Eighty-Four To Start 2021 UIL XC Season with Fourth Chance at State

Eighty-four athletes who competed at this past week's 2020 UIL State Cross Country meet will be able to start their senior season next August with the goal of qualifying for the state meet for a fourth consecutive time.

Forty-seven (47) girls and 37 boys, including three of this year's champions - 2A girls titlist Kyla Kane from Wellington, 4A girls champion Adele Clarke from Celina and 1A boys winner Isaiah Billingsley from Cumby Miller Grove.

1A Girls

Bailey Neal, Sulphur Bluff

Bliss Betzen, Nazareth

Fernanda Malagon, Imperial Buena Vista

Karley Myers, Munday

Landry Morrow, Ackerly Sands

Lili Porras, Ackerly Sands

Makenzie Sherrer, Tilden Mcmullen County

Mariana Sanchez, Imperial Buena Vista

Tristen Martin, Spur

2A Girls

Addison Decker, Seymour

Charlisa Teagle, San Augustine

Emma Moran, Lipan

Gracie Weber, Mason

Kennedy Stroebel, Seymour

Kyla Kane, Wellington

Nojemi Martinez, San Saba

3A Girls

Brooklin Berger, Yoakum

Emma Alexander, East Bernard

Jarahle Daniels, Fairfield

Lindsey True, Pilot Point

Pilar Perez, McGregor

Sarah Denton, Gunter

Selene Castro, McGregor

Skylar Delgado, Abernathy

4A Girls

Adele Clarke, Celina

Amaris McCasland, Argyle

Breanna Stuart, Canyon

Chloe McLellan, Waco La Vega

Jentry Lamirand, Decatur

Kayleigh Wagnon, Hudson

Morgan Cole, Bandera

Raelynn Butler, Bandera

Tasha Thoms, Gatesville

5A Girls

Anastacia Gonzales, Boerne Champion

Brooke Hartshorn, Frisco Wakeland

Brooke Latham, Amarillo

Chloe Smith, Frisco Wakeland

Karsten Bobb, Dripping Springs

Kate Williams, Boerne Champion

Marleena Mickel, Dripping Springs

6A Girls

Abigail Parra, Buda Hays

Allison Buemi, Lewisville Flower Mound

Aubrey O'Connell, Prosper

Austin Owen, Lewisville Marcus

Haley Harkrider, Richmond George Ranch

Lauren Walls, El Paso Eastwood

Natalie Cook, Lewisville Flower Mound

Taylor Mathis, Austin Vandegrift

1A Boys

Isaiah Billingsley, Miller Grove

Jaden Rattler, Knippa

Joshua Samaron, Earth Springlake

Lance Verner Davis, Miller Grove

Tanner Hensley, Miller Grove

2A Boys

Abraham Morales, Brackettville Brackett

Edgar Valdez, Brackettville Brackett

Hunter Gober, Poolville

Jhon Sequeda, Martinsville

Jordan Moore, New Home

Jose Sanchez, New Summerfield

Kadence Power, New Home

Kyler Spaeth, Port Aransas

Levi McGill, Panhandle

3A Boys

Albert Zamora, Valley View

Bryan Guzman, Tornillo

Jordan Garica, Dimmitt

Jose Cortez, Lytle

Noah Richardson, Boyd

Osvaldo Melchor, Whitesboro

William Hall, Crane

4A Boys

Derrick Bible, Decatur

Devan Lujan, Andrews

Irvin Vazquez, San Elizario

Mason Purswell, Huffman Hargrave

Nick Bodenheimer, Longview Spring Hill

Payton Wrinkle, Orangefield

Roman Perez, Big Spring

5A Boys

Andrew Reichmann, College Station

Camden Vicknair, Boerne Champion

Hunter Lampkin, Boerne Champion

Natnael Enright, Frisco Wakeland

6A Boys

Hayden Eubank, Conroe Grand Oaks

Israel David, El Paso Eastlake

Jared Laverty, El Paso Americas

Noah Haileab, Pearland Dawson

Sources:  University Interscholastic League, RunFarUSA

UIL Girls State Cross Country All-Time List of Multiple Wins

4-Time (2)

Amy Goodwin, Bellville (3A, 1984-1987)

Stephanie Duke, Utopia (1A, 1990-1993)

3-Time (5)

Andrea Sanchez, Sundown (1A, 2013 and 2A, 2014 and 2016)

Elizabeth Silva, La Villa (2A, 1990-1992)

Jessica Koch, Round Rock (5A, 1992 and 1994-1995)

London Culbreath, McKinney North (5A, 2016-2018)

Sheila Quigley, Austin Westlake (4A, 1980-1982)

2-Time (26)

Annie Dunlap, Crawford (2A, 2012-2013)

Bailey Belvis, Prosper(3A, 2007-2008)

Bridget Tidwell, Crawford (2A, 1998-1999)

Chelsea Hermes, Lindsay (1A, 2005-2006)

Christany Reynolds, Forestburg (1A, 2002-2003)

Cindy Harper, Woodson (2A, 1984-1985)

Emily Garcia, Alvarado (4A, 2016-2017)

Jana Yowell, Cisco (2A, 1988-1989)

Jenna Brazeal, Little River Academy (3A, 2017-2018)

Jorja Bessonett, Cumby Miller Grove (1A, 2017 and 2019)

Julia Heymach, Houston Lamar (6A, 2015-2016)

Kacey Warrick, Cameron Yoe (3A, 1993-1994)

Karis Jochen, College Station A&M Consolidated (5A, 2011-2012)

Katherine Duncan, Roscoe (2A, 1996-1997)

Kyla Kane, Wellington (2A, 2018 and 2020)

Leigh Berger, Weimar (2A, 2003-2004)

Lisa Weltzer, New Braunfels (4A, 1993 and 1995)

Macey Siegert, Seymour (1A, 2010-2011)

Melony Patterson, Crowley (4A, 1989-1990)

Mindy Myers, Munday (1A, 1988-1989)

Paige Hofstad, New Braunfels (5A, 2012-2013)

Patsy Norman, El Paso (A, 1977-1978)

Ruth Camacho, Celina (2A, 2000-2001)

Sandra Brown, Cotulla (B, 1976-1977)

Sarah Andrews, Conroe The Woodlands (5A, 2008-2009)

Yvette Barrios, Clint (3A, 1995-1996)

Sources:  University Interscholastic League, RunFarUSA

Seven Schools Have Won Four or More Boys Individual XC UIL State Titles

Just seven schools have had four or more boys individual wins at the UIL State cross country meets since the championship's inception in 1972.

