National XC meets in Oregon are not the only races with “Whoop-De-Doo” dirt mounds.In a likely Texas first, runners at the 6th Annual Patriot XC Meet hosted by FEAST Home School took on a pair of dirt mounds as well as hay bales, cavalettis, and a downed tree in this international style meet at Brooks City-Base.Spectators and coaches crowded around the unique obstacles on the fan friendly double loop course to cheer on 890 runners from 65 schools that competed over the two day event.
Elite Boys Race - a total of 136 boys ran the accurate 5000 meter course where FEASTHomeSchool placed five in the top ten to claim victory with 22 points over SA Alamo Heights (82) and last year’s third place team, Lytle, again claiming third with 128.An early lead pack broke up when San Antonio All-Area runner Howard Gill of FEAST pressed the pace with Stacey’s Bobby Dawes the only one hanging on through 2400 meters.Dawes eventually faded back to sixth as Gill ran on to a 27 second victory on the second pass of the course’s inner “M” loop.Christian Chacon and Stephen Tankersley of FEAST ran well paced races to garner the silver and bronze.
Elite Girls Race – the majority of girls opted for the traditional 3200m distance in the Varsity Girls race at this early point in the season, but a tough group of girls from Cibolo Steele, Dripping Springs, Lytle, and FEASTHomeSchool took on the full 5000m distance in the elite race.FEAST took top honors with a low score of 17 over Steele, second (53) with three in the top ten, and the Lytle girls matching their boys with third (68).Running up to the San Antonio area pre-season predictions, the Dunn twins, Janessa and Emily, ran strong races on the challenging course for first and second in 19:53 and 19:55, respectively with UIL 2A state 3200m silver medalist Courtney Haass of Navarro in third at 20:51.