Sports

CPHS boys, VRHS medalists set for run at state meet

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The best cross country runners in the state of Texas will be at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock on Saturday, with both Cedar Park and Vista Ridge looking to mine some medals in the Class 5A races that start at 1 p.m.

The Cedar Park boys come into the meet as a favorite to contend for the state championship, and have high expectations after finishing third a year ago in 5A.

“Our goal is to always reach state and we're going to be ready to go,” said Cedar Park coach Timo Sheard. “We finally got all our runners on the field and we're going to take our shot to try and win a state title.”

The T'wolves, who finished second at the Region II championships last weekend, will need strong races up front from Parker Stinson (9th at regionals), Chris Galvin (11th at regionals) and Bobby McIllece (12th at regionals) to contend. Getting Bobby McIllece back should only help Cedar Park, as well as push teammates Austin Geerts and Austin Krohn to stronger finishes at state.

To prepare for the meet's later starting time, Sheard has worked in several afternoon workouts to go with the team's usual training in the morning over the last few weeks.

“The different starting time does force you to train differently to prepare,” he said. “But we've been preparing for that and we'll be ready.”

No matter what happens in the race, there will still be another race on the schedule for Cedar Park at the Nike South Regionals in Houston next weekend. If the T'wolves grab a top two team finish at that event, they will be invited to the Nike National Cross Country Championships in December in Portland, Ore.

“We know there is still another race ahead of us,” Sheard said. “But we also know we can't afford to hold anything back at the state meet.”

The main competition for Cedar Park on the boys' side will come from The Woodlands (state-ranked, Region II champions) and Katy Seven Lakes (state-ranked, Region III champs).

Leander ISD could also see several individual medals from the Vista Ridge cross country team in Zach Ornelas in the boys' race and from Ashley Isham and Amanda Russell in the girls' race.

Ornelas is already familiar with the course at state, finishing seventh overall in the 4A race last year. He comes into this year's race as a solid favorite for the medal stand after winning the 16-5A title and coming in second at regionals.

Isham has been to state the last two years (coming in fourth in 4A) and was third at regionals, while Russell won the 16-5A title and placed fourth at regionals.

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