Conroe McCullough/The Woodlands (8 - 7 different runners)
Humble Kingwood (5 - 4 different runners)
Sundown (5 - 3 different runners)
Argyle (4 - 4 different runners)
Falfurrias (4 - 3 different runners)
Crystal City and Friendswood (4 - 2 different runners)

There have been 215 outright champions and one declared co-championship (1974 A).

And, in fact, there have been 140 different schools represented among those 216 state championship races.

UIL Boys State Cross Country All-Time List of Multiple Wins

Three-Time (7)
Carter Blunt, Frisco Heritage (4A, 2013) and Frisco Independence (5A, 2014-2015)

Graydon Morris, Aledo (5A, 2017-2019)

Judson Greer, Melissa (4A, 2018-2020)

Leonel Manzano, Marble Falls (4A, 2001-2003)

Ricky Gallegos, Crystal City (3A, 1988-1990)

Steven Quintanilla, Sundown (2A, 2016-2018)

Willie Garcia, Utopia (1A, 1992) and Sabinal (1A, 1993-1994)

Two-Time (27)

Alan Culpupper, El Paso Coronado (5A, 1989-1990)

Andres Gomez, Hurst Bell (5A, 1991-1992)

Austin Zirkel, Medina (1A, 2015 and 2017)

Bernave Martinez, Falfurrias (B, 1973-1974)

Bobby Aguirre, El Paso Riverside (5A, 1981 and 1983)

Brad Hauser, Humble Kingwood (5A, 1993-1994)

Brad Patterson, Albany (2A, 1985-1986)

Casey Sumpter, Lamesa (3A, 2001-2002)

Colby Lowe, Southlake Carroll (5A, 2006-2007)

Craig Lutz, Lewisville Marcus (5A, 2009-2010)

Domingo Padron, Mathis (3A, 1981-192)

George Tambourides, Friendswood (4A, 1984 and 1987)

Heath Wing, Ralls (2A, 2001-2002)

Henry Esqueda, Dilley (2A, 1998-1999)

Isaiah Billingsley, Cumby Miller Grove (1A, 2019-2020)

Jason Hamilton, Dallardsville Big Sandy (1A, 2007-2008)

Joey Chapman, Midlothian (3A, 1985 and 4A, 1986)

Julian Acuna, Agua Dulce (1A, 2000-2001)

Kevin Baez, Vanderbilt Industrial (3A, 2017-2018)

Kevin Smelley, Splendora (3A, 1993-1994)

Kyle Doty, Bruceville-Eddy (3A, 2014 and 2016)

Kyle Wright, Conroe McCullough (A, 1979 and 5A, 1980)

Raffeg Ayyad, Mesquite Poteet (4A, 1989-1990)

Ryan Cruz, Shallowater (2A, 1997 and 3A, 1998)

Ryan Teel, Friendswood (4A, 2011-2012)

Scott MacPherson, Plano (5A, 2003-2004)

Tyler Stanfield, Crockett (3A, 1999) and Canton (3A, 2000)

Sources:  University Interscholastic League, Texas MileSplit, RunFarUSA

Four-Meet Athletes Excel in Their Final UIL XC Appearance

Seventy-nine (79) of the 81 athletes who qualified for the 2020 UIL State Cross Country meets - after competing in it each of their first three years - actually ran in Round Rock on Monday and Tuesday.

Four of the athletes, listed below, were individual qualifiers all four years of their high school career:

Christopher Flores, Rocksprings (1A Boys)

Mathew Moralez, Premont (2A Boys)

Mackenzie Bryan, Tuscola Jim Ned (3A Girls)

Sydney Hornbuckle, Redwater (3A Girls)

The four senior boys champions - 1A's Isaiah Billingsley of Cumby Miller Grove and 5A's Walker St. John of Grapevine are juniors - have been at state all four years of their careers, but three of them didn't have quite the same start -- a third-place finish -- that three-time 4A champion Judson Greer of Melissa had.

Onalaska's William Boyce was 91st in 3A, Wylie's Luke Lambert was 77th in 6A and Poolville's Henry Fierro was 59th in 2A their freshman year, 2017.

Eight (8) runners registered top 10 finishes all four years.  That number includes three male and five female runners and they are as follows (ranked by the sum of their places from lowest to highest):

 6 - Judson Greer, Melissa (3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st)

 7 - Edwin Gomez, San Elizario (1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd)

22 - Kobe Robertson, Cumby Miller Grove (6th, 10th, 2nd, 4th)

13 - Jorja Bessonett, Cumby Miller Grove (1st, 7th, 1st, 4th)

14 - Allison Hedrick, Lindsay (8th, 3rd, 1st, 2nd)

18 - Colleen Stegmann, Frisco Reedy (9th, 3rd, 1st, 5th)

23 - Brighton Adams, San Saba (4th, 6th, 7th, 6th)

23 - Jaci McGregor, Salado (7th, 5th, 1st, 10th)

Those with three top ten finishes included:

Henry Fierro, Poolville (8th as a sophomore, 4th as a junior and 1st as a senior)

Samuel Ashley, Canyon (3rd as a sophomore, 3rd as a junior and 4th as a senior)

Shaylee Shiller, Wall (8th as a freshman, 7th as a sophomore and a junior)

Four runners had a 100-spot or more difference between their highest placement in their first three years and their finish as a senior.  They include:

114 - Eddie Dominguez, McGregor (123rd as a freshman, 9th as a senior)

118 - Amy Pritchard, Evant (132nd as a sophomore, 14th as a senior)

118 - Maddie Livingston, Dripping Springs (132nd as a sophomore, 14th as a senior)

102 - Katelyn Coldicott, Lago Vista (123rd as both a freshman and a sophomore, 21st as a senior)

Drops of 75 or more included:

90 - William Boyce, Onalaska (91st as a freshman, 1st as a senior)

89 - Jordan Dixon, Seymour (104th as a freshman, 15th as a senior)

77 - Joaxi Garzon, Goodrich (100th as a freshman, 23rd as a senior)

76 - Luke Lambert, Wylie (77th as a freshman, 1st as a senior)

75 - Bryan Garcia, Tornillo (121st as a freshman, 46th as a senior)

78 - Ana Segura, Mason (97th as a freshman, 19th as a senior)

78 - Bailey Petras, Yoakum (119th as a freshman, 41st as a senior)

And twenty-three (23) runners -- 15 boys and eight girls -- improved or equaled their placement each year.  They include:

Christian Rattler, Knippa

Joaxi Garzon, Goodrich

Jorden Zarate, Spur

Pato Ponce, Paint Rock

Delfino Guerrero, Brackettville Brackett

Henry Fierro, Poolville

Jordan Dixon, Seymour

Mathew Moralez, Premont

Paul Snow, Port Aransas

Cooper Bryant, Keene

William Boyce, Onalaska

Judson Greer, Melissa

Matthew Villarreal, Andrews

Foster Wilfong, Boerne Champion

Luke Lambert, Wylie

Jolee Fox, Cumby Miller Grove

Alexa Rodriguez, Sundown

Ana Segura, Mason

Maggie Peacock, Lipan

Marti Seymour, Lipan

Katelyn Coldicott, Lago Vista

Mackenzie Bryan, Tuscola Jim Ned

Sydney Hornbuckle, Redwater

Congratulations to all who made it to the state meet all four years, even though not every runner might not have wanted it to end the way that it did.

