Burnet and Llano cross-country teams medal at Bulldogs meet
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — The Burnet High School cross-country squads earned three team medals at their own Burnet XC Relay Meet on Aug. 23.
The Bulldogs divided into three-person relay teams with each athlete running a 1½-mile loop.
On the boys side, Llano finished second, while Burnet A earned the bronze medal in the Class 4A and private schools division.
On the girls side, the Lady Dawgs finished first and third, while the Lady Jackets were second.
“Overall, the race was a fun way to start the cross-country season,” Burnet head coach Stuart Dixon said.
Burnet junior Nick Menchaca agreed.
“We’re feeling pretty good about the finish with all the hills and the competition,” he said. “It’s a great way to start off the season.”
Individually, Menchaca turned in the Bulldogs’ fastest individual time in 9 minutes 27 seconds.
“I think I did decent,” he said. “I don’t think I did as well as I wanted. We’ve run the course a couple of times.”
Llano picked up a silver in both the boys and girls races in the Class 4A and private schools division.
Grayson Freeman, the first Llano finisher, also was the first to finish his leg of that race.
“Grayson was really good,” Llano head coach Aidan Callahan said. “Grayson has been working really hard this summer. He’s running really fast. I’m not surprised. He’s had some good racing times.”
Freeman, who has been training since June 1, said he found himself in third place shortly after the race started. But after a mile, the other runners started to fade and he passed them.
“I feel like you’re going to see my best later on this year,” he said.
The Lady Jackets had three runners, which made returner Heather Shafer happy because they earned a team score.
“I’m honestly proud of what this team has done,” she said. “It’s a good start to the school year. I’m very proud I’m not running alone.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
RESULTS: Varsity boys — 2, Llano (Grayson Freeman, 8:32; Cole Polley, 9:32; Jason Gann, 9:26); 3, Burnet A (Nick Menchaca 9:27; Jordan Killebrew 9:54; Drew Kiser, 8:54); Burnet B (Trevor Turner, 9:37; Reid Burton, 10:18; Tanner Abbott, 10:22); Burnet C (Cole Younger, 11:22; Caden Farrell, 11:32; Jordin Belmarez, 10:21). Junior varsity boys — Gage Blair (Burnet), 10:10; Hunter Woodrum, 16:27). Varsity girls — 1, Burnet A (Autumn Freasier, 11:32; Tara Evers, 10: 53; Abby Bullock, 10:47); 2, Llano (Makenzie Johnson 11:43; Heather Shafer 11:28, Elainia Keeney, 11:03); 3, Burnet B (Crista Paik, 11:07; Zoe Stubblefield 12:30; Jordan Boyles 11:35). Junior varsity girls — Hailey Letterman (Burnet),12:18; Leslie Garrett (Burnet), 14:01
UP NEXT: Burnet at the Run for your Oats race at Oatmeal Festival in Bertram on Aug. 30; Llano at its own Llano Invitational on Sept. 4