Boys' Varsity A Race 4k
Start of one of the boys races last year
This year, the boys varsity race will be a 4k. The last time The Friday Night Lights Invite was run as a 4k race was in 2013, and Klein Oak's Bradley Dohner won it running 12:40.81. The winning team that year was Cedar Park who went 6, 10, 21, 26, and 27 for a total of 90 points. Last year the boys varsity race was a 2.5 mile course, and it was won by The John Cooper School's Pedro Nasta (12:19.30). Dohner holds the course record for 4k of 12:33.98.
This year we will see several top guys in the state contesting for that 1st place finish with a group having run sub 16 minutes. Nathan Gift is one of the key guys to watch. The Cinco Ranch senior has run 15:37 for 5k and finished 23rd last year at the state meet. Another guy who could be right there in the mix is George Ranch's Alec Waldschmidt. The senior finished 9th at the state meet in the 3200m this past spring running 9:57, and finished 10th at the state meet in cross country last year running 16:07. Waldschmidt will also have fresh legs not having run yet this season.
Two guys who will be looking for top finishes to help their team are Matt Henderson, and Matthew McClellan from The Woodlands. Both Henderson and McClellan have run sub 15:50 and will be looking to place high to help their team win the title. This year we could see a dominating performance in the team race from The Woodlands if they run their A squad. Other teams who will be battling for podium finishes are Cinco Ranch, Cedar Park, Conroe Oak Ridge and Klein Oak. Cinco Ranch will be led by Nathan Gift, but will need a strong 4th and 5th man in Alex May and Patricio Villa to pull their team through for a chance at the win.
Boys' Varsity A Race 4k Preview |Girls' Varsity A Race 2 mile Preview