TX Distance Athletes Continue Great Seasons At RunningLane

Texas runners competed at the RunningLane Track Championshps - (from left to right) Walker St. John, Franco Parra, Ben Shearer, Foster Wilfong, Marco Parra, Chachi Gonzales

photo credit John St. John

Several of the top Texas distance runners took on some national level competition this weekend at the RunningLane Track Championships in Madison, Alabama.

After not competing for almost a month since their state championships, the performances don't looked to have skipped a beat.

Friday night were the 3,200m events; There were seven Texas boys who raced and six of them ran sub 10 minute performances including a 9:01.71 from Houston St Johns' Emmanuel Sgouros. That was a PR for the SPC star distance runner who made waves this season with his running placed fifth overall in the 3,200m.

Southlake Carroll senior and University of Oklahoma signee Antonio Florcruz also ran well by going 9:13.70 to grab a PR as well. That was good enough to earn him third overall in his heat.

On the girl's side, two Texas competitors competed in the 3,200m. Breanna Stuart ran a 10:48.19 for ninth place overall in the championship race. Stuart, the 2021 UIL 4A state champion in the event was the top Texas finisher.

Danielle Peck added a 11:21.86.

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The fire works were shot on Saturday night. Two more distances were competed (800m & 3,200m). 

The Woodlands Christian senior Ben Shearer led the way for the Lone Star runners with his second place finish. The University of Arkansas signee was edged at the line by winner and Michigan junior Riley Hough.

Shearer's 4:07.40 paced the Texas runners as UIL 5A 1,600m champ Walker St. John of Grapevine was the second fastest Texan to cross the line. He ran 4:11.19 to win his heat.

Doubling back from Friday's 3,200m was Foster Wilfong, Antonio Florcruz, and Marcelo Parra. Wilfong went 4:14.82, followed by Florcruz (4:18.01), and Parra in 4:18.62. Franco Parra also ran 4:21.37.

2021 UIL 5A 1,600m state champions Walker St. John and Chachi Gonzales pose after their races at RunningLane

-photo credit John St. John

In the girl's mile, it was UIL 5A 1,600m champion Chachi Gonzales putting in a career race as she ran 4:44.87 to finish fifth overall.

"I just wanted to come out here and be confident and try and be with the pack," Gonzales said. The Boerne Champion junior looked confident in the earl goings of the race.

Usually the one to take pacing duties, Gonzales deferred to other runners in this race. She pulled along side the leaders on the second lap. Running in a crowd for one of the few times in her career, Gonzales fell back off the lead on the third lap, but still finished strong fo the superb time.

UIL 4A 1,600m runner-up, Breanna Stuart also finished with a sub 5:00 time by going 4:59.52