How They Fared at 2020 UIL State XC Meet: Schools with Both Gender Teams

While four schools won a state championship in one gender and finished second in another on Monday or Tuesday, nobody was able to pull off a double title win at this year's 49th annual University Interscholastic League (UIL) state cross country meet.

Fifteen (15) schools have earned a championship double 22 times in the history of the state meet.

The 21 schools, listed below in alphabetical order, were those who had both their boys and girls teams qualify for the state meet and how they placed on Monday or Tuesday, based on their classification:

10 - Ackerly Sands - Boys 4th, Girls 6th (1A Region I)

12 - Bandera - Boys 8th, Girls 4th (4A Region IV)

  3 - Boerne Champion - Boys 2nd, Girls 1st (5A Region IV)

12 - Christoval - Boys 7th, Girls 5th (2A Region I)

  6 - Conroe The Woodlands - Boys 3rd, Girls 3rd (6A Region II)

  3 - Cumby Miller Grove - Boys 1st, Girls 2nd (1A Region III)

  3 - Grapevine - Boys 1st, Girls 2nd (5A Region I)

15 - Huffman Hargrave - Boys 6th, Girls 9th (4A Region III)

14 - Klein - Boys 7th, Girls 7th (6A Region II)

12 - Lucas Lovejoy - Boys 5th, Girls 7th (5A Region II)

22 - Magnolia West - Boys 9th, Girls 13th (5A Region III)

13 - McGregor - Boys 8th, Girls 5th (3A Region III)

16 - Munday - Boys 11th, Girls 5th (1A Region II)

18 - New Summerfield - Boys 6th, Girls 12th (2A Region III)

16 - Priddy - Boys 6th, Girls 10th (1A Region III)

20 - Salado - Boys 9th, Girls 11th (4A Region III)

  9 - Saltillo - Boys 2nd, Girls 7th (1A Region III)

  3 - Southlake Carroll - Boys 1st, Girls 2nd (6A Region I)

13 - Spur - Boys 9th, Girls 4th (1A Region I)

  6 - Sundown - Boys 5th, Girls 1st (2A Region I)

10 - Whitesboro - Boys 3rd, Girls 7th (3A Region II)

Sources:  University Interscholastic League (UIL), RunFar USA (mychiptime.com)

53 Teams at UIL State Meet Last Four Years; 89 of 144 Were There in 2019

Fifty-three teams -- 26 boys and 27 girls - will be sending a team to the UIL state meet for at least the last four years consecutively.

An additional 36 teams -- 17 boys and 19 girls -- were at the state meet last year and/or the last two years.

This means 89 teams -- 43 boys and 46 girls -- of the 144 overall teams that qualified for this year's state meet were there in 2019.

Below are current streaks of appearances, for years of four or more:

BOYS (26)

42 - The Woodlands, 6A

13 - Lucas Lovejoy, 5A

12 - Port Aransas, 2A

11 - Eustace, 3A

11 - Southlake Carroll, 6A

10 - Andrews, 4A

10 - Cumby Miller Grove, 1A

10 - Valley View, 3A

8 - Sundown, 2A

8 - Tornillo, 3A

8 - Whitesboro, 3A

7 - Bracketville Bracket, 2A

7 - El Paso Eastwood, 6A

7 - Harper, 2A

7 - New Summerfield, 2A

7 - Saltillo, 1A

7 - San Elizario, 4A

6 - Grapevine, 5A

5 - Katy Tompkins, 6A

5 - McGregor, 3A

4 - Cedar Park, 5A

4 - Houston Strake Jesuit, 6A

4 - Keene, 3A

4 - Palestine, 4A

4 - Poolville, 2A

4 - Priddy, 1A

GIRLS (27)

24 - Southlake Carroll, 6A

17 - Decatur, 4A

12 - Canyon, 4A

11 - Canyon Randall, 5A

9 - Bandera, 4A

8 - Austin Vandegrift, 6A

8 - Mason, 2A

8 - San Saba, 2A

8 - Sundown, 2A

7 - Cumby Miller Grove, 1A

7 - Dripping Springs, 5A

7 - Grapevine, 5A

7 - Huffman Hargrave, 4A

7 - Nazareth, 1A

7 - Pilot Point, 3A

7 - Saltillo, 1A

6 - Boerne Champion, 5A

5 - Dallas Highland Park, 5A

5 - Frisco Wakeland, 5A

5 - Spur, 1A

4 - Lago Vista, 3A

4 - Lewisville Flower Mound, 6A

4 - Lipan, 2A

4 - McGregor, 3A

4 - Seymour, 2A

4 - Wall, 3A

4 - Yoakum, 3A

81 Runners Have Chance To Run All Four Years at UIL State Meet -- 2020

These 81 athletes -- 32 boys and 49 girls -- on Monday and Tuesday will be able to say that they competed in the UIL state cross country meet all four high school years.

