Pre-District preview in Bandera offers glimpse of competition for Devine cross country

Brooke Runyan was the top Arabian finisher at the Pre-District Preview in Bandera. The Arabians took first as a team.

Varsity Arabian and Warhorse Cross Country runners competed in a Pre-District Preview last Wednesday afternoon in Bandera at their City Park. The Arabians finished in first place by a single point over runner up and district foe Carrizo Springs. The Warhorses finished 8th in a field of 12 teams.
Head Coach Khera Vay, “I’m very proud of the progress each athlete has made throughout the season; their hard work is showing with each race. The boys performed well in a large field of runners, with most improving their times. They have their work cut out for them as their district competition is very talented this year. The girls struggled through a tough week, but proved that no matter what they will always run for each other and rise to the challenges in front of them. I’m very pleased with them earning a championship plaque and I’m looking forward to another next week.”
Girls’ team places: 1st-Devine 50; 2nd-Carrizo Springs-51; 3rd-Bandera-64; 4th-Hondo-98; 5th-Crystal City-122; 6th-Nueces Canyon-130; 7th-Boerne Geneva-156.
Arabians: Brooke Runyan-3rd-12:36; Espi Mendoza-5th-12:44; Brianna Bernal-12th-13:13; Mari Murillo-14th-13:21; Brianna Bowyer-21st-13:49; Abigail Whitaker-22nd-13:49; Victoria Whitaker-24th-14:10;
JV Arabians: Alexis Shook-3rd-13:48; Jasmine Stricker-19th-15:03; Lorena Chavera-21st-15;13 (no team score).
Boys’ team places: 1st-Medina Valley-71; 2nd-Lytle-78; 3rd-Crystal City-82; 4th-Carrizo Springs-84; 5th-Alamo Heights-100; 6th-Hondo-137; 7th-Brackett-138; 8th-Devine-219; 9th-Bandera-237; 10th-Uvalde-265; 11th-Somerset-327; 12th-Boerne Geneva-335.
Warhorses: Connor Radicke-23rd-18:13; Christian Osorio-33rd-18:41; Xavier Garza-42nd-18:52; Deme Santana-59th-19:37; Ismael Vera-66th-20:36; Matthew Madrid-76th-21:58.
JV Warhorses: Andy Cordova-55th-22:04; Michael Reichel-79-23:38 (no team score).
District Meet Information
The most important meet of the season for the varsity team is Wednesday, October 11 in Lytle near the high school softball and baseball fields. The meet begins with the varsity girls at 9:00am, followed by the varsity boys at 9:30am, the JV girls at 10:00am, and the JV boys at 10:30pm.
The top three teams plus the top 10 competitors earn the right to run in Corpus Christi at the Regional Meet on October 23rd.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer