Durant’s cross country teams opened the 2025 season impressively with solid showings in the Wright City Invitational led by standout Avery Sager picking up right where she left off a year ago with a dominant performance.
The junior stalwart blew through the 2,400-meter course with a time of 9 minutes, 24 seconds to beat the nearest competition by a full 67 seconds to take the title.
For the Lady Lions in the high school division, Laynee Emert checked in fifth at 10:44, Katelyn Hitchcock ended 10th in 11:07, Kyah French was just behind in 11th at 11:08 while Grace Morrison placed 12th with a time of 11:09.
Other Durant girls placers were Alexi Powell in 16th at 12:37, Kamryn Brooks was 20th in 13:13 and Abigail Hixon wrapped up in 25th with a time of 19:14.
Durant’s K.J. Lowery won the boys’ individual crown in 10:06 with Top 10 efforts from teammates Zach Ervin, who was fifth at 10:58, and ninth place from Chris Becerra in 11:23.
Also for the Lions, Hudson Phillips clocked in at 12:15 for 18th, Cameron Mauck finished 23rd in 12:51, Blake Rhynes was 27th at 14:24, Kolson Gordon took 28th in 15:33, Ivan Becerra placed 29th at 15:34 and Abraham Reyna posted a 30th place mark of 15:38.
In the middle school division, Durant had a host of girls placers on the 1,600-meter course that was led by Elizabeth Hitchcock in sixth at 7:16, Archer Brumley seventh at 7:16.5 and Vivian Lee clocking eighth in 7:18.
Other Lady Lions placers included Selena Osorio, 10th (7:29); Kenlee Petty, 11th (7:33); Aubri Hixon, 13th (7:35); Olivia Keeling, 19th (7:59); Baylee Sullivan, 21st (8:01); Julia Rhynes, 24th (8:25); Aubrey Perrin, 27th (8:44); and Abigail Gardner, 37th (10:33).
A pair of Durant boys were Top 10 placers in the middle school division as Jaxon Osuna took third in 9:12 and Jude Scott placed sixth with a time of 10:07.
Durant also picked up placing efforts with Pate Wall, 12th (11:02); Cole Parker, 22nd (11:57); Logan Wyrick, 23rd (12:19); Jacoby Curiel, 27th (14:03); Collin Palmer, 28th (14:52); Remington Varner, 29th (15:04); and Alejandro Reyna, 31st (15:32).
The Durant varsity and junior varsity teams will be back in action Saturday with the Sherman Meet at Pecan Grove Park.