BOYS
1A

Chance Hodges, Priddy

Christian Rattler, Knippa

Christopher Flores, Rocksprings

Hayden Stroope, Shamrock

Joaxi Garzon, Goodrich

Jorden Zarate, Spur

Joseph Hall, Priddy

Kobe Robertson, Cumby Miller Grove

Pato Ponce, Paint Rock

2A

Delfino Guerrero, Brackettville Brackett

Devin Ferris, Valley View

Henry Fierro, Poolville

Jordan Dixon, Seymour

Mathew Moralez, Premont

Paul Snow, Port Aransas

Tyrel Hart, Seymour

3A

Alex Garcia, Keene

Armando Hernandez, Crane

Bryan Garcia, Tornillo

Cooper Bryant, Keene

Eddie Dominguez, McGregor

William Boyce, Onalaska

4A

Edwin Gomez, San Elizario

Judson Greer, Melissa

Lucas Tauch, Melissa

Luis Rangel, Palestine

Matthew Villarreal, Andrews

Samuel Ashley, Canyon

5A

Caleb Lopez, Dripping Springs

Foster Wilfong, Boerne Champion

6A

Christopher Daniels, Klein

Luke Lambert, Wylie

GIRLS
1A

Amy Pritchard, Evant

Emma Kleman, Nazareth

Jolee Fox, Cumby Miller Grove

Jorja Bessonett, Cumby Miller Grove

Kacie Kimbrough, Neches

Kaylee Little, Lipan

Kyanne Dunn, Nazareth

Lauren Bullard, Cumby Miller Grove

Maggie Peacock, Lipan

Marti Seymour, Lipan

Me-A Gonzalez, Ackerly Sands

Sofia Stalker, Abbott

2A

Alexa Rodriguez, Sundown

Allison Hedrick, Lindsay

Ana Segura, Mason

Brighton Adams, San Saba

Courtnee Cash, San Saba

Dylaney Weaver, Gruver

Lexi Busby, Como-Pickton

Mckayla Donnell, Seymour

Mckinzi Donnell, Seymour

Whitney Spaeth, Harper

3A

Bailey Petras, Yoakum

Brisa Hernandez, Pilot Point

Claire Thompson, Pilot Point

Esther Long, Lago Vista

Katelyn Coldicott, Lago Vista

Korina Anzualda, Yoakum

Maci Beeles, Wall

Mackenzie Bryan, Tuscola Jim Ned

Reagan Beeles, Wall

Shaylee Shiller, Wall

Sydney Hornbuckle, Redwater

4A

Haylee Bentley, River Oaks Castleberry

Jaci McGregor, Salado

Kayla Leal, Decatur

5A

Abigail Wilson, Montgomery

Cameron Fawcett, Dallas Highland Park

Caroline Burrow, Grapevine

Colleen Stegmann, Frisco Reedy

Kaitlyn Childress, Cedar Park

Mackenzie Davis, Frisco Wakeland

Maddie Livingston, Dripping Springs

6A

Emma Saia, Austin Vandegrift

Eva Jess, El Paso Franklin

Gemma Goddard, Austin Vandegrift

Hannah McLaughlin, Lewisville Flower Mound

Hayden Gold, Katy Tompkins

Sophie Atkinson, Katy Cinco Ranch

Ten Teams Denied in 2020 First Time Trip to UIL State Meet

Again, with the reduction from four to three the number of teams advancing to the UIL state meet, these ten teams -- seven boys and three girls - were denied their first trip after finishing fourth at Monday and Tuesday's regional meets.

BOYS

Austin Vandegrift (6A Region IV)

Castroville Medina Valley (5A Region IV)

Dublin (3A Region I)

Hedley (1A Region I)

Nordheim (1A Region IV)

Rockdale (3A Region III)

Thrall (2A Region IV)

GIRLS

Comfort (3A Region IV)

Prosper Rock Hill (5A Region II)

Throckmorton (1A Region III)

14 Teams Making First Trip Ever to UIL State XC Meet in 2020

BOYS

Boling (3A Region III)

Bridgeland (6A Region II)

Great Hearts Northern Oaks (3A Region IV)

Jayton (1A Region I)

Prosper Rock Hill (5A Region II)

Universal City Randolph (3A Region IV)

GIRLS

Austin LASA (5A Region III)

Christoval (2A Region I)

Gladweater Union Grove (2A Region III)

Groveton (2A Region III)

Klein Cain (6A Region II)

League City Clear Falls (6A Region III)

Waskom (3A Region II)

Waxahachie Life (4A Region II)

COVID-19 Keeps 11 Additional Schools from Sending Two to UIL State Meet

When the decision was made to reduce the number of qualifying teams from the regional meets to the state meet from four to three, that left 24 boys and 24 girls programs that normally would make the trip to Round Rock sitting at home.

Seven of those schools would have increased the list of schools sending to two teams to 28, as the other team qualified, finishing first, second or third.

COVD-19 Denied
Argyle - Girls 3rd, Boys 4th (4A Region I)
Austin Vandegrift - Girls 1st, Boys 4th (6A Region IV)
Cedar Park - Boys 2nd, Girls 4th (5A Region IV)
Hamilton - Boys 2nd, Girls 4th (2A Region II)
Lufkin Hudson - Girls 2nd, Boys 4th (4A Region III)
Prosper Rock Hill - Boys 3rd, Girls 4th (5A Region II)
Round Rock - Boys 2nd, Girls 4th (6A Region IV)

Four more had the unfortunate honor of missing out twice as both boys and girls teams finished fourth at their respective region meet Monday or Tuesday.

COVID-19 Denied Twice
Amarillo (5A Region I)
La Feria (4A Region IV)
Spring Branch Stratford (6A Region III)
Thrall (2A Region IV)

The list of 21 schools sending both boys and girls teams would have been 32 if not for the development of protocols to reduce the number of individuals at the state meet.

Schools Sending Both Boys and Girls to UIL State XC Meet - 2020

Both Boys and Girls Won Their Region (6)
Cumby Miller Grove - Boys 1st, Girls 1st (1A Region III)
Huffman Hargrave - Boys 1st, Girls 1st (4A Region III)
Lucas Lovejoy - Boys 1st, Girls 1st (5A Region II)
Sundown - Boys 1st, Girls 1st (2A Region I)
The Woodlands - Boys 1st, Girls 1st (6A Region II)
Whitesboro - Boys 1st, Girls 1st (3A Region II)

Additional Schools Who Will Send Both Teams to State Meet (15)
Ackerly Sands - Boys 2nd, Girls 3rd (1A Region I)
Bandera - Boys 2nd, Girls 2nd (4A Region IV)
Boerne Champion - Boys 1st, Girls 2nd (5A Region IV)
Christoval - Boys 2nd, Girls 3rd (2A Region I)
Grapevine - Boys 1st, Girls 2nd (5A Region I)
Klein - Boys 2nd, Girls 3rd (6A Region II)
Magnolia West - Boys 2nd, Girls 2nd (5A Region III)
McGregor - Boys 2nd, Girls 2nd (3A Region III)
Munday - Boys 2nd, Girls 2nd (1A Region II)
New Summerfield - Boys 2nd, Girls 2nd (2A Region III)
Priddy - Boys 3rd, Girls 2nd (1A Region III)
Salado - Boys 2nd, Girls 3rd (4A Region III)
Saltillo - Boys 2nd, Girls 3rd (1A Region III)
Southlake Carroll - Boys 1st, Girls 2nd (6A Region I)
Spur - Boys 3rd, Girls 2nd (1A Region I)

Texas Nurse Practitioner And Marathoner Answers NYC COVID Call

(I learned today that five pieces of content that I had submitted to Texas Runner and Triathlete editor Lance Phegley to be included in an edition that was to feature what runners and triathletes did to keep themselves motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic was not included by the publisher in the purported last issue of the magazine.  As a result, I'm posting the content here on the blog to share with those who might have expected to see it.  I haven't seen the publication yet, but it is my understanding that the number of pages was dramatically reduced from the last quarterly edition.)

