2008 Lockhart Invitational XC Meet draws record crowds.

By Alonzo Garza
POST-REGISTER

More than 20 schools participated in the 2008 Lockhart Invitational Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Boys’ and Girls’ high school and junior high school cross country teams from across Central Texas and as far away as Mission, arrived early at Lockhart City Park to warm up for the 3,000-meter (1.8 mile) races.

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The first race started at 8:30 a.m. with races continuing one after another until after 10:30 a.m.
This year’s races were made a bit more festive then past Invitationals with the addition of the Lockhart High School Roaring Lion Band and a small contingent of Lionettes.
As always, the Lockhart High School Air Force Junior ROTC opened the Invitational with a presentation of the colors.
The day was clear and sunny, but the humidity was a factor early on.
According to Lockhart High School Assistant Cross Country Coach Doug Alfier, nearly 1,000 cross country runners converged at City Park to participate in the races.
The Lockhart Boys’ team finished first with a score of 47, followed by La Vernia, with 75, and Vista Ridge, with 94. Lehman finished in fourth place, with a score of 154, followed by Luling with 166 and Smithson Valley with 169.
The Lockhart Girls’ team finished in ninth place with a score of 243. Finishing first was Vista Ridge with a score of 24, followed by Bowie with 91 and Smithson Valley with 112.
Individual results for Lockhart runners varied this year. The boys’ team fared better than the girls’, with senior James Bonn leading the pack.
Bonn finished in second place behind a Vista Ridge champion runner named Zach Ornelas. Ornelas finished his race with a time of 9:05 and Bonn finished with a time of 9:24.
Ryan Gonzales finished in sixth place with a time of 9:49. Marcos Gonzales finished in ninth at 10:00 and David Dinh finished in 11th place at 10:05.
Cameron Peters finished in 20th place, Xavier Thomas-35th, Roy Garcia-36th, Noah Tunningley-38th, A.J. Maderal-42nd, Joseph Anchondo-50th and Bobby Dinh-51st.
Aly Gonzales finished in 20th place with a time of 12:29. Jordyn Platt finished 45th with a time of 13:12. Kelsey Daily finished 65th with a time of 13:37 and Jannah Platt finished in 70th place with a time of 13:42.
Junior high results were not available at press time.
Lockhart Cross Country plans to participate the University of Texas-San Antonio Meet on Saturday, Sept. 20.
See you at the meets.
agarza@post-register.com