VARSITY BOYS (5K)

In Cross Country team scoring, the goal is to produce the lowest number of points possible. Each team's first five (of seven) runners are scored, and the sum of each runner's placing determines the number of points scored. For example, if a team's first five runners cross the finish line in positions 1-2-3-4-5, a perfect score of 15 is achieved.

Our Varsity boys didn't have a perfect score at the District Meet at Nottingham Park on Thursday, but they weren't far off. Each of our top-five guys finished top 12 overall, and the 30 points scored easily secured a sixth straight District Championship for the Spartans. Their average time of 16:04 (5:10 per mile) on the flat, winding, Nottingham Park 5K course was their best this season, and the margin that separated our first and fifth runners was an impressive 1 minute, 7 seconds.

Memorial was the 2nd place team with 65 points and Jersey Village was third with 71. Both teams advanced to Regionals.

Junior Ben Pearce cruised to victory in a personal-best 5K time of 15:31, gapping the second-place finisher by 21 seconds. Senior Daylan Rushing broke the 16-minute barrier for the first time in his high school career, flying to the finish line for 4th place in 15:58. Senior Jona Morford was just steps behind for 6th in 16:03, junior Andrew Hopkins was seventh in 16:11, and sophomore Owen Duggan ran a personal best of 16:39 for 12th.

That makes six straight District Championship victories for the Stratford boys, but their celebration was short-lived as they turned their focus to the upcoming Region III meet in Huntsville on October 24th.

Results (52 finishers)

Ben Pearce - DISTRICT CHAMPION - 15:31

Daylan Rushing - 4th - 15:58

Jona Morford - 6th - 16:03

Andrew Hopkins - 7th - 16:11

Owen Duggan - 12th - 16:39

Jake Rodriguez - 24th - 17:28

Samuel Jordan - 46th - 19:47

 

VARSITY GIRLS (5K)

As referenced above, every runner on a team matters in the sport of Cross Country. There are no scoreboards along the race course that update competitors on where their team is in the standings throughout a race, so the goal is pretty simple. No matter how far in front or how far in back you are, focus on passing the runner in front of you, and when you do, go after as many others as you can before you reach the finish line.

The Stratford girls fought and clawed for every position in the District race, beating just enough competitors along the way to take 3rd place and secure the final qualifying spot for Regionals. Their team score of 76 points narrowly beat the 4th team, Jersey Village, with 81 points, driving home the fact that every runner matters.

The Memorial girls won the District Championship and Cy Fair took home 2nd place.

Senior Niamh Collins was 4th overall, and sophomore Laura Gonzalez joined her at the top-10 awards ceremony by finishing 9th. Senior Amelia Bommer was 12th, and freshmen Olivia Ceraudo and Savannah Ceraudo were 25th and 28th, respectively.

Results (38 finishers)

Niamh Collins - 4th - 19:44

Laura Gonzalez - 9th - 20:44

Amelia Bommer - 12th - 21:00

Olivia Ceraudo - 25th - 22:49

Savannah Ceraudo - 28th - 23:02

 

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS (5K)

Our top three JV boys finished top-10 in the standings and our fourth and fifth runners cracked the top 25. Those strong results secured 59 points for the team and 2nd place in the team standings.

Sophomore Eli Roberts and junior Ethan Shuck worked together throughout the race near the front of the pack and finished within two seconds of one another. Eli tied his previous personal best and made the podium with his 3rd place result, and Ethan smashed his previous personal best to take 4th place. Sophomore Nate Zoboroski also ran a big personal best to earn a medal in 10th, and sophomores Liam Osbon and Nathan Scott rounded out our team scoring by finishing 23rd and 24th, respectively.

Memorial took home the JV Boys District Championship plaque and Jersey Village was 3rd.

This group of JV boys had an outstanding season and saw tremendous growth and improvement every week. Equally as important, they were a tight-knit group that had a lot of fun together from the start of summer training until the end of the season.

Results (76 finishers)

Eli Roberts - 3rd - 17:39

Ethan Shuck - 4th - 17:41

Nate Zoboroski - 10th - 18:14

Liam Osbon - 23rd - 18:58

Nathan Scott - 24th - 18:59

Diego Ruiz - 30th - 19:18

Kaleb Bernat - 32nd - 19:22

Brody James - 33rd - 19:39

Kyle Gray - 35th - 19:53

Matthew Dial - 47th - 20:37

Marshall Holden Sims - 58th - 21:57

 

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS (2 mile)

Stratford girls went 1-2 in the individual standings, helping their team win 2nd place in the team standings. Memorial took home 1st  place and Jersey Village 3rd.

Junior Angie Salel obliterated her previous personal best in the 2-mile distance, running 42 seconds faster than she ever had before and crossing the finish line as the District Champion. Freshman Laura Lozano was just two seconds back to win the silver medal, and Sophie Hare (sophomore), Lila Paullo (freshman), and Tara Cvetkovic (sophomore) all made the top 25. Sophomore Amanda Gonzalez also had a massive personal best by 37 seconds to finish 37th.

Results (60 finishers)

Angie Salel - DISTRICT CHAMPION - 13:38

Laura Lozano - 2nd -13:40

Sophie Hare - 18th - 15:08

Lila Paullo - 19th - 15:09

Tara Cvetkovic - 23rd - 15:17

Amanda Gonzalez - 37th - 16:32

This group of girls saw incredible improvement throughout the season. The future is bright with this young group of athletes.

 

FRESHMAN BOYS (2 mile)

The Stratford boys are Freshman District Champions in 17-6A. The team was led by Braddox Overstreet, who had another strong performance to finish in 2nd place, but Elliot Young, Ashton Campbell, Wesley Shuck, Isaac Young, and Nolan Brock all won top-10 medals. Cy Fair was 2nd in the team standings, followed by Memorial in 3rd.

Results (42 finishers)

Braddox Overstreet - 2nd - 11:02

Elliot Young - 4th - 11:21

Ashton Campbell - 7th - 11:32

Wesley Shuck - 8th - 11:45

Isaac Young - 9th - 11:50

Nolan Brock - 10th - 11:53

Bobby Carter - 17th - 12:25

William Ryan - 26th - 13:15

Cooper Avila - 33rd - 14:08

It was a blast watching these young men compete on the high school stage this season and it is exciting to think about what the future holds for Stratford Cross Country if these guys stick together over the next three years.

 

NEXT UP :

Region III 6A Championship

Kate Barr-Ross Park - Huntsville, Texas

Tuesday, October 24th

Varsity Girls - 8:15 a.m.

Varsity Boys - 9:00 a.m.

The top 4 schools and top 10 individuals not on a qualifying team earn a spot at the State Meet in Austin on November 4th.

LET'S GO SPARTANS!