What are friends for, right?

Conroe’s Holly Benson will one day look back on March of this year and -- tell you’d she sign up again for all of what her good friends got her into.

After finishing six marathons in 13 months (the last being January’s Chevron Houston Marathon), the 33-year-old family nurse practitioner decided to have some fun for the Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon the first Saturday of March.

Cajoled by her Volte Endurance Running teammate Bonnie Scholz, Benson and running partner Mayra Caamano, also of Volte, and Zero Dark Thirty’s Meredith Moss dressed up as superwomen and ran – all smiles - to a 3:12:39 second-place four-women marathon relay finish.

Three weeks later, a fellow family nurse practitioner reached out to Benson with an opportunity that she had discovered with a staffing company to go to New York City -- to care for patients in one of the world’s COVID-19 hotspots.

Less than 96 hours later and after a flurry of paperwork, packing, arranging for child care and managing her own personal anxiety, Benson and her friend were on a plane to the Big Apple.

Flying on wings of support from family, friends and well-wishers back home.

“My husband was incredibly supportive and understanding due to his experiences in his career, and he understood the risks as well,” she said.  “He simply kept encouraging me to remain strong and be as safe as I knew to be.”

She was assigned to care for patients at Harlem Hospital.

“Initially, I was working as a nurse practitioner on a general medical floor that was all COVID patients, ideally either improving to go home or were on hospice care,” she said.

Benson said that she cared for patients from the ages of 26 to 91.

She was able to leverage her nursing background at M.D. Anderson that involved Stem Cell Transplants in hematology and oncology patients, which she says often were situations of high acuity.

“The type of acuity seen with the COVID patients was certainly different than I or any of the other staff had seen,” she added.  “Traditional treatments and methods were not working and we were all learning together.”

Two weeks into her planned three-week stint, she was asked to transfer to the research team there at Harlem Hospital because the medications being used in research were similar to those she worked with at M.D. Anderson.

“To assist in research for COVID in the heat of THE pandemic struck a chord in my heart,” she explained.  “It was a way to really try to help proactively versus reactively.

“Since my husband and daughter were managing very well, I signed up for another 21-day rotation.  The decision was incredibly difficult, yet it felt like the right one and I do not regret it one bit.”

And because of the care at the outpatient family clinics she works at in north Houston, her company was supportive and saw it “as an opportunity for me to learn and be available as a resource concerning COVID to the company once I returned.”

When you meet Benson, it is clear how she carries herself that she lives her faith, yet she said – despite her faith – she “never felt fully safe”.

“I have a fair amount of faith in our attempts as healthcare providers to prevent infection, and I have an incredible amount of faith in God,” she said.  “I don’t believe that faith in God makes me above the capacity of being infected, as many of the sick also believe in Him!

“I felt as though it was completely possible that I might become infected; it’s such a new virus and the modes of transmission include airborne in a setting where patients are ventilated.

“I understood the risk I was taking and simply hoped and prayed that my health and fitness combined with my extreme efforts to prevent infection would be enough.”

Working 12-hour shifts for 32 of the 37 days she was in New York City didn’t give Benson too much time to keep up training as she said that her mileage was about eight to 10 miles per week.

“The running I was able to accomplish was incredibly therapeutic,” she said.

She said she ran in Central Park as it was close to the hotel they were stationed at.

“In those moments, life felt a bit normal and hope would reignite,” she said.  “I often prayed while running, and I found peace with God and His creation in my soul while running and praying.

“Tears were not lacking during some of these times remembering the tragedies I had seen and frustration over the oddities of the pathology of this wicked virus.

“Running provided a mental reset. Clarity. Peace. Hope. Gratitude for my health and this unique opportunity to try to help.”

And her help was greatly appreciated – by her people at home – whose concerns weren’t alleviated until she returned home, tested negative and was illness-free -- and those of New York City.

Her running friends couldn’t help think of the irony of her being dressed as a superwoman a month or two before donning different gear and being seen as a hero for – like a police officer or fireman or women – rushing to the hot-spot of a pandemic.

She insisted, though, that she doesn’t “feel like I am a hero”, saying that she was “just doing what I am supposed to do. It’s what I was created to do.”

However, “the showering of love from the people of NYC and my circle of friends and family has been so amazing and appreciated. It’s very humbling,” she added.

She said while she was in New York City she was always surprised and humbled when the citizens - especially children - would cheer and thank us while simply walking down the street.

Personally and professionally, Benson said she was stretched like never before.

“I was able to learn on the front lines of the pandemic with some of the brightest, hardest working professionals I have ever known,” she said.  “I have learned, as with running, that I am capable of much more than I ever thought possible by working so many endless days in such stressful situations.

“My resolve to live life to the fullest is a resolve I developed while working with oncology patients; it has been strengthened by this situation. I am blessed to have been allowed this experience and I pray that God continues to see fit to use me as He needs.”

Texans Flock To Cantrell's Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee

(I learned today that five pieces of content that I had submitted to Texas Runner and Triathlete editor Lance Phegley to be included in an edition that was to feature what runners and triathletes did to keep themselves motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic was not included by the publisher in the purported last issue of the magazine.  As a result, I'm posting the content here on the blog to share with those who might have expected to see it.  I haven't seen the publication yet, but it is my understanding that the number of pages was dramatically reduced from the last quarterly edition.)

When Barkley Marathons race director Gary Cantrell does something, he goes big – even when he’s at home in Tennessee.

Big’s Backyard Ultra.  A Race For The Ages.  The Last Annual Vol State Road Race.

Fueled by the global lockdowns, shelter in place orders and the inevitable shutdown of racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cantrell, better known as Lazarus Lake, created The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K.

It is a take-off on the 314-mile road race, that goes across Tennessee from Dorena Landing, Missouri to Castle Rock, Georgia every July.

Actually 1,021.68 kilometers long, runners would venture from Anthonyville, Arkansas to the northeast tip of the state at the Virginia-Tennessee border.

