Meet Review- Cedar Park Invitational

Zac Sweers for TXRunning

 

The weekends of big invitationals continued yesterday. Dallas featured Marcus II, Houston had Andy Wells, and Austin had the Cedar Park Invitational. Their course was the 2nd great course in a row I’ve had the privelage of seeing. It’s still hot outside, but this course was almost half under the shade of trees. The ground itself was flat and fast, varying between grass, dirt/gravel, and finished on the track. The finish was very well organized and the parents and coaches did a fantastic job helping head coach Timo Sheard put on another stellar meet.

 

Boys Race

This meet’s had some class champions the past couple years with the likes of Parker Stinson and Zach Ornelas, and Stony Point’s Mark Pinales continued that tradition. Pinales took it out more controlled than usual, not pounding out his first mile. Instead he stuck in the lead with Alan Sanchez pacing right next to him. The two worked together the first couple of miles, then Pinales just took off the last 1200m or so. 15:42 is a modest time by his standards, but even still he looked completely relaxed. Alan Sanchez seemed to turn a few heads, judging by parents’ and other athletes’ reactions, and looks to be having the beginnings of a break-out season. Cedar Park’s Weston O’Donnel ran very strong at the end to come up with 3rd.

 

The team battle went to Cedar Park, who reloaded incredibly well despite losing their top 6 and not running with their #1 in this race. Georgetown practiced some Oklahoma State-esque tactics, running as a team from the back and then letting loose the last mile. Seems to have paid off as they came up for strong 2nd place showing.

“Our coach just wanted us to come through 2miles in 10:40 and then see what we could do the last mile. It felt a little weird, but he knows what he’s doing” said Georgetown’s #1, Cameron Foreman.

 

Girls Race

From the gun, Rachel Baptista of Austin turned the race into a straight rout. By halfway she had a commanding lead, and it would continue through the finish. Kathryn Burford of St. Stephens and Marissa Lee of Bowie paced each other in what would have otherwise been no-woman’s land between Baptista and the rest of the race pack. Baptista would take the win in 11:19 (sorry about the error on the video), with Burford edging out Lee for 2nd in 11:42. Lee ran 11:44.

 

The team battle went decisively to the McNeil girls, a perennial powerhouse in the central Texas area. The Georgetown Eagles came up with 2nd here as well.

 

 

 

 

Videos

2010 Cedar Park Invitational Varsity Boys Race