CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS | Kilgore tunes up for district; Sabine on way to regionals
Oct. 13—Headed into the District 16-4A meet this Thursday in Lindale, Kilgore High School's cross country teams really have to feel good about their chances.
And Sabine? They've already won a district championship and are looking for more.
Kilgore: The Bulldogs, coached by Phillip Lane, multi-time winners of district in the last decade (including several consecutive championships), won their final meet of the regular season last Saturday, the Lindale Invitational, ran on the same course that Thursday's district meet will be contested. Coach Todd BonDurant's KHS girls finished third as a team, and both teams would love to make the trek to Round Rock next month for the UIL state championship meet, as they have so many times recently.
Ruby Almanza has finished in the top five every single meet this season for the Lady Bulldogs, and did it again last Saturday, finishing third overall in the 2.1-mile run in a time of 15 minutes, 41.3 seconds. Teammate Danna Requena finished just outside the top 10 at 14 in a time of 16:39.1. Aliyah Veloz came in at 30 (17:24.9), and Maci McNew at 33 (17:28.4).
Also for KHS, Lexi Lara came in at 60 (18:13.5), Gemma Sanchez at place 80 (18:31) and Samantha Rodriguez at 93 (18:46.4).
Kilgore's boys, as they have on at least four occasions this season, won their meet, a 3.1-mile contest. The 'Dogs competed as a team last year at the state meet, and even with a few athletes lost to graduation, they're gunning for a return trip.
Christopher May once again was Kilgore's top finisher, topping out at third overall in a time of 16:36.6. Josue Rosas was in place 16 in the time of 17:30.7. Zachery Gutierrez was Kilgore's third runner to cross, in place 22, in the time of 17:43.7, and then Jorge Aleman in place 24 at 17:51.1.
Rounding out the Bulldogs' finishers, Gustavo Trejo finished at place 38 (18:24.4), Isaac Gutierrez in place 95 (19:49.6) and Yamir Sanchez in place 99 (19:56.4).
In spite of the great times, Kilgore will still have a couple of hurdles to clear en route to possible state meet appearances. The district meet in Lindale is tomorrow, as mentioned, and then there's a regional meet (Region 2) at the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex in Dallas, apparently scheduled for Oct. 25.
The UIL State Cross Country Meet is Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Sabine's runners, if they make the state event, would run as a part of the 3A competition that Friday, beginning with girls at 10 a.m., followed by the boys, and the Bulldogs, if they return to the state meet, would run on Saturday, again girls at 10, followed by boys. Classes 1A, 3A and 5A run that Friday; runners in classes 2A, 4A and 6A run that Saturday.
Sabine: Sabine cross country, both boys and girls, have already punched their tickets to the regional meet at the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex, and they did it in fine style, their sixth consecutive District 15-3A title.
Sabine claimed its sixth consecutive district championship Monday and earned a trip to the Regional Cross Country meet.
Leading the charge for the varsity boys was sophomore Kevin Maldonado, who was the district runner-up with a mile time of 19:35. Caleb Cox placed fourth at district out of 43 runners, running a time of 20:34.
Oscar Gonzales came in at place 11 with a time of 21:23. Anthony Aguilar placed 13th, Francisco Perez was 17th, Robert Chubboy 19th, and Randy Rodriguez placed 20th.
Sophomore Daynne Trevino led the way for the girls district championship, running a two-mile time of 14:41 and winning the third place medal. Emma Logan placed fourth in a time of 14:47. Flor Garcia won the ninth place medal. Kooper Bogenschutz was 12th, Hailey Aguilar 14th, Greta Chubboy 19th, and Reese Rutland 28th.
Ashley Cervantes won first place in the junior girls race, while Sofia Perez won a medal for fourth.
Matthew Howland won first place for the JV boys with a time of 22:48. Alec Gonzales placed fifth, Camden Childress 13th, and Evan Brenner at 19.
Sabine cross country is coached by Jason Heffner.
