Eagles Cross Country results from the Regional race.
1. Lathan Lewter, 15:22.20
2. Ryan Fernandez, 15:48.60
3. Noah Cooper, 16;04.20
5. Aaryan Katwal-Shaver, 16:24.20
6. Jamison Kirton, 16:25.10
7. Dayson Smith, 16:26.40
8. Grady Simmons, 16:31.10
Overall points: 17
1st Place Team
Lady Eagle Cross Country results:
1. Addyson Bristow, 11:08.00
7. Crickette Morris, 11:57.10
8. Avery Brown, 12:02.30
9. Michaela Sharber, 12:15.00
16. Kate Sheperd, 12:34.20
22. Reese Wilson, 12:46.70
35. Ella Martinez, 13:06.50
Overall points: 40
1st Place Team
The Eagles and Lady Eagles Cross Country teams both took the top of the podium for the 2024 Regional Meet last Monday. Each member of the boys team placed top 10 with only one other racer separating the group. The girls battled through and pulled off another big win. Junior Addyson Bristow and Senior Lathan Lewter took first place individually in their race, gaining another region medal.
“It feels great seeing the progress in my team,” Bristow said. “Behind the scenes nobody else sees how much we push ourselves and each other to be our best.”
Bristow believes the team was well prepared for the regional race and said it was a blessing when things went right.
“I was more than excited when I found out that my team won first because we weren’t sure that we would,” Bristow said. “We just had to work for it.”
Bristow said she stood on the line ready to compete knowing it was going to be a close race between Canyon and Randall.
“Preparing our team for competition is so enjoyable,” girls coach Raymond Baca said. “When it’s time to race, it’s always exciting to watch our team compete.”
During the race, Coach Baca said that he was a little anxious because it was hard to tell if the team would win or not. He thought the ladies ran well and was happy with how they performed.
“The win was huge for us.” Baca said. “It has certainly given us a lot of confidence in how we will perform at State.”
The Boys Cross Country team began to prepare for the 2024 season in May. Lewter said for a month most of his training was on a bike. He tore his meniscus in the 2024 track season, however he still had the contention of winning.
“I’m really proud of how hard my team has worked this year,” Lewter said. “We were able to show how much harder we work than everyone else out on the course.”
Lewter said stepping onto the line he was ready to get out and do what he knew he could, and it felt good to get rewarded with double medals.
“I’ve been running Region since freshman year,” Lewter said. “I always looked up to the top finishers, so now that I am a top finisher in the Regional meet it’s really cool to come full circle.”
Lewter said the Region meet gave the team a confidence boost because he made the team realize how well they can actually do. The team is looking to gain a State championship for the third year in a row.
“We have a slogan of ‘Good Better Best.’” boys coach Wesley Kirton said. “All season we say that everyday is a good day because it is an opportunity to get better.”
Coach Kirton said he thinks that the boys worked as a team to build each other up to give the team the result they worked for.
“Cross Country is famously quoted as a competition with no timeouts.” Kirton said. “Each athlete has to have a will to run so hard to do their best,”
The Canyon Eagles cross country teams will compete in the State Meet Fri. Nov. 1 at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock, Tx. Lady runners will race at 9:30 am with the boys following at 10:00 am.
Follow for State results on our social media pages and on the UIL (University Interscholastic League) website.
