David Mora runs his way to the 2022 UIL 5A Cross Country State Championship
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There was no question the UIL 5A boys race was perhaps the most talented individual race of the weekend. The boys did not disappoint the spectators as they put on a running spectacle worth the anticipation.
When you consider Ayden Granados (McAllen Memorial) was one of the most impressive distance runners in the state last year on the track, Henok Hayele (San Antonio Jefferson) is perhaps the newcomer of the year, Wyatt Athey (Denton) has been one of the most consistent runners in the state over the last four years and running at a high level, the race was destined to be exciting.
Include Alberto Rayon (Grapevine) who didn't even lace up his spikes until the last half of the season and his teammate Adam Burlison who after a move and decision to drop football and focus on running saw him elevate to a high level and you had the determined pack we saw compete today.
5A BOYS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 David Mora 12 Lubbock Monterey 15:15.40 1 2 Adam Burlison 11 Grapevine 15:24.00 2 3 Alberto Rayon 12 Grapevine 15:24.80 3 4 Wyatt Athey 12 Denton High 15:25.20 0 5 Henok Hayele 11 San Antonio Jefferson 15:28.70 0 6 Joseph Wienen 11 Georgetown High 15:36.80 4 7 Ayden Granados 12 McAllen Memorial 15:41.80 5 8 Antonio Pena 12 Georgetown East View High School 15:46.70 0 9 Garrick Spieler 12 Frisco Reedy 15:46.70 6 10 Chase Gunn 12 Fort Worth Arlington Heights 15:50.00 7
However, the race also included David Mora (Lubbock Monterey). Mora was on a high note as sophomore when he finished third place at the state meet. With expectations of contending for a state title, he would have to wait as he had to overcome early season contraction of COVID-19 last year to fight back in just enough time to qualify for state where he was fortunate enough to get third again.
Just when things looked up at last year's state track meet, he was tripped in the 1,600m to have his hopes for a medal dashed.
Today, Mora would not allow anyone or anything get in his way of winning that elusive state title.
In the early goings of the race, a pack of nearly 15 boys teamed up to form a solid lead group that exhibited the reason of expectancy for the race. Although dropping runners along the way, a significant pack would stay in tact beyond the two mile mark of the race.
That is when Mora made a move that would prove to be too much for the others to match. He'd power home to the finish line, capturing the UIL 5A state championship in a time of 15:15. Burlison and Rayon would kick home to finish second and third in 15:24 each. Athey (15:25) and Hayele (15:28) rounded out the top-5 individual runners.
TEAM SCORES PLACE TEAM POINTS SCORERS TIMES 1 Grapevine 56 2+3+13+15+23 (65+66) 1:15 1-5 Split | 15:59 Avg 2 Lucas Lovejoy 108 9+19+22+24+34 (36+59) 0:55 1-5 Split | 16:32 Avg 3 Frisco Reedy 151 6+20+28+42+55 (85) 1:31 1-5 Split | 16:41 Avg
The three point contribution of Burlison and Rayon would be huge and would not be wasted as the other three Grapevine scorers would capitalize. Junior Justin Leathers, sophomore Charles Smith, and junior Blayne Bradford would carry out their scoring responsibilities finishing within 28 seconds of one another to go along with their two low stick runners.
This was the third consecutive win for the Mustangs and Coach Rick Miller. The team ran a 15:59 average and an overall split ot 1:15.
Finishing runner-up in the team competition was Lucas Lovejoy. They relied upon their depth just to make it on the podium as the entire school, which had been plagued by the flu, affected the boys top-10 runners.
It was a DFW sweep at the awards podium with Frisco Reedy tallying 151 points to edge out Friendswood (157) for the third place trophy. They capitalized on a ninth place finish by senior Garrick Spieler to catapult their scoring.