At the District 15-5A Cross Country Meet Monday at Mount Pleasant, the Wildcats won the district championship for the first time in nine years. The Wildcats finished four points ahead of host Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats finished third behind Mount Pleasant and Royse City. Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats will advance to the regional meet on October 22 at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Coach Ross Hicks said it was a great day for his teams and he added the weather was good. The Wildcats were led by Landon Thornton, who finished second in the race. Coach Hicks said Thornton finished between two runners who went to the state meet last year as individuals. As usual, Wildcats junior Christian Palomino and senior Eli Sellers finished together in sixth and seventh place. Coach Hicks said they pushed each other and both ran personal bests. Nabian Ramirez finished tenth. Coach Hicks said Ramirez picked up valuable points by passing five or six runners during the final 800 meters of the race. Wildcats freshman Jose Mejia finished 18th with senior Andrew Escobar ending 19th. Rhett Reid also competed for the Wildcats.
The Lady Cats were led by junior Sydney Washburn who finished fourth. Lady Cats’ sophomore Maurie Flecker was 12th and Coach Hicks said she ran a gutsy race. Sophomore Landri McKinney finished 18th and senior Baylie Arrington was 19th. Next came senior Kaitlyn Ferrill, freshman Jessica Yanez and junior Ashley Noe.
The teams will compete at the regional cross country meet October 22.