Leander Homeschool junior Judah Alexander-Macias had the determined look as he won the Plano ISD Inv.
Photo Credit: Stuart Kantor/MileSplit TX
We already listed Judah Alexander-Macias in one of our preseason articles of boys to look out for in this 2022 cross country season. The Leander Homeschool junior made us look right on point when he won the Plano ISD Invitational this past Saturday.
Macias took the lead from the get-go, never trailing and not looking back. He generated a lead that made it appear that he was out for an easy morning long run. With a winning time of 15:39.7 to the early season 5,000m distance victory, he quickly let everyone know his fitness level to start the seasons is in a good place.
Not getting opportunities to compete in many races with UIL athletes or the top TAPPS and SPC runners is one hurdle homeschool athletes have to overcome. Macias has done that from the onset of the 2022 season, leaving the desire to see him compete more often against what's considered the best athletes in the state as the season continues.
While Macias was out front rolling, there was a chase pack that formed at the mile marker. Zachary Martin from McKinney Boyd, Ellis Eserman from Denton Guyer, and Aleksandr Acuna of Denton Braswell were forming and giving chase to Macias. They had actually closed what was a huge deficit to around 30-40 meters at the two mile marker.
Macias was able to withstand their chase, but the trio would press forward as they looked like they were drafting off one another and they would finish with times under 16:00 for the 5,000m race. Martin was the race runner-up in 15:43, Eserman was second in 15:46, and Acuna was fourth in 15:51.
Zachary Martin (L), Ellis Esserman (C), and Aleksandr Acuna (R) finish 1, 2, 3 at Plano ISD Inv.
- - -
Place Score First Last Team Time Gender DivisionID Year 1 (n/s) Judah Alexander-Macias Leander Texas Home School 15:39.7 M 1 B Var 5k 2 1 Zachary Martin McKinney Boyd 15:43.5 M 1 B Var 5k 3 2 Ellis Eserman Denton Guyer 15:44.6 M 1 B Var 5k 4 3 Aleksandr Acuna Denton Braswell 15:51.8 M 1 B Var 5k 5 4 Joseph Arrona Denton Braswell 16:14.0 M 1 B Var 5k
