Jasper quest at regional meet ends
Teams fail to qualify any state members
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

JASPER'S VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY teams advanced to the Region III meet.The teams failed to advance any members to the state level but did turn in some impressive performances. Senior Zach Riggins, pictured above, turned in Jasper's best performance, 45th with a time of 18:14. Freshman Charlotte O'Brien, pictured right, led the girls' team with a time of 13:42, her season best, and 77th place.

The Jasper Bulldogs met their goal when both varsity cross country teams advanced to the Region III competition last weekend; however, their quest ended there as neither team nor individuals will advance to state.

Senior Zach Riggins turned in the Jasper's best performance, 45th with a time of 18:14.

Freshman Charlotte O'Brien led the girls' team with a time of 13:42, her season best, and 77th place. The top time was 11:35 by a runner from Kingwood Park. Kingwood Park's team also won the meet with an average time of 12:18.40. Jasper's average time was 16:03.80.

"I'm proud of our teams," Coach Terry Young said. "All the kids made improvements throughout the year and some of the times at region were the best of the year. One thing that stood out to me was that there were teams with so much faster times than any of the area teams that had faired well in the meets we attended. In fact, many runners who won meets we had participated in didn't do well at the regional meet."

Newsboy file photo

Bridge City, however, the District winner, took second place overall at the regional event. It is the fifth time in six years that the Cardinals have qualified for the state meet, held in Round Rock.

Lufkin Hudson was the only girls team in our area to place in the top.

They were fourth with an average time of 12:39.60. Brittany Henderson, the San Augustine runner who won the Jasper meet, was seventh in 2A and will again advance to state. Sampson Graham of Woodville was ninth in the 2A boys division and also advances.

Freshman Lauren Morgan posted her best time of 14:08, in 98th place, followed by Allison Collins, 16:23, 153; Natalie Dufner, Kelsey Walker, Hannah Vickers, and Harlena Hadnot all had a time of 18:03 and finished in 166, 167, 168, and 173rd position, respectively.

Additional runners competing on the boys team were Robert Adams, 125 at 20:09; Mathew Barrows, 126, 20:16; Adam James, 131, 20:29; David Cleveland, 151, 21:24; and Jack Sanderson, 153, 21:30. Seth Bevil injured his ankle and was unable to run.

All boys' times are unofficial and team scores have not been posted.