Runners have four months – from May 1 to August 31 – to run a little over 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) – or about five miles a day wherever they are.

Or more, if they sign up after the first.  No backloading miles.

As of May 18, some 19,287 runners from all over the globe – 77 countries and at least 22 of the 24 time zones -- had signed up for the event that will deliver approximately $200,000 to food banks throughout Tennessee.

Texans are a little more than four percent of the field with 880 runners, as of May 18.

And one – Selma’s John Sharp – finished the distance with 634 miles at the end of day, Wednesday, May 12.

61 were averaging more than 10 miles a day and 323 miles have completed a 10K or more per day.

810.8 - John Sharp, 42, Selma
353.0 - Dale Cougot, 54, Garland
298.7 - Bobby Whittington, 33, Fort Worth
288.8 - William Moeller, 64, Spring
280.9 - Wayne Bullard, 56, The Colony
254.6 - Steve Maliszewski, 48, Houston
253.3 - Van Joslin, 34, Spring
251.2 - Jason Ball, 42
237.4 - Jay Teinert, 57, Bedford
234.9 - David Coats, 59, Houston

273.6 - Stephanie Stonebraker, 36, Fort Worth
262.4 - Elizabeth Ferguson, 43
258.0 - Jean Hofschulte, 53, Spring
253.1 - Kay Leighton, 50, Bedford
246.4 - Tracy Larson, 39, Houston
245.0 - Davina Nichols, 51, Keller
243.0 - Leslie Williamson, 35, McKinney
242.7 - Hazel Chase, 46, Houston
236.3 - Penny Lane, 56, Austin
235.0 - Robin Phelps, 58, Spring

And, of course, imitators have followed.

The One NY Challenge, which includes both a 1000K and 500K Challenge and managed by the producers of the Syracuse Half Marathon, has nearly 10,000 runners on its leaderboards that will attempt to mimic a run from the Niagara Falls to Montauk Point on the eastern end of Long Island.

SPC Coaches Go Over 5,000 Miles In One Day For 2020 Senior Student-Athletes

(I learned today that five pieces of content that I had submitted to Texas Runner and Triathlete editor Lance Phegley to be included in an edition that was to feature what runners and triathletes did to keep themselves motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic was not included by the publisher in the purported last issue of the magazine.  As a result, I'm posting the content here on the blog to share with those who might have expected to see it.  I haven't seen the publication yet, but it is my understanding that the number of pages was dramatically reduced from the last quarterly edition.)

All across America, communities found innovative ways to recognize their student-athletes who lost their senior season of competition to the COVID-19 crisis.

The 18 schools of the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), all but one of who are located in Texas, may have outdone them all – and themselves.

The athletic departments and their coaching staffs pledged to run, hike, bike and walk 2,020 miles in honor of their seniors on Saturday, May 2.

Generally, depending on where they would have started and finished on both coasts, the 476 coaches collectively could have run, walked and cycled across the United States and back as they registered 5,397.82 miles.

Five schools posted totals of more than 400 miles with Houston St. John’s School edging out Fort Worth Trinity Valley School by just less than a 5K and The Woodlands John Cooper School by less than a 5-miler.

The Mavericks coaching staff led the way with 486.90 miles, followed by the Trojans with 484.45 and the Dragons with 482.01.

The idea was the brainchild of John Cooper School athletic director John Hoye.

“As coaches, we have a respect for one another and enjoy friendly competition,” said Hoye.  “This is an opportunity for all of us to connect.”

SPC Commissioner Bob Windham couldn’t have agreed more.

“I really appreciate the SPC Athletic Directors working together to create an event to honor our senior athletes," he said. "This has been an unsettling and difficult time for all of our athletes, coaches, and fans. I am glad to see the ADs have initiated a fun activity to end what would have been the end of our spring season.”

And fun it was.

Episcopal School of Dallas crew coach Adam Jones led all cyclists with 81 miles, edging out Fort Worth Country Day School cross country and track coach Lexi Endicott by just a mile.  Fort Worth Trinity Valley School cross country coach Carry Hansen rounded out the podium with 65.1 miles on the bike.

Dallas Hockaday School cross country and swimming coach Rachel Grabow, also a Dallas Running Club member, led all runners with 26.25 miles, which might have been expected as she has completed 42 races of marathon or greater distance since her marathon debut at the Cowtown Marathon in February 2013.

Houston The Kinkaid School assistant girls soccer coach Tarik Guendouzi was second with 20.9 miles while Houston St. John’s School girls basketball coach Kathy Halligan was third with 20.2.

Bellaire Episcopal High School head track and field coach Isaiah Coleman grabbed the walking division with 50 kilometers -- on the treadmill.

Dallas Hockaday School head athletic trainer Jeanne Olson was second with 22 miles and Houston The Kinkaid School mental skills coach John Couture edged out Austin St. Andrew’s School’s Victor Nunez by less than a mile with 13.76 miles.

Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas associate athletic director Josh Friesen was first in multisport miles with 56.5, besting Fort Worth Country Day School boys head soccer coach Mike Vincent and The Woodlands John Cooper School cross country, track and basketball coach Carrie Aman, who achieved 51 and 50.53 miles, respectively.

Houston St. John’s School – 486.90
Fort Worth Trinity Valley School – 484.45
The Woodlands John Cooper School – 482.01
Fort Worth Country Day School – 439.11
Dallas Hockaday School – 411.84
Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School – 378.30
Houston The Kinkaid School – 348.41
Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas – 338.08
Dallas Greenhill School – 321.25
Bellaire Episcopal High School – 319.27
Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School – 268.52
Episcopal School of Dallas – 243.21
Arlington The Oakridge School – 191.40
Houston Awty International School – 186.72
Oklahoma City Casady School – 175.90
Houston Christian High School – 139.02
Houston Duchesne Academy – 135.20
Irving Cistercian Prep – 15.6

Cycling Miles
81 - Adam Jones, Episcopal School of Dallas
80 – Lexi Endicott, Fort Worth Country Day School
65.1 – Carry Hansen, Fort Worth Trinity Valley School
63.25 – Jeff Kralik, Houston Awty International School
55.1 – Charleton Perry, Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
50.3 – Alexis Jones, Dallas Hockaday School
50 – Andy Aceves, Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
50 – Neil Mendalson, Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
37 – Brady Brown, Fort Worth Country Day School
33.25 – Kendall Bernard, Houston St. John’s School

