The Woodbridge Cross Country Classic is one of California's top meets of their season. Texas has caught onto it and have begun to travel out there for some good competition.
Each year, the meet provides an electric feeling and an atmosphere that is like the big time Texas meets. The mass of runners in each race, the quality fields, and the lights and glamour all give the experience teams and individuals need to be ready for the regional, state, and post season meets.
The featured (Sweepstakes and Rated) races at the meet were loaded. The races were won by Californians Corie Smith in 16:04.80 in the girls race and Nico Young won the boys 3 mile race with the All-Time fastest 3 mile of 13:39.70 for a high schooler.
Girls Success
Texas girls were represented by London Culbreath in the top 10 with her 16:22.90, which put her in 3rd place. It was her season opener for the 2019 cross country season and she showed that she is ready for a great senior season run.
Southlake Carroll sophomore Kaylie Cox led her team to a tie for first place
Joining Culbreath in the top 20 individually was Southlake Carroll sophomore Kaylie Cox who has been running fantastic all year long. Cox dropped a 16:54.20 PR for the 3 mile distance, which was just the tip of the ice berg for the Carroll group.
Cox' teammate would soon follow her past the finish line in a hurry. Seniors Jenna Holland and Lydia Lo finished back to back in 24th and 25th place both with a time of 17:04.50 and just 10 seconds behind Cox. The remaining Carroll scoring runners would soon followed in 32nd place and 67th place. The team tied for the win, but settled for second due to the tie breaking 6th runner place. They only scored 129 points in a race that had 200 runners in it.
The girls teams from Austin Vandegrift and Coppell were also in the race. Vandegrift finished ninth overall led by Emma Saia who finished 41st in 17:21.60 and Coppell was 11th place and was led by senior Shelby Spoor who was 34th in 17:11.40, making it for all thee Texas teams to finish in the top half of the 27 team race.
There were also Texas girls in the Rated Race.
Cedar Park junior Kaitlyn Childress won the entire race with an impressive 17:19.90. She held off a group of mad dashing girls trying to chase the top spot, including two of her own teammates who finished in the top 10. Teammates, senior Gracie Hall (4th -17:25.80) and junior Samantha Pettey (10th - 17:49.30) helped Cedar Park finish second overall.
Southlake Carroll junior Grace Williamson (16th - 17:54.80) was the top finisher for her team in this race to help lead the Lady Dragons to a third place finish. El Paso Eastwood finished 13th.
Boys Success
The boys race also saw Texas success.
Austin Vandegrift senior Anthony Monte was on the Nico Young chase as was the rest of the field. Monte blazed across the fast California course and finished third overall with a very impressive 14:14.50. Monte has been among the top finishers in every race this season proves he is ready for a realistic shot at a UIL 6A state championship as well as another national championship season push.
Eastwood senior Elias Perez also had a great race. He finished in 10th overall with a 14:25.90. Perez was followed by Texans Evan Caswell from Coppel in 12th place with a 14:26.80, and Carroll's Nate Lannen who finished in 19th place with a 14:34.30.
In a deep field with 32 teams and several top national teams, The Texas boys showed how fast and strong the were with all three boys teams finishing in the top 10.
Lannen got a lot of support from his Carroll teammates as they finished third overall with a 33 second team split. Perez got a lot of support, especially from his #3 and #2 runners as his tam finished in 6th place and Caswell's Cowboys followed him up to get a ninth place team finish.
There was yet another Texan in the front pack of another of the elite races. Cedar Park junior Jack Woods was a top race in the Boys Rated race. He kicked it down the stretch fighting for the win, but came up just short by a second. He finished second with a 14:31.80 for the runner-up finish.