The Hays High cross country invitational meet was held on Sept. 16 at Sand Plum Nature Trail near Victoria. The course will host the 1A-2A state cross country meet later in the season.

“It’s a fantastic course,” sophomore Leo Hernandez said. “It’s a very exciting course of hills, flats, shade and sun.”

Twenty-three schools and more than 400 athletes competed in the competition. All divisions ran in the same race; however, the varsity races were divided into separate divisions (1A – 4A and 5A – 6A) while the junior varsity races were not divided into divisions.

The girls team placed fifth in the 5A-6A division with a score of 96 points. Goddard-Eisenhower earned fourth place by just one point.

“The Sand Plum course is probably my favorite compared to every other course,” sophomore Arely Maldonado said. “I think it goes by fast, and it’s something that’s not too challenging. I think we all did good. We all pushed ourselves and accomplished goals.”

The boys finished seventh in the final standings for the 5A-6A division with two varsity runners injured beforehand and another not finishing the race due to injury.

“I think we really need to stabilize as a group,” Hernandez said. “Obviously, a last-place performance doesn’t happen to a good team. We really need to focus on out-of-practice components, like recovery and diet, to get our team together and in shape for our big upcoming races.”
Girls
V – sophomore Arely Maldonado – Ninth (21:42.12)
V – sophomore Brennlynn Albers – 18th (23:03.56)
V – sophomore Julia Zadina – 26th (23:42.34)
V – sophomore Brynn Kinderknecht – 30th (24:05.11)
V – sophomore Mika Zimmerman – 31st (24:05.54)
V – junior Avery Winter – 32nd (24:16.27)
V – junior Jaycine Watson – 35th (24:35.78)
JV – sophomore Addison Otte – 12th (25:52.99)
JV – senior Rachel Windholz – 29th (27:58.67)
JV – freshman Marisa Wasinger – 35th (28:30.31)
JV – senior Lainey Hardman – 36th (28:52.95)
JV – sophomore Lexi Burton – 37th (29:04.32)
JV – junior Nia Kaiser – 40th (29:23.13)
JV – freshman Taylor Sterling – 43rd (30:04.80)
JV – freshman Ava Ruiz – 52nd (31:52.16)

Boys
V – sophomore Leo Hernandez – 21st (18:23.75)
V – freshman Taevian Maupin – 27th (19:11.67)
V – sophomore Ty Dempsey – 37th (20:09.92)
V – sophomore Tacoma Augustine – 40th (20:18.78)
V – senior Matthew Dempsey – 42nd (21:07.66)
V – senior Landon Viegra – DNF
JV – sophomore Corben Avery – 44th (22:18.73)
JV – freshman Carson Avery – 48th (22:23.41)
JV – junior Daimon Lang – 54th (22:35.21)
JV – sophomore Carter Muehleisen – 70th (23:13.63)
JV – sophomore Xavier Ellis – 77th (23:54.00)
JV – senior Ryan Schuckman – 79th (23:59.23)
JV – sophomore Riley Atkerson – 84th (24:22.38)
JV – sophomore Everett McClure – 86th (24:32.06)
JV – freshman Landon Hardman – 90th (24:58.26)
JV – junior Logan Chance – 91st (24:59.94)

22rschuckman@usd489.com