Texas Lutheran University HS Invitational 2008

Seguin, TX

Articles

FEAST Home School Sweeps Neal Baumgartner Oct 26, 2008

  Conditions: Sunny, 52 °F - 57 °F, 70%-67% RH, winds calm. Conditions were near ideal for cross country today on the Texas Lutheran University campus and South Texas runners seized the opportunity for a PR at the end of the regular season. As she had done the previous week, Marianna Hurtado of San Antonio Madison bolted to the lead at the gun in the girls race with FEAST Home School’s Emily Dunn in pursuit. At the mile Hurtado continued to lead with Janessa Dunn and Del Rio’s Candida Chairez joining the chase pack. Hurtado opened her lead in the second mile winning in 11:52 on the 3221 meter course. FEAST’s Briana Atchley moved past Chairez to claim fourth behind the Dunn twins to key FEAST’s strong win (35) over Georgetown (68) and Del Rio (84). The boys race was tighter as FEAST Home School, Del Rio, and San Antonio O’Connor battled for the team title. Up front, FEAST’s Howard Gill and Del Rio’s Palo Ponce ran their rubber match of the season as they had split two close races earlier in the year. This one shaped up as another fine duel as Ponce shadowed Gill for most of the race with team mate Chuy Ordaz within a stride or two as well. With only 400 meters remaining it was clear these three were gold, silver and bronze, but the order was still unknown. Ponce pulled ahead with 300 meters to go, but the lead was short lived as Gill responded quickly, reclaimed the lead, and sustained his drive to the line for the gold. Ponce grabbed silver just in front of Ordaz as all three runners were under 15:51 on the 4978 meter course. Meanwhile the team battle remained close as FEAST, Del Rio, and O’Connor each had placed three in the top 12. Then the four and five runners from each of these three teams finished within a 13 second span, and after the dust settled FEAST (46) claimed top honors over Del Rio (54) and O’Connor (58). For the second consecutive week the FEAST boys joined the FEAST girls as team champions having done the same last week at the Seguin Matador Meet.