Multi-Sport Miles
56.5 – Josh Friesen, Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas
51 – Mike Vincent, Fort Worth Country Day School
50.53 – Carrie Aman, The Woodlands John Cooper School
44.3 – Spencer Dornin, Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas
44.12 – Kyle Kennedy, Fort Worth Trinity Valley School
40.58 – Kenny Halligan, Houston St. John’s School
38.01 – Heidi Crone, Dallas Hockaday School
33.3 – Julius Michael, Bellaire Episcopal High
30.34 – Amber Clevenger, The Woodlands John Cooper School
30 – Jennifer Johnson, Dallas Hockaday School

Running Miles
26.25 – Rachel Grabow, Dallas Hockaday School
20.9 – Tarik Guendouzi, Houston The Kinkaid School
20.2 – Kathy Halligan, Houston St. John’s School
15.05 – Keon Jefferson, Fort Worth Country Day School
13.1 – Matt Byrd, Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
10.32 – John Hoye, The Woodlands John Cooper School
10.04 – Gillian Glengarry, Dallas Greenhill School
10 – Curt Brooks, Houston The Kinkaid School
9.03 – David Nelson, Houston Christian High School
8.13 – Matt Blimline, Dallas Greenhill School

Walking Miles
31.2 – Isaiah Coleman, Bellaire Episcopal High School
22 – Jeanne Olson, Dallas Hockaday School
13.76 – John Couture, Houston The Kinkaid School
12.92 – Victor Nunez, Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
12.4 – Walt Miga, Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas
11.11 – Josh Blumenthal, Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
11 – Matt Assiff, Houston The Kinkaid School
11 – Jack Soliman, Houston St. John’s School
10.89 – Sam Chambers, Houston St. John’s School
10.7 – John Tomczak, Houston St. John’s School

Baylor WR Benitez Runs Longest Pattern to Date at Virtual Silo District Marathon

(I learned today that five pieces of content that I had submitted to Texas Runner and Triathlete editor Lance Phegley to be included in an edition that was to feature what runners and triathletes did to keep themselves motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic was not included by the publisher in the purported last issue of the magazine.  As a result, I'm posting the content here on the blog to share with those who might have expected to see it.  I haven't seen the publication yet, but it is my understanding that the number of pages was dramatically reduced from the last quarterly edition.)

While Baylor wide receiver Ricardo Benitez's head coach Matt Ruhle was taking a new job with the Carolina Panthers and four teammates were preparing to be drafted in late April's NFL Draft, he was still training, but differently than the rest of his teammates.

Sure, the Plano West graduate had been studying new head coach Dave Aranda's playbook for the 2020 season, but Benitez was training to run the Silo District Marathon - Chip Gaines' creation two years ago that raises money to benefit the foundation of the late Gabe Grunewald, a professional runner who succumbed last year to a rare form of cancer.

Ricardo knows all about rare too, but differently.

Benitz is 4-foot-2. He was born without femurs, a disability known as femur hypoplasia.

While the Silo District Marathon, like all other events across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, was cancelled, Benitez still planned to cover the distance that same weekend, Saturday, April 25, 2020.

The Gaines' called in their volunteer coordinator - and one of Waco's most notable local athletes - Nancy Goodnight for help.

Not only did Goodnight, a veteran of more than 160 marathons and 16 Ironmans, design the course she - and her daughter Elizabeth - along with a pair of Benitez's teammates, Bears signal caller Brandon Bass and safety Will Baxter, covered every step of the way with Ricardo.

He also received support from other area runners, including the Waco Striders Running Club, who set up aid stations, cheered for and offered encouragement the entire way.

Even those with the cancelled Chalk Waco Chalk Art Festival drew a colorful eagle with the saying, "Rise with wings like eagles," just beyond his finish line at the end of the Suspension Bridge which spans the Brazos River.

"This is our guy right here," Bass, the former Addison Trinity Christian Trojan, told KWTX-TV.  "I mean, we do everything together.  I wasn't just going to let him do this by himself."

Not for one minute out of Ricardo's 13-hour, two-minute time that started that morning at 4 a.m.

"Sunburned, tired and blistered, they refused to leave his side," said Goodnight.

And for Ricardo?

"He never, ever really quit," Goodnight told KWTX-TV.  "No matter what, he wasn't ever even considering quitting.  Not for one minute."

The extremely outgoing mother of four daughters and endurance sports community leader was for one of a few times -- at a loss for words.

"I've been trying to think of how to describe this day since I crossed the finish line, but it was utterly indescribable," she said on her Facebook page post-race.

After he finished, he remarked to KWTX's Julie Hays, "I won.  We won."

No, Ricardo, we all win - because of feats like yours.

Seven Hills RC Has One of First Races Back In Texas After COVID-19

(I learned today that five pieces of content that I had submitted to Texas Runner and Triathlete editor Lance Phegley to be included in an edition that was to feature what runners and triathletes did to keep themselves motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic was not included by the publisher in the purported last issue of the magazine.  As a result, I'm posting the content here on the blog to share with those who might have expected to see it.  I haven't seen the publication yet, but it is my understanding that the number of pages was dramatically reduced from the last quarterly edition.)

With permission from Walker County Judge Danny Pierce and guidance from the Road Runners Club of America, the Seven Hills Running Club in Huntsville was still able to host its annual Memorial Day 5K and 1-Mile Run -- even if some of its regular annual traditions had to be set aside because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some 30 club members and friends made their way to the Timberwilde subdivision where Ken and Marilynn Johnson's driveway turns into the race's start and finish line.

While post-race breakfast tacos had to be foregone, Steven Bickford's speech about the meaning of Memorial Day and Waverly Walk's National Anthem were missed and attendance was down, the spirits were just as high as always, especially as everyone was racing for the first time since early March.

A brand-new course - held on wide, non-busy streets that didn't require any type of closures and that Johnson had laid out and measured -- was open to runners for two hours, starting at 8 a.m.

Participants brought their own completed entry form and fluids, if needed, started when they wished, timed themselves and submitted those results manually to Johnson or via e-mail after leaving the site.  All in an effort to produce a contactless race among participants.

Steve Pecina and Myriam Mayes had the fastest times in the 5K with marks of 22:29 and 28:40, respectively.  Martin Mayes led all runners in the one-mile in 7:36.

Johnson, a long-time officer with the Club, credited RRCA South Texas Representative Lee Greb in working with the National Office of the RRCA, who insures Seven Hills' club events, to help

Greb thanked the Club on Facebook "for having one of the earliest events since Covid-19, a safe one and for leading the way."

Three of the two races' finishers were awarded $25 gift cards to Academy in an off-site, post-race drawing.

