The 2017 Nike South Invitation went off script this year. Entries were in on Wednesday and races were all set to go.
Then, on Thursday, word travelled that the 2017 McNeil Invitation, one of the biggest and perhaps the most popular meet in the state was suddenly cancelled. With just two days until race day, rain received and forcasted for the rest of the week in the Round Rock area were enough to cause concerns for the course and parking.
Now, coaching staffs across the state were having to find replacement meets for approximately 6,500 runners needing a replacement meet.
No problem, right?
Think again. Registration for most meets end on Wednesday of each week and word about the McNeil cancellation didn't come until Thursday morning. Also, many teams travel from all across the state to McNeil and have to make travel arrangements including but not limited to hotel accommodations. Needless to say, hotels weren't thrilled about cancellations. Teams from Dallas and Southwest Texas had to make new accommodations on the whim.
For meet organizers all across Texas, the calls came in with at a fast rate. Coach Juris Green from The Woodlands said, "By the end of my first Biology class, I had like 60 texts and messages." Coach Green and his The Woodlands staff run the Nike South Invitational. "I first had to get with my coaches and see how we could figure it out without taking advantage of our registered teams."
Coach Green has been on the other end of things this season. His team has had several meets cancelled this season due to Hurricane Harvey related effects. "We kind of know what it's like, and who needs that. If there was anyway we could help them, we were going to."
Help out is exactly what they did with the Nike South Invitational by enabling McNeil registered teams enter. In fact, it was easier than you would think. The coaches at McNeil called, they and The Woodlands staff all worked things out for the teams that could make it there. Per Coach Green, "It was easy. They use Run Far Racing Service Timing and so do we. They were already in the system, Run Far Timing brought the bibs that they had for McNeil and we just created a Varsity race specifically for the teams that were registered for McNeil. We put a few of the teams and runners in the Elite race", but that was it.
From there, it was up to the runners.
Varsity Boys
The first race of the day was the Varsity boys. Langham Creek junior Jaron Smith and The Woodlands College Park junior Dillon Ha both ran valiant races as they pretty much helped lead the race. However, it was the group from The Woodlands who dominated the race. They were led by senior Brendan Scott, who led a full contingency of Highlanders who put five of their runners in the top ten.
Varsity Girls
Mercedes junior Soledad Cruz pulled away from the other girls in the race and finished with a 21 second win. She was followed in third by Stephanie Brown of College Station and steeple chase star Emily Chastain from Plano Prestonwood Christian.
College Station had a dominating performance as they placed their top four runners in the top ten. Their team total was only 30 points as they went for a 20:50 team average and a 59 second 1-5 split.
McNeil Races
The teams that came over from McNeil were waiting on their chance to burn up the Nike South course. Well, when they got the opportunity, they didn't disappoint.
Varsity Elite
The boys elite race was very similar to the girls. Several big time boys were competing and it came down to a decisive move. That move was made by none other than Flower Mound star Alex Maier. Maier led the talented field through the course and covered the 5K ground in 15:18.80. Not too far behind Maier was his sophomore teammate Jarrett Kirk who out sprinted The Woodlands senior Gavin Hoffpauir to the end.
That was just the beginning for The Woodlands as they place four of their runners in the top ten. When the #5 runner crossed in 15th place, they had accumulated on 38 points in an average time of 15:54 and a mere 38 second.
