Highland Lakes Track Club taking 14 athletes to compete at national cross-country meet
“This is very exciting,” coach Steve McCannon said. “These athletes will have a chance to see competition at nationals that can take them to another level.”
The USATF national meet will be held Dec. 13 in Mechanicsville, Va., Runners from across the country will converge on the site. In order to qualify, the Highland Lakes Track Club members had to do two things — finish in the top 10 at the regional meet and achieve a club minimum-time standard.
By setting a club minimum standard, McCannon said it would ensure the runners are competitive at a national level.
“That is a key mission of the club,” he said, “to help our athletes get to the highest level possible.”
The regional meet confirmed the abilities of the Highland Lakes runners.
It has helped develop many young athletes during the past several years. The club was formed to promote youth sports such as track and field and cross country. Past members include Olympian Leonel Manzano and Texas Longhorn pole vaulter Ashley Laughlin. Several members have gone on to earn college scholarships in running sports.
McCannon said he expected tougher competition because going into the regional meet it draws athletes from the four area Texas associations. In past years, the club has competed in Amateur Athletic Union events, but McCannon made the switch to USATF events because it typically meant a higher level of competition. The USATF is the sanctioning body that holds the Olympic trials.
“(The Region 12 meet) was smaller, but very competitive meet,” McCannon said. “There were some very fast times.”
Fourteen of the Highland Lakes Track Club runners finished in the top 10 of their respective divisions. The athletes are divided based on age. Those are bantam (born 1998 or later), midget (born 1996-1997), youth (born 1994-1995), intermediate (born 1992-1993) and young men or women (born 1990-1991).
The bantam and midget girls’ squads finished second overall in team competition.
“I am very proud of all the athletes,” McCannon said. “I ask them to work very hard so they can put it all on the line — they did just that.”
Sub-bantam boys 2,000 meters
4th – Lance Long, 14:16
Bantam girls 3,000 meters
5th – Sophie McCannon, 13:02
16th – Summer Montoya, 15:39
18th – Madison Reddock, 16:29
21st – Anna Herrington, 16:46
22nd – Blakely Schwope, 16:57
Midget boys 3,000 meters
7th – Joe Parker, 11:23
Midget girls 3,000 meters
6th – Tess Johnson, 12:27
18th – Jenna Hough, 14:01
20th – Rachel Ormsby, 14:12
21st – Brianna Cruz, 15:00
22nd – Taylor Brackenridge, 15:11
25th – Callie Levine, 15:57
26th – Cene Dalton, 16:04
28th – AnneClaire McCannon, 16:58
Youth girls 4,000 meters
3rd – Delaney Maberry, 16:58
5th – Sarah Holden, 17:40
Youth boys 4,000 meters
23rd – Cooper Long, 21:58
Intermediate boys 5,000 meters
1st – Marcos Vallejo, 16:49
3rd – Logan Neighbor, 17:30
Young men 5,000 meters
3rd – Erik Forrester, 16:46
4th – Jesus Manzano, 17:26
8th – Tyler Kelly, 19:02
11th – Cody Goodman, 20:01
Young women 5,000 meters
6th – Jayme Mills, 21:35