CC: Center varsity runners highlight meet
CENTER -- Led by the running of Cala Harless and Bryan Ruiz, the Center boys and girls cross country teams shined Saturday at the 2010 Center Invitational Cross Country Meet held here at Roughrider Stadium. Harless placed fourth overall in the girls' competition, while the Roughriders placed third as a team on the boys' side.
Central Heights won the overall boys' standings with 24 points, while Woden came in second with 55 and the 'Riders posted 85 points. Broaddus ran fourth with 102 points, while Diboll ran fifth at 109, West Sabine was sixth with 153, Jasper claimed seventh and Gary rounded out the top eight teams.
Central Heights also won the varsity girls' competition, posting a low of 36 points. Zavalla was second in the team standings with 46 points, Carthage ran third with 82, Garrison posted the fourth-best team score of 97 and West Sabine was fifth with 119 points. Beckville was sixth and Jasper ran seventh.
"I thought our kids did really well," said Center Head Cross Country Coach Donna Shannon after the competition. "I was kind of concerned because at about midweek I had noticed we had reached that mid-season place where we were tired and in need of some recovery time. We have really been pushing them and pushing them, but they really came out and shined."
Shannon said it's expected for runners to reach a mid-season 'wall' where they need a break from competition, which CHS will take this coming weekend.
"It's kind of a lull they go through, because we've been pushing them since the first part of August," she explained. "We've really been after them and they're kind of tired.
"Next week we'll still work out, but we'll have more rest and recovery. I think that will allow you to see much better times the week after that."
Varsity Girls
For Center, Cala Harless topped the Lady Riders with the fourth-best time at the meet, running the event in 14:31.54. She trailed Central Heights' Courtney McShane, who ran a 13:08.94, San Augustine's DeJernel Jordan, who posted a 14:07.52 and Central Heights' Brittany Johnson, who finished the race in 14:14.74.
Center's Alejandra Lara placed 40th with a 17:29.86.
Carthage also had a strong team showing. Alicia Benefield placed 10th with a time of 15:23.52; Madison Cooper was 16th with a 15:43.38; Teira Simpson was close behind at 17th with a 15:48.13; Lady Bulldog Sapphire Cherry ran 18th with a 15:48.84; and Kendi Hemphill placed 41st with a 17:38.53.
Joaquin's Olivia Worsham ran 19th overall with a time of 15:48.84. Teammate Whitney Vaughn was 24th with a 16:03.05.
Megan Davidson led the Garrison competitors with a 7th-place finish and a time of 14:55.89. Laci Stokes placed 21st with 15:53.07; Karla Avila ran 28th with a 16:07.99; Bridget Bass was 29th with a 16:11.58; Kyla Hudnall placed 38th with a 17:11.34; and Kaylee Prince was 44th with an 18:03.44.
Varsity Boys
Center varsity runner Bryan Ruiz captured the 12th-best time at the Rider Invitational, posting a 19:39.20. Five Central Heights runners were among the top 10 finishers. Blake Fancher of CHHS won the overall competition with a 17:22.02, with teammate Jose Soto coming in second with a 17:52.95. Woden's D'ring Hall ran third with an 18:43.34, Diboll's Tony Ramos was fourth with an 18:44.14 and Woden's Jose Jimenez rounded out the top five with a 19:00.78.
Other Center finishers included Rene Solis in 16th place with a time of 19:39.20; Aaron Strong was 19th with a 20:22.91; Cody Oswalt ran 20th with a 20:24.34; and Jose Tello posted the 23rd-best time with a 20:39.95.
Gary's Randall Williams finished 40th with a time of 22:52.12, while teammate Tery Reneau was 44th with a 23:44.12. Levi Cohorst was 49th with a 24:37.83, J.P. Woods posted a time of 25:05.64, which was good enough for 51st, Tanner Nelson ran a 26:17.35 for 54th and Jonathan Jordan ran 55th with a time of 26:26.36.
Timpson had three runners participate. Francisco Long ran 43rd with a time of 23:31.93, while Martin Leon ran 52nd with a 25:35.13 and Tevin Brown was 56th with a 27:12.46.
CENTER INVITATIONAL
CROSS COUNTRY MEET
Team Standings
Varsity Boys
1.Central Heights 24
2.Woden 55
3.Center 85
4.Broaddus 102
5.Diboll 109
6.West Sabine 153
7.Jasper 177
8.Gary 193
Varsity Girls
1.Central Heights 36
2.Zavalla 46
3.Carthage 82
4.Garrison 97
5.West Sabine 119
6.Beckville 142
7.Jasper 159