Cross country athletes from Canyon High School and Smithson Valley High School competed in the 2019 6A UIL Cross Country State Meet Saturday, Nov. 9, at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock. The SVHS girls team finished in seventh place; the CHS girls team finished 14; and the CHS boys team finished 15.
Individually, SVHS Junior Sara Scott finished fourth place at the state meet after missing three meets during the regular season. Fellow SVHS teammates who ran the 5k race on Saturday include Amalie Mills, a junior; Taylor Wright, a sophomore; Alethea Brown, a sophomore; Sophia Perez, a freshman; Sophie Goodwin, a freshman; and Avery Jurica, a freshman. SVHS Senior Sam Torres also qualified and competed individually in the state meet.
The CHS varsity girls team consists of sophomores Faith Dasso, Lauren Williams and Kylie Stewart and freshmen Ava Jeckell, Taylor Cochran, Mackenzie Combs and Alexia Tiscareno Macias. Alternates are Mackenzie Anderson, a senior, Molly McAuley, a junior and Gwen Crowder, a sophomore.
The CHS varsity boys team includes seniors Andy Hamilton, Noah Hamilton, Cameron Ikels and Chris Williams and juniors Brock Bailey, Cody Stone and Caleb Griffin. Team alternates include three junior varsity runners, Aidan Amaya, a junior, Jackson Reagan, a sophomore, and Michael Crowder, a freshman.
“I love working with cross country athletes,” said SVHS Coach Trenton Hall, “because of how hard working and dedicated they are. The SVHS XC team has a unique culture. They are driven to be successful; they take care of the things they need to do when no one is there to tell them to do them; and they have created a supportive environment where their goal is not just to run well individually, but to make their team better.”
Both SVHS and CHS have long histories of success in cross country, often qualifying for the state meet. The CHS Cougar girls’ team has qualified for state five times in the last nine years while the Cougar boys’ team has qualified five times in the last six years. The Cougar boys’ and girls’ team have qualified together three times, in 2014, 2015 and 2019.
Like Hall, CHS Coach Shelia West loves coaching cross country which she has been doing for 15 years. She has been at CHS for 12.
“The kids are enjoyable to be around, and they work hard,” West said. “They strive for excellence and like being challenged. This sport takes dedication and discipline.”
Congratulations!
Photos
-Canyon High School cross country boys team.
-Canyon High School cross country girls team.
-Smithson Valley High School cross country teams.
-SVHS Cross Country Coach Trenton Hall and SVHS junior Sara Scott, who placed fourth in the state meet.
-SVHS junior Sara Scott receiving her award at the 2019 6A UIL Cross Country State Cross Country Meet.