-Written by Alex Chambliss
Last Saturday the Seven Lakes Showcase XC Invitational once again left its mark as one of the best early-season meets where teams get to showcase their raw pace over a fast course. As has become expected with this meet, several top Houston area teams showed up and showed out with a number of incredible performances and exciting races. So, let's take a look at five standout performances from the Seven Lakes Invite.
Katy Seven Lakes Showcase Elite Boys race
Matthew Montgomery has been a beacon of consistency within a Seven Lakes program that has seen several outstanding individuals and state-qualifying teams. Montgomery placed 24th at last year's UIL State Championship and continued to build on this performance by dropping massive personal bests in the forms of a 9:19 3200m and a 4:22 1600m.
Over the weekend, Montgomery continued his run of great form as he ran yet another personal best, this time in the form of a 15:26 5000m which also secured him the win. Montgomery took the lead from the jump and showcased a strong ability to front run as he consistently held a strong pace throughout the race. Rounding the final corner, Montgomery came under pressure from Katy Tompkins senior Parker Wood, however, he held strong and secured the win in his home race.
Rowan Saacke post race interview after setting new course record
Rowan Saacke is yet another member of the outstanding distance-running family that is the Saacke family. Rowan started off her sophomore campaign with a podium finish at Friday Night Lights, a great performance. Rowan also had a fantastic freshman track season where she ran personal bests with a 10:42 3200m and a 4:58 1600m, both very impressive performances.
Last Saturday, Rowan continued her trend of impressive performances by running another personal best in the form of a 17:42 5000m. Saacke was stride for stride with Klein Cain's Felicity Hamilton for much of the race however she was able to pull away towards the back half and secure a fifteen-second victory. Saacke has quickly cemented herself as a staple at the top, both on the track and the grass as she's continued to improve throughout her young career.
Parker Wood's post race interview
Leading a top-four team in Texas is undoubtedly a task that brings a lot of pressure, something not everyone is built for. However, Parker Wood was built for it this last weekend as he led the Tompkins boys to their second victory in as many races as they continue to impress.
Wood contended with fellow senior Matthew Montgomery for much of the race as the two challenged each other around a flat yet demanding Seven Lakes course. While Wood wasn't able to muster enough of a kick for the victory, he still turned in an impressive thirty-second personal best. Wood also led Tompkins to yet another dominant race victory, cementing himself as the team's top performer with this impressive early-season performance.
Clear Falls girls post race interview
After having two individual distance qualifiers in 2022, one on the track and one on the grass, the Clear Falls girls came into 2023 looking to build on those performances. With the aforementioned qualifiers in the form of Kaitlyn Gale and Katherine Valentine, Clear Falls was able to do just that, securing a hard-fought victory over Klein Cain.
Gale and Valentine fought at the front with race leader Rowan Saacke not far ahead for much of the race. This strong duo upfront coupled with a strong midfield performance by their depth are what secured Clear Falls this victory and will undoubtedly be the key to their success going forward. This victory marks a strong start for a team that looks to utilize its combination of front running and depth to fight for a spot in Round Rock this November.
Klein Cain senior Felicity Hamilton runs towards the finish line at the 2023 Friday Night Lights
Similar to the Clear Falls girls, the Klein Cain girls are led by proven runners in star seniors Felicity Hamilton and Rebecca Wylie. Hamilton and Wylie have led this program for essentially their entire careers with both qualifying for state as individuals last year and as a team in 2021.
Last Saturday, Hamilton and Wylie continued leading their team as they placed a hard-fought second after an extremely tight battle with Clear Falls. Hamilton battled with race winner Rowan Saacke for much of the race but ultimately came up short while Wylie held on and placed ninth, securing valuable points for the team. With two strong runners up front and improved depth, the Cain girls could easily continue to improve and find themselves back in Round Rock as a team for the first time since 2021.
