ROUND ROCK – The Windthorst Trojans were back on the medal stand at Old Settlers Park. Only this time, they were occupying the top spot.
After finishing second as a team a year ago, the Trojans placed first in the team standings of the Class 2A boys race at the UIL Cross Country State Championships. Windthorst won with a low score of 106, edging Collinsville (115) and Gruver (126), which finished second and third, respectively.
Junior Braidan Messineo paced the Trojans, crossing in fourth place overall with a time of 16:51.4. The Trojans kept a slight edge over Collinsville and Gruver with each finisher.
Junior Jackson Zicarelli (17:23.4) was the second Trojan across the finish line, scoring 10 points for his team. Kolton Rodgers, the team’s lone senior, added 19 points with a mark of 18:00.2. Sophomore Luke Zicarelli (18:02.3) was just behind Rodgers, bringing in 21 points.
Windthorst was the first team to get four runners across the finish line with a low score of 54 at that point. For comparison, Collinsville had a four-runner score of 74, Gruver 82 and fourth-place Slidell 85.
But all three teams had their fifth runner cross before Windthorst, completing their score and causing the Trojans to sweat their potential championship.
Then came freshman Wyatt Anderle down the final stretch. Anderle finished in a time of 18:53.8, scoring 52 points and keeping the Trojans under Collinsville by nine.
Freshmen Aiden Teague (19:15.9) and Kyson Gregory (19:56.3) rounded out the Trojan team.
In the Class 2A girls race, Windthorst freshman Adley Reynolds (12:51.7) placed 35th, and Seymour’s Ava Smajstria (13:28.2) came in 77th.
UIL Cross Country State Championships
CLASS 2A BOYS
Team standings – 1. Windthorst, 106; 2. Collinsville, 115; 3. Gruver 126.
Local individuals – 7. Braidan Messineo, Windthorst, 16:51.4; 18. Jackson Zicarelli, Windthorst, 17:23.4; 34. Thomas Rodgers, Electra, 17:53.6; 38. Kolton Rodgers, Windthorst, 18:00.2; 40. Luke Zicarelli, Windthorst, 18:02.3; 83. Wyatt Anderle, Windthorst, 18:53.8; 101. Aiden Teague, Windthorst, 19:15.9; 126. Kyson Gregory, Windthorst, 19:56.3.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
Team standings – 1. Hamilton, 65; 2. Gruver, 102; 3. Douglass, 146. Local individuals – 35. Adley Reynolds, Windthorst, 12:51.7; 77. Ava Smajstria, Seymour, 13:28.2.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Windthorst claims UIL cross country state championship
Reporting by Jonathan Hull, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
