Lions break from pack at UTSA Invitational

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

With the most important races of the season stretched out ahead of them and a field of competitors stretched out behind, the Lockhart Lions Varsity Cross Country team proved that they remain a force to be reckoned with last weekend at the UTSA Invitational.
The UTSA Invitational, the largest cross country meet in the sta

te, was attended by more than 150 teams, from 1-A to 5-A schools, Head Coach Scott Hippensteel said. The Lions ran against 30 teams in the Gold Division.
Rory Tunningley, who has spent much of the season distinguishing himself as a state-championship competitor, finished the race second overall, with a time of 14:53. Since late August, Tunningley has run nearly 500 miles, both in team training and on his own, Hippensteel said on Monday.
Lockhart’s number two man, James Bonn, followed Tunningley by 51 seconds, finishing the race 13th overall in 15:44. Ryan Gonzales and Marcos Gonzales finished 55th and 97th respectively, in 16:28 and 16:59. David Dinh and Xavier Thomas rounded out Gold Division team scoring, finishing in 17:33 and 17:56 respectively.
The Lions fielded a second team as well, comprised of Cameron Peters (17:29), Roy Garcia (17:47), Jose Medina (19:24), AJ Maderal (19:35) and Zach Batson (26:50).
Overall, the Lions scored a total 272 team points, landing them in seventh place.
“We’re doing fine this season,” Hippensteel said. “The real races of the season are still ahead of us, and we look good so far.”
Hippensteel said most of the teams placing ahead of Lockhart were 5-A schools the Lions will not have to face on their way to the State Championships in November.
The highest placing school from District 26-4A, after Lockhart, was New Braunfels, who placed 26th, proving the Lions are still the district’s powerhouse team, as they continue to race for their 20th consecutive district championship.