RUNNING BACK TO STATE

Led by Ochoa, Clifton boys race to second at Class 3A, Region III Cross Country Championships, Lady Cub Barsh qualifies individually; Cubs place 7th at UIL State meet

For the second straight year, the Clifton boys cross country team qualifying for the UIL Class 3A State Championship Meet Nov. 2 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Led by senior Ray Ochoa, the Clifton boys placed seventh in state with 225 points.

Ochoa placed 44th among the field of 149 runners on the 5,000-meter course with a time of 17:11.60, followed by junior Brayden Stone (66th, 17:34.40), sophomore RJ Hikel (78th, 17:45.10), junior Tristan Ward (89th, 17:59.40), sophomore Giovanny Garcia (108th, 18:38.20), as well as senior Jonah Payne and Xavier Quintero.

“Our boys were 10th out of the 16 teams at the state meet last year,” Clifton cross country head coach Ryan Hunt said. “Our goal this year was to be at least in the top half, and they did that with a seventh place finish. They ran great. The experience from being here last year was an advantage. We are going to miss our seniors, Ray, Jonah and Xavier.

While Holliday twin brothers Noah Strohman (15:24.80) and Ryder Strohman (15:58.30) claimed the individual gold and silver medals respectively, and Troy’s Grayson Williams (15:53.70) won the silver medal, the Lytle Pirates captured the team title with 68 points by placing four runners among the state’s top 35 to ease past Holliday (104)

Competing in the Girls Division against a field of the 152 best cross country runners in the state as an individual state qualifier for the second straight year, Clifton senior Camy Barsh finished in 75th place with a time of 13:03.60 in the two-mile course.

“We are proud of Camy for the way she has represented our cross country program,” Hunt said. “She finishes her high school career as a two-time state qualifier. She is a talented runner, and we are going to miss her next year.”

Despite Universal City Randolph senior Sophia Bendet (10:40.50) and Aubrey Milam (11:21.80) capturing the gold and bronze individual medals, Holliday ran away with the team state title with silver medalist Kenli Atwood (11:04.30) leading the way for the Lady Eagles.

Running wild at the UIL Class 3A, Region III Cross Country Championship Oct. 21 at Kate Barr Ross Memorial Park in Huntsville, the Clifton boys team qualified for state for the second straight season with a second place finish.

Once again led by Ochoa, the senior placed fourth with a time of 16:37.59, just missing a bronze medal behind East Bernard’s Cole Janecek crossing the finish line at 16:36.65. Troy’s Grayson Williams captured the individual gold medal in a runaway time of 15:27.82, followed by silver medalist Daniel Breitenwischer of East Bernard at 16:30.25.

East Bernard ran away with the regional team title with a low score of 31 points, followed by runner-up Clifton with 103 and McGregor in third place with 135 just ahead of Keene (140) and Boling (140).

“Our boys knew coming in they had a great shot to qualify for the second straight year if they had a good performance,” Hunt said. “Overall, it ended up being their best performance of the year. To come away as the regional runner-up is special.

“It’s awesome to see these guys rewarded for all the work they have put in. Ray came away with an individual medal and a top five finish. And that’s extremely tough to do at any regional meet.”

Other top 20 for Clifton included junior Brayden Stone in 16th place with a time of 16:59.26, followed by sophomore RJ Hikel in 20th place with a time of 17:12.79, followed by junior Tristan Ward (34th), Giovanny Garcia (51st) and senior Jonah Payne (61st) and junior Xavier Quintero in a field of 180 runners on the 5,000-meter course.

Led by state-qualifying run by Barsh, the Lady Cubs placed sixth as a team overall with 166 points, just one point behind McGregor (165). Winning both boys and girls team titles, East Bernard cruised into first place with 42 points, followed by runner-up Franklin and bronze medalist Scurry-Rosser (127).

Placing in the top 20 and earning a trip to the state meet for the second straight season, Barsh ran the two-mile course in 12:56.29 to finish 18th, while Keene’s Brynleigh McFarlin claimed the gold medal with a time of 12:01.03, followed by silver medalist Lily Alexander of East Bernard (12:09.49) and bronze medalist Payton Conn of Franklin (12:14.13).

Other Lady Cub top finishers included senior Kyndall Hunt (24th), junior Evy Kennedy (33nd), freshman Scarlett Kennedy (46th), sophomore Alli Hunt (63rd), sophomore Natalie Cathcart (95th) and sophomore Natalia Gaona in a field of 172 runners.

“Our girls ran incredibly well,” Hunt said. “We talked about what they needed to run to have a chance to qualify as a team, and they did exactly that. It just wasn’t quite enough. It was the best team finish for our girls team at the regional meet since I’ve been the coach.

“Camy making it through for the second straight year as an individual is a huge accomplishment. And it was exciting to see her get the opportunity to go back and compete at the state meet again.

“Just about everyone we had going back to Round Rock this year ran there last year. They have experience at running at this level, and that was an advantage. Our kids were ready, and I think they were looking forward to the challenge.”