Story by Peter Scamardo
One thousand four hundred and fifty seven athletes competed at the Brenham Hillacious Invitational Saturday. Four hundred and sixty seven between the varsity boys and varsity girls races alone.
Senior Gavin Hoffpauir of The Woodlands came out of the Elite Boys 5000m final with the top time. Finishing the race in 15:37.70, Hoffpauir just outran sophomore Erik Lara of Strake Jesuit. Lara was less than six seconds behind Hoffpauir, running 15:43.70.
In the end, The Woodlands ended the meet with the team championship. Senior Ethan Mercado and sophomore Ethan Hammer joined Hoffpauir in the top five, placing third and fifth respectively. In total the Highlanders scored 26 points, with The Woodlands College Park coming in second with 65 and Strake Jesuit third with 161.
In the Elite Girls 5000m final the day belonged to the freshmen runners. In total six of the top seven times belonged to freshmen.
Throughout all of the runners, freshman Heidi Nielson of Katy Cinco Ranch took home the top time. Nielson ran 18:04.10 to take home the individual championship, 50 seconds faster than her teammate, senior Megan Hopper. Hopper ran 18:55.80 to place second.
In the Elite Girls 5000m final the day belonged to the freshmen runners. In total six of the top seven times belonged to freshmen.
Throughout all of the runners, freshman Heidi Nielson of Katy Cinco Ranch took home the top time. Nielson ran 18:04.10 to take home the individual championship, 50 seconds faster than her teammate, senior Megan Hopper. Hopper ran 18:55.80 to place second.
But as a team the Cinco Ranch Cougars missed the podium, placing fifth with 146 points.
The team title belonged to the runners from Katy Tompkins. A pair of freshmen, Lauren Titus and Hayden Gold led the way for the falcons. The two ran 19:09.10 and 19:10.60 respectively as they placed third and fourth individually.
Titus and Gold helped the Falcons to a first place finish as a team, scoring 68 points. In second place was The Woodlands, who scored 88 points, and The Woodlands College Park placed third with 93 points. Freshman Robyn Kowalski was the top runner for The Woodlands College Park, placing seventh.