Cleburne cross country off to strong start
Sep. 23—Through five meets so far in the 2022 cross country season, the Cleburne Yellow Jackets have experienced success already and are looking to peak in time for the District 8-5A championships on Oct. 13.
Both the Cleburne boys and girls varsity cross country teams are experience-laden with a couple of talented newcomers on each team.
Experience — in any sport — is beneficial, and the Jackets' experience so far has paid off with a strong start to the season. And Cleburne Coach Paul Chavez said he's been impressed by his student-athletes' commitment and work ethic.
"I like that they have been preparing all summer for this season," Chavez said. "We have had individual goals and team goals for this season and I believe we are accomplishing more at each meet to be able to reach these goals. I like how the kids have competed to reach these goals.
"What has stood out to me about this year's team is their work ethic and their awareness and runner's IQ on how to attack a course. Also, their accountability and positivity as working as a family."
The Jackets started strong by taking first place at each of their first two meets at the Boyd 6-mile relay on Aug. 12 and the Crowley Panther 2-mile meet on Aug. 18.
In Crowley, six varsity boys medaled and five junior varsity boys medaled while three varsity girls and one JV girl also medaled.
At the Hillsboro Invitational on Aug. 26, Cleburne's Benjamin Ludlow took first place overall while Parker Brown and Jack Murray finished second and third, respectively, as the Jackets swept the top-3 finishes. On the girls' side, Kayla Abbott finished third and freshman Autumn Casillas placed fifth at the Hillsboro meet.
Abbott also had a 10th-place finish at the highly competitive John Smith Invitational on Sept. 1 in Midlothian.
The varsity Jackets finished third in team standings at the Mansfield Legacy Meet on Sept. 16, with Brown's fourth-place finish leading the way. Alexis Staton, a multi-sport athlete for the Lady Jackets, took first place in the JV girls race at Mansfield Legacy while the JV boys finished third as a team with Daniel Ludlow leading the JV Jackets with a fourth-place finish.
Chavez said Benjamin Ludlow, Brown, Murray, Jesus Cardenas and Braydon Deskins have been the Jackets' most consistent competitors at the varsity boys level while Abbott, Casillas, Emma Dudley and Jetta Roye have led the Lady Jackets so far this season.
Cleburne is set to compete in the Hoaka Invitational Saturday in Round Rock, then the Jackets have two more meets — the Granbury Race for the Loot on Sept. 30 and the Haltom Warm-Up on Oct. 6 — before the district meet.
"We are focusing on finishing stronger and faster," Chavez said. "We have been preparing to finish stronger, our stamina and endurance are there, we are just needing to finish stronger. We are focusing on beating personal records and if that happens the team finishes in a good spot. We are also focusing on not getting separated from each other and finishing as a group."
The District 8-5A championships are scheduled for Oct. 13 in Midlothian.
