed 15th, manned by senior De’Marius Parks (54th), junior Garrett Murphy, freshman John Pablo Bernal, senior Zak Dirske and senior Cody Warren.

 “We were excited to have a full team for the boys for the first time,” Kendall said. “Our three senior boys, who all qualified to regionals last year, continue to be leaders by working hard to get better.”

Photos courtesy of JILL KENDALL & BECKY PARUSZEWSKI

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KEENE – Competing against the teams they will face in district and then some, the Clifton boys and girls cross country teams found out where they stand at the Keene Invitational last Wednesday.

In a field that also included some Class 4A squads, the Clifton boys placed eighth as a team, while the Lady Cubs finished in 12th place. Senior Daniella Gaona led the Clifton girls with a ninth place finish, followed by sophomore Kasandra Gaona (52nd), sophomore Kamryn Zint (80th), junior Autumn Estrada (87th) and junior Katelyn Hunt (94th).

“We have some work to do before the district meet gets here in a little more than a month,” said Clifton cross country head coach Ryan Hunt, who will take his teams to the McGregor Invitational this Saturday. “But I feel good about where we are at right now.  We are getting in to the time of the year where the intensity of our workouts are gradually increasing and our kids always respond well.”

Although Cubs did not place anyone in the top 40, the young Clifton boys — freshman Peyton Urbanovsky (51st), junior Cameron Bateson (52nd), sophomore Jorge Rodriguez (53rd) and junior Jordan Rodriguez (57th) — ran strong in the middle of the pack.

“Both our girls and boys teams are going to be right in the mix for one of those top three spots at the district meet, just like we were last year when both finished fourth,” Hunt said. “One of our goals every year as a group is to finish in the top three teams at district and get as many top 10 individuals as possible, so we can advance to regional.”

Photos by SANDRA VASQUEZ GAONA & ALICIA ERICA ESTRADA

©2019 Southern Cross Creative, LLP. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.