Lady Lions Cross Country Turn Up the Pace at Stockdale Invitational

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                             

The Lockhart Lady Lions Cross Country team continued to build momentum in week two of their season, traveling south to compete in the inaugural Stockdale Brahma Invitational. The varsity squad secured a strong 4th-place finish in the team standings, while the junior varsity team earned an impressive runner-up placement.

    Moving up in distance from last week’s 1.5-mile opener, the varsity runners tackled a two-mile course against a nine-team field. Sophomore Alicia Sanchez led the charge, finishing 10th overall with a time of 14:27. Junior Melanie Garcia followed as the team’s No. 2 runner, placing 17th at 15:12, solidly in the top third of the field.

     Lockhart’s pack running proved pivotal, as sophomores Pyper Bornemann (32nd/16:02), Sofia Rodriguez (33rd/16:04), and Aliya Parra (34th/16:06) crossed the line within seconds of each other. Senior Clarissa Martinez-Olvera (37th/16:16) and junior Katherine Silva Garcia (38th/16:25) rounded out the varsity squad with determined performances.

    “This was a good race across the board,” said Head Girls Coach Reuben Ortiz. “The course was new for us, but each runner stayed focused, paced themselves well, and showed mental toughness.”

    In the JV division, junior newcomer Kendra Mendoza made an immediate impact, leading the Lady Lions with a 13th-place finish at 17:16. Hot on her heels, sophomore newcomer Alicia Rodriguez (14th/17:17) and junior Zoie Ledesma (15th/17:19) packed tightly into the top 15.

    Junior newcomer Sariah Johnson continued the strong showing with an 18th-place finish (17:51), followed by sophomore newcomer Brianna Chavez (22nd/18:58), who broke away from a Jourdanton runner in the second half of the race. Senior Janae Torres claimed 25th (20:27), with junior Alahni Herrera pushing late to secure 26th (20:55). Senior Yadira Ferretiz-Ollervides (29th/22:58) and sophomore Abigayle Stewart (30th/23:24) rounded out the scoring effort.

   “It’s scary how well they ran today,” Coach Ortiz noted. “They competed with grit in tough heat and dusty conditions. As strong as their effort was, I see even more potential for growth moving forward.”

    The Lady Lions will return home Friday, August 29, to host the Annual Hippensteel Invitational at Lockhart City Park. The meet is shaping up to be a major event, with more than 30 high school teams scheduled for the morning session (8:30 a.m.) and over 20 junior high teams set for the evening session (6:00 p.m.).