XCountry round-up

SHERMAN, Texas - Several members of the Caddo Bruins Cross Country team traveled across the Red River to enjoy the Sherman Arts Fest and its 5K run. With 279 runners, the Arts Fest run had the largest field in its history. It also had more than 150 runners in the one-mile race for younger athletes.

Two of the 5K favorites were high school runners. A youngster from Pottsboro, Texas was fresh off a victory at Bland, Texas last week, and Caddo's Chase McMichael was the other young man with a history of success in Oklahoma. The race began with the Pottsboro Cardinal taking an early lead, McMichael a few yards back. With a quarter mile to go, McMichael began his kick and overtook the leaders to capture the overall first-place medal in an excellent time of 17:19.

McMichael has not finished lower than second this season. He also won gold at the All-Comers Choctaw Festival 5K road race and the Madill Wildcat High School Cross Country 5K. He is currently ranked No. 3 in Oklahoma Class A. The Bruins are sitting at No. 5.

Other Bruins who ran included Chris Eastwood, who once again lowered his personal record to 21:03 for a second-place medal in his age group. Justin Hicks was five seconds back at 21:08. Kendall Maddox is rounding into shape and dropped his time by four minutes to a respectable 24:30. The coach of the Bruins, Don Tidwell, brought up the rear of Caddo's crew as he logged in at 27:40.

Two other runners with Bryan County ties had success as Dean Phillips and Larry Qualls both medaled in their respective age groups. Phillips won a gold and Qualls a silver medal. This is the duo that qualified this year, and ran the most prestigious of all races, the Boston Marathon.

At Byng

The Bruins recently placed fourth at the Byng meet Thursday, with Durant placing fifth in the high school event. At the middle school level, Durant placed third behind Harrah and Haworth.

Gage Harris, Durant middle schooler, finished the 1.5-mile race with a time of 9:20 with third place. Spuds Cook was close behind with a time of 9:30.

Zhackery Bradford medaled at 10:43 in 21st place. Kelten Isenberg finished just out of medal contention at 26th with a time of 11:11.

Damon Jackson led the Durant varsity boys once again with a time of 19:11 for 11th place. Jack Kinsey finished 20th with a time of 19:51. Marcus Hines, still dealing with a hamstring injury, managed to break the 20:00 mark by one second and finished in 22nd place.