Marble Falls cross-country team previews district course

ROUND ROCK — The Marble Falls High School cross-country teams learned a lot while competing at the Round Rock McNeil Invitational on Oct. 1.

The meet was at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock, the site of the District 25-4A meet and the state meet.

“There won’t be any surprises,” head coach Anthony Torns said. “That will be a big advantage. The No. 1 thing is that kids are dropping times. It’s a tremendous confidence boost.”

What did Marble Falls learn? That its junior varsity girls team is very good, finishing second overall led by sophomore Darby Hibbs’ third-place finish in 13 minutes 22 seconds and freshman Tess Johnson’s fourth-place finish in 13:24.

“Darby dropped 50 seconds off her time,” Torns said. “Tess Johnson dropped 27 seconds off her time.”

Junior Danielle Rios, who is known for her work on the track team, was 32nd overall in 14:13.

“We’ll continue to improve,” Torns said. “There’s a good chance the JV can win district.”

Meanwhile, the boys varsity team was eighth overall, while the JV boys finished 11th overall.

Marble Falls also discovered that senior Anjel Guerrero, who was fifth overall in 16 minutes 39.80 seconds, is more than capable of finishing very high in the boys varsity division.

“He’s coming out and working hard,” Torns said. “He’s doing very well in practice. It’s really showing by him dropping his times. This is where we thought he should be at the Llano Invitational. As far as where he’s at for his time, that puts him in the hunt. I’d like for him to be faster, but I’m not disappointed in the least.”

As for the rest of the varsity team, Torns said he’s “really pleased with them.”

Sophomore Jordan Wright was 15th overall in 17:01.30, dropping 37 seconds off his previous time.

“He was out all last year,” Torns said. “It’s tremendous getting him under 17 seconds.”

Freshman James Ramos was moved up from the junior varsity. Though he finished 110th in 18:42.20, the Mustangs skipper said his performance was outstanding.

“He almost dropped a minute off his time,” he said. “He was running 19:27. He wasn’t one of the top middle school runners. He was fifth or sixth. He’s making a push on the varsity now.”

Sophomores Sarah Stripling and Haley Stephens were 27th and 32nd in the girls varsity division.

Stripling finished in 12:56.50, and Stephens was 32nd in 13:02.00.

Torns said a change in practice might have had an effect.

“I don’t think (Stripling’s) body responded like the others,” he said. “I’m still confident she’ll drop her times.”

Colten Hagood led the JV boys by finishing 22nd in 19:27.30.

“The JV kids all dropped significant times and ran tremendously (Oct. 1),” Torns said. “They’re motivated in practice.”

Results from the tournament:

• Boys varsity (out of 192 runners): 5, Anjel Guererro, 16:39.80; 15, Jordan Wright, 17:01.30; 53, Johnny Garcia, 17:56.20; 72, Bryce Pilley, 18:14.20; 110, James Ramos, 18:42.20.

• Girls varsity (out of 171 runners): 27, Sarah Stripling, 12:56.50; 32, Haley Stephens, 13:02.00.

• Boys JV (out of 290 runners): 41, Aaron Hinojosa, 20:05.10; 35, D’Anthony Wall, 19:58.00; 22 Colten Hagood, 19:27.30; 126, Jesus Perez, 22:25; 147 Tait Johnson, 23:38.

• Girls JV (out of 318 runners): 4, Tess Johnson,13:24.00; 36, Sierra Guerra, 14:14.00; 3, Darby Hibbs,13:22.00; 79, Kelsey Bauers, 14:55.00; 88, Claudia Owens, 15:03.00; 32, Danielle Rios, 14:13.00; 66, Blanca Fonseca, 14:44.00.