UIL Texas State Cross-Country Championships Recap (Central Texas schools)

Georgetown cross-country coach Andrew Braun  says that he likes to focus on his runners’ “In training, “aerobic engine,” trying to get that as primed as we possibly can. Braun’s approach worked, as the boys’ and girls’ teams shifted into overdrive to achieve 5A podium spots at the UIL Texas State Cross-Country Championships at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock on Friday, November 3.

Seniors Joseph Wienen and Nolan House took advantage of ideal running conditions, going out with the front pack to help lead the boys’ team to a second-place finish, 109 points behind Lucas Lovejoy’s winning 56.

Wienan and House were separated by less than a second at the finish line with Wienan timed in 15:31.0 and House, 15:31.4. The top five Georgetown boys included sophomores Zachary Mangum and Xavier Richardson, along with freshman Roger Henson.

The girls’ team placed third at the state meet, with seniors Ava Sieckmann and Dennie Decker placing 11^th and 12^th in18:39 and 18:40, to nail a third-place overall team 5A finish for the Georgetown girls. The top five Georgetown girls included sophomore Melia Flowers along with freshmen Peighton Kriegh and Kendall McDougle.

Though the Georgetown boys’ team has made it to state 15 times, it’s the first time the boys team had a podium spot since 2014.

Notable Central Texas finishers competing as individuals included senior Isabel Conde De Frankenberg of Cedar Park High School, who took second overall in the girls 5A race, clocking 17:34; and senior Edwin Rotich of Rouse High School in Leander, who placed third overall in 15:24 in the 5A boy’s race.

The Lockhart Lions boys team—coached by Ready to Run’s very own Scott Hippensteel—made their 23rd state meet appearance in the past 34 seasons, a huge accomplishment. They placed 16th in Class 5A at the UIL state meet.

In 6A action on Saturday November 4, smart racing propelled the Vandegrift boys’ team to second place on the podium. Initially,  when Vandegrift senior Dylan Schieffelin and junior Hudson Haley hit mile one, there were some 50 competitors ahead of them. But the pair threw in splits of four minutes and 50 seconds for mile two to join the lead pack of 10 or so runners.

Haley was able to pass all but sophomore Caden Leonard of Southlake Carroll in the final mile. pulling within four seconds of Leonard to nab second place overall, 15:04 to 15:00. Schieffelin’s came in sixth (15:10) and sophomore Kai McCullough, senior Brayden Schick and freshman Collin Goodwin all finished in the top 25,  to secure the team’s second place, scoring 69 points behind Southlake Carroll’s 48 points in Class 6A competition.

“We’d love to be state champions someday, so we’re just going to keep on chasing Southlake Carroll,” said Vandegrift’s head cross country coach Colin Sully.  “I’m super proud of our girls’ team as well. This is their eighth straight trip to state, and they finished eighth today, a huge honor.”

Notable: Competing as individuals, senior James Butler of Del Valle placed 15^th overall in the 6A race; sophomore Miah McAulay of Austin’s Bowie High School placed 14^th overall in girls’ 6A; and Victor Aviles of Burnet High placed 11^th in class 4A.

Upcoming Races: Thursday, November 23, the Cedar Park Turkey Day 5K at 9:00 a.m. in Cedar Park. Saturday, November 18, the Texas Ultra Running Championship 100K, 50K, and 15K at 7:00 a.m. at Lake Georgetown.