Highlanders sweep Friday Night Lights

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams kicked off the 2012 season with impressive showings in Friday Night Lights at Bear Branch. Both won team titles.

The Highlanders, ranked No. 2 in the state behind Southlake Carroll, squeezed past Cedar Park by three points on Friday night. The Woodlands compiled a score of 38 while Cedar Park finished at 41. Cy-Creek was a distant third with a score of 168, followed by College Park (198), which is ranked No. 5 in the state, and Kingwood Park (206) rounding out the top five.

The boys’ competition included 15 teams and 108 runners.

A total of 11 teams and 85 runners competed on the girls’ side with The Woodlands dominating. The Lady Highlanders, ranked No. 3 in the state, finished with a score of 24. Austin Westlake was second with a score of 82. Cy-Fair (103), Cedar Park (111) and College Park (188), ranked No. 4 in the state, rounded out the top five in order.

Maddie McLellan took top honors in the girls’ race, finishing well ahead of the pack with a time of 11 minutes, 17.47 seconds. Teammate Katie Willard was second in 11:30.35. Ashley Guidot (11:46.41) was fifth and Abbey Piontek (11:59.88) ran sixth overall.

The Woodlands’ Kara Zuspan (12:04.63) and Gracy Huryn (12:11.12) finished 10th and 11th respectively with Anna Lyons (12:14.31), Lauren Porter (12:15.11) and Morgan Lebsack (12:15.42) racing 13 through 15 in order. Ashley Jansen (12:17.23) was 18th overall.

College Park was led by Holly Pierce (12:41.96) and Georgia Burner (12:48.13), who placed 30th and 32nd overall. Hannah Bennett (13:04.27), Chrystina Caciedes (13:07.89), Eilleen Sullivan (13:17.26), Audrey Manchester (13:24.18) and Aubrey Hodges (13:49.27) rounded out the group of Lady Cavaliers.

Klein Oak’s Bradley Dohner won the boys’ race in 12:33.98. The Woodlands placed seven runners in the top 16.

The Highlanders were paced by Brigham Hedges (12:38.08) and Adam Davidson (12:50.68), who finished third and fourth respectively. Logan Emery (13:05.07) and Craig Irvin (13:08.79) placed ninth and 10th in order. Matt Golden (13:09.64) ran 12th while Hiroshi Kirby (13:13.82) ran 14th and Rick Hawley (13:15.73) placed 16th.

Patrick McDermott (13:33.60) and Jack Hahn (13:36.42) rounded out the Highlanders squad.

Pedro Nasta, of The John Cooper School, ran 11th in 13:09.17.

College Park was led by Tanner Maloney (13:40.17), who finished 36th overall. Wade Linder (13:47.29) and Colton Brehm (13:50.40) ran 39th and 40th in order. Colton Nettleton (13:55.16), Cooper Burner (14:00.08), Conner Cole (14:06.08) and Luis Nieto (14:13.21) rounded out the group of Cavaliers.

Six runners from Oak Ridge High School competed with Zach LaDoe (13:36.92) leading the way, placing 32nd overall. Luis Alvarez (13:50.65), Zach Wooldridge (13:51.19), Justin Barrett (14:16.77), John Beauchamp (14:17.88), Grant Parks (14:18.58) and Matt Wagner (14:19.83) completed the War Eagles’ squad.