Believe it: Randall captures state championship

ROUND ROCK - The Randall High girls cross country team ran to its first team state championship Saturday, outscoring 13-time state champion Dallas Highland Park by 40 points in the Class 4A state cross country meet at Old Settlers' Park.

The Lady Raiders had two runners in the individual top ten, led by freshman Karyss Betzen, who finished third in 18:33 as Randall became the first area team to win a large-school team title since Hereford in 2007.

"I knew we could do it, because our team has been really strong all year," Betzen said. "It's not exactly a dream, but it hasn't sunk in yet. This was our goal from the start of the season."

Betzen, who said she'd never been to Austin - much less run the course that was modified from its traditional route after severe flooding in the area two weeks ago - stayed with the leaders early in the race before making a late move to earn a bronze medal.

"I didn't want to get out too fast, but I had a really good start," she said. "I really tried to push myself to the limit at the end."

Erika Dewitt also earned a medal for the Lady Raiders, finishing in 18:41 and sixth place individually after overcoming an injury in the first part of the season.

"I'm just so happy for the team. I knew we could do it," she said. "I didn't think I'd be able to come back, so it's great to be here and running pain free." 

Dewitt said Randall coach Rebekah James told her team to get out strong to avoid being boxed in before making their move together.

"We wanted to stay calm the first half of the race, and then really attack," Dewitt said. "District was really the first time we were able to stick together that well, but when we'd pass each other, we'd yell to encourage each other.

While Dallas Highland Park had two of the top six runners competing for the team title, the Lady Raiders pulled away with a strong performance from their remaining scoring runners, as Bernise Altamirano placed 18th individually, but finished seventh among runners with teams.

Samantha Jones finished 14th among team runners, with Adriana Martinez in 21st from team runners. Dallas Highland Park's third, fourth and fifth runners finished 19th, 27th, and 34th among team runners, providing the Lady Raiders with a healthy margin of victory.

"It's the best feeling ever," Altamirano said.

"We worked super hard, and we thought it was going to be a lot closer than it was."

Randall's Adriana Martinez finished 43rd overall and Danielle Mendoza was 38th. The team win was especially sweet for seniors Jones and Altamarino, as well as Denise Altamarino, who were part of Randall's first state qualifying team in 2010 as freshmen when the Lady Raiders finished fifth. Randall followed with a fourth place performance in 2011 before a disappointing 11th place finish last year that provided motivation for this year's team.

"This is the best of the four years, not just with placing, but our work ethic has been great," Bernise Altamirano said.

"Our underclassmen stepped up, because we told them we wanted to keep it going, and they lived up to it. Last year was really motivation for us, because we knew we needed to redeem ourselves."

James said the team's depth was a key factor in a perfect season for the Lady Raiders, who did not lose a meet throughout the fall.

"We had nine girls that we rotated around," she said. "We didn't run the same seven, but we were undefeated all year because they just stepped up." 

James said the seniors made the difference in this year's climb from next-to-last to state champions.

"The seniors decided they'd been here every year and really wanted to bust their butts and finally make it happen," she said. "We started running and succeeding and started believing. Our seniors are just so excited to be able to do this."

CLASS 4A

Girls

Team: 1. Randall, 47. 2. Dallas Highland Park, 87. 3. Humble Kingwood Park, 130. 4. Mansfield Legacy, 139. 5. Canyon, 146.

Individual: 1. Natalie Rathjen, Dallas Highland Park, 17:41. 2. Evelyn Chavez, New Caney Porter, 18:28. 3. Karyss Betzen, Randall, 18:33. 4. Abigail Cartwright, Dallas Adams, 18:37 5. Sarah Scott, Wylie East, 18:38. 6. Erika Dewitt, Randall, 18:41. 7. Madie Boreman, Leander Rouse, 18:46. 8. Maria Castillo, Mansfield Legacy, 18:47. 9. Devin Norton, Denton Guyer, 18:53. 10. Caylon McMillan, Forney, 18:53. 11. Kaitlin Rodriguez, Canyon, 19:01. 18. Bernise Altamirano, Randall, 19:15. 27. Kirstie Smith, Amarillo High, 19:40. 31. Samantha Jones, Canyon Randall, 19:42. 36. Angel Hayden, Canyon, 19:49. 43. Adriana Martinez, Randall, 19:55. 51. Briana Hernandez, Canyon Randall, 20:06. 66. Danielle Mendoza, Randall, 20:26. 85. Karah Diaz, Canyon, 21:03. 100. Lindy Pasley, Canyon, 21:46. 101. Christian Moreno, Canyon, 21:46.

Boys

Team: 1. Houston Stratford, 75. 2. Lucas Lovejoy, 111. 3. Frisco Wakeland, 125. 4. Boerne Champion, 144. 5. Amarillo High High, 149. 8. Canyon, 164.

Individual: 1. Carter Blunt, Frisco Heritage, 15:48. 2. Austin Richard, Houston Stratford, 15:56. 3. Gerardo Escapita, El Paso Jefferson, 15:57. 4. Jordan Wright, Marble Falls, 15:58. 5. David Montalvo, Pharr Valley View, 16:01. 6. Pedro Leos, Edcouch Elsa, 16:02. 7. Kyle Garcia, North Forney, 16:03. 8. Brian Quinlan, Houston Stratford, 16:06. 9. Andrew Tankersley, Boerne Champion, 16:09. 10. Jose Ramos, Donna North, 16:12. 19. Cade Cobb, Amarillo High, 16:34. 35. Treet Allison, Canyon, 16:46. 40. Joseph Trevino, Canyon, 16:50. 47. Copeland James, Amarillo High, 16:58. 54. Alex Luette, Amarillo High, 17:05. 71. Dylan Kight, Canyon, 17:19. 83. Christian Cobb, Canyon, 17:38. 87. Jacob Wilhelm, Canyon, 17:39. 93. Conner Bentley, Amarillo High, 17:47.97. Jackson Eldridge, Amarillo High, 17:51. 101. Mathew Peynado, Mercedes, 18:06. 102. Lucas McCrary, Canyon, 18:08. 104. Taylor Cowell, Amarillo High, 18:11.