Durant runners took advantage of some early cloud cover in hot conditions to notch several strong finishes in the Sherman Invitational Cross Country meet last Saturday at Pecan Grove Park.
The varsity Lady Lions took third as a team with the Lions adding a fifth-place finish. The Durant junior varsity boys added a third in their division with the middle school claiming the team championship as the boys checked in ninth.
Senior Avery Sager was the top DHS placer in taking fourth individually on the tough, hilly 5K course in a time of 21 minutes and seven seconds.
On the varsity girls side, Elizabeth Hitchcock took 21st in 23:39, Laynee Emert was 28th at 24:58, Grace Morrison placed 30th with a 25:03, Caitlyn Ortega ended 37th in 26:43, Katelyn Hitchcock checked in 38th at 27:01, Kyah French took 39th with a mark of 27:05 and Rozlyn Brumley ended 40th at 27:45.
Leading the varsity boys group as a medalist was junior Hudson Phillips, clocking in at 18 minutes, 10.65 seconds for ninth place.
Joining Phillips as placers were Jared Osorio in 27th at 19:15.16, Zach Ervin ended 31st with a mark of 19:34.80, Isaiah Hall posted a 41st in 19:58.35, Kason Ford wrapped up 51st at 21:11.71, Blake Rhynes took 52nd chipping a 21:12.33 and Jaxon Osuna wrapped up 55th as he clocked in at 21:43.52.
The lone JV boys medalist was Juan Vazquez placing 12th in 20:30.98. Hudson Lee took 22nd
(21:27.16); Rylan Marsh,
45th (23:11.31); Noah Brumley, 63rd (24:34.37); Logan Wyrick, 70th (24:55.16); Kolson Gordon, 72nd (25:04.21); and Ethan Garcia, 78th
(26:18.77).
Durant’s JV girls had a handful of finishers as well, led by Aubri Hixon in
23rd at 17:00.81. Selena Osorio was 33rd (17:41.84); Skylar St. John, 43rd (18:31.57); Hazel Rawlings, 47th
(19:03.82); Ellery George,
50th (19:08.07); and Abigail Hixon, 73rd (22:24.46).
Three Top 10 medalists were the key for the middle school Lady Lions on the way to the team title as Timber McKinney took second in 13:59.62, Sutton Latter was third at 15:07.19 and Emma Boney checked in eighth with a time of 15:48.31 over the two-mile run.
Chipping in to the DMS girls effort were Brinlee Brooks in 18th at 16:43.42; Kensington Whitmire,
24th (16:55.80); Perrin Aubrey, 37th (17:43.75); and Baylee Sullivan, 41st
(17:53.07); Addison Hearn,
45th (17:57.19); Jemma Ammons, 49th (18:14.65); Leslie Carmona, 51st
(18:19.04); Oceana Bond,
55th (18:25.31); Kennedy Mauck, 70th (19:07.33); Julia Rhynes, 72nd (19:09.98); Darely Gonzalez, 80th
(19:40.69); Jaydee Seals,
108th (22:19.65); Ashley Simulescu, 111th (22:45.02); and Carlie Garcia, 124th
(24:28).
The Durant Middle School boys had six competitors as Lawson Scott
(23rd in 14:37.10) and Jaxen Barnes (25th in 14:57.18) were the frontrunners. Luke Munoz added a 76th
(17:16); Collin Palmer, 89th
(18:01.94); Jacoby Curiel,
91st (18:17.03); and Alejandro Reyna, 98th (18:47.23).