Texas' Largest Independence Day-Themed Races - 2020

Using the number of timed finishers as the metric, here is a list by individual race distances of Fourth of July-themed races in Texas in 2020:

182 - Christoval VFD Firecracker 5K, Christoval, 7/4
131 - Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, Granbury, 7/4
90 - Christoval VFD Firecracker 1M, Christoval, 7/4
84 - Cox Running Club 4th 5K, Fort Worth, 7/4
84 - Freedom 5K, Snyder, 7/4

77 - Popsicle Run 4M, Kyle, 7/4
74 - Fireman's 4 2-Mile Walk, Port O'Connor, 7/4
68 - Firecracker 5K, Mexia, 7/4
64 - West Texas Running Club Firecracker 3M, Brownfield, 7/4
46 - Popsicle Run 3K, Kyle, 7/4

41 - West Texas Running Club Firecracker 10K, Brownfield, 7/4
38 - Fireman's 4-Miler, Port O'Connor, 7/4
26 - Freedom 1M, Snyder, 7/4
19 - Freedom 10K, Snyder, 7/4
17 - Firecracker 1M Walk, Mexia, 7/4

These were live, in-person races.  No virtual run finisher numbers are included above.

Texas Fourth of July Races 2020

As of 12 a.m., June 14, 2020, this is the current status of all of the Fourth of July-themed races in the Lone Star state.

Please take the time to investigate these races online as some may have terms or prices you may or may not be in agreement with, such as no race day packet pickup.

Still On
Christoval VFD Firecracker 5K/1M, Christoval, 7/4
Cox Running Club 4th 5K/1M, Fort Worth, 7/4
12th annual Firecracker 5000, Fort Worth, 7/4
Firecracker 5K, Greenville, 7/4
Firecracker 5K/1M, Mexia, 7/4 (HELD)
Firecracker Flight 10K/5K, Georgetown, 7/4
Firecracker Flight Austin 10K/5K, Georgetown, 6/27
8th annual Fireman's 4 4M/2M Walk, Port O'Connor, 7/4 (HELD)
Hotter 'N Firecrackers 5K, Frisco, 7/3 (CANCELLED)
Lake Granbury Kiwanis Firecracker 5K, Granbury, 7/4 (HELD)
Pecan Grove VFD 5 Miles My Way, Richmond, 7/4 (CANCELLED)
Popsicle Run 4M/3K/1K, Kyle, 7/4
Run White and Blue 5K, Rancho Viejo, 6/27
Stu's Country Mile 5K/Kids 1K, Centerville, 7/4 (CANCELLED)
Texas Bud Heat Wave 5M/Michelob Ultra 5K, Mont Belvieu, 7/4 (SUSPENDED)
West Texas Running Club Firecracker Run 10K/3M/1M, Brownfield, 7/4 (HELD)

Tentative
Run For The Blue 5K, Dallas, 7/11 (Registration Not Open; Will be virtual we've been told!)

Moved to a New Date
September 7 - Run Wild 5K, Houston

No Information Available
Stars & Stripes 5K, Mission, 7/4

Virtual
Dow Firecracker 4M/2M, Lake Jackson
Firecracker Flight 10K/5K, Arlington (moved on this list on June 15)
Firecracker Flight 10K/5K, Fort Worth, 6/27 (moved on this list on June 15)
Flag Run 5K, Boerne
Freedom Fighter 5K, Tyler
Independence Day 8K, Houston
Liberty Run 5K Run, Denton
Midland Freedom Run 10K/5K, Midland
Rowlett Freedom 5K on Main, Rowlett
San Antonio Road Runners Freedom Day Four Miler, San Antonio
TXU Energy Wings of Freedom 10K/5K, Houston
Up And Running Fourth of July 5K, El Paso

Unknown
City of Del Rio 4th of July 5K Color Run, Del Rio
Firecracker 5K Evening Run, San Marcos
Fitness Today & Cisco Chamber of Commerce Red, White and BOOM 5K Color Run, Cisco
Freedom Fest 5K, Mathis
Freedom Run 10K/5K, Snyder
Pioneer Firecracker 5K, Leon Valley
Stars and Stripes 5K/1M, Eagle Pass

Cancelled
Coolest 5K in Texas, Fort Davis (May 29)
Corpus Christi Road Runners Four on the Fourth, Corpus Christi (June 6)
Firecracker 5K, Lago Vista (May 4)
First Colony Community Association Freedom 5K, Sugar Land (May 26)
Liberty by the Lake 10K/5K, The Colony
Memorial Villages 5K, Houston (moved to this category on June 15)
Old Jo's Firecracker Run 5K, St. Jo (May 19)
Patriot 5K, Trophy Club
runDallas Five on the 4th 5M/5K, Dallas
RUN, White & Blue 5K, Bastrop (May 27)
Shiner Half Moon Holidays 5K, Shiner (May 20)

My 2020 Races

January
1.  Texas Half Marathon, 1/1 (Kingwood, TX) - 2:19:48.74
2.  Thin Mint Sprint 5K, 1/11 (College Station, TX) - 29:15.22
3.  Arches Resolution 10K, 1/11 (Temple, TX) - 59:56.16
4.  We Are Houston 5K, 1/18 (Houston, TX) - 29:04.21
5.  5K Run to the Polar Bear Plunge, 1/25 (Copperas Cove, TX) - 28:47.06 (3.06 miles)
6.  Wildcat Dash 5K Color Run, 1/25 (Temple, TX) - 28:19.76 (2.88 miles)
7.  Miracle Match Half Marathon, 1/26 (Waco, TX) - 2:31:14.02

February
8.  Fort Bend Kia Half Marathon, 2/2 (Sugar Land, TX) - 2:10:43.23
9.  Bear Creek Greenbelt parkrun #17 5K, 2/15 (Keller, TX) -- 28:49.25
10.  13th annual Run The Line Half Marathon, 2/16 (Texarkana, TX) -- 2:15:41.50
11.  Run The Woodlands 5K, 2/22 (The Woodlands, TX) -- 29:38.98
12.  The Woodlands Waterway parkrun #5 5K, 2/22 (The Woodlands, TX) -- 29:40.60
13.  Tom King Classic 5K, 2/29 (Nashville, TN) -- 28:37.24

March
14.  Run For Wellness - Heights 5K, 3/1 (Houston, TX) -- 29:33.56
15.  The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K, 3/1 (The Woodlands, TX) -- 43:25.87 (with Ken Johnson
16.  9th annual San Jacinto Texas Independence Fun Run 5K, 3/7 (La Porte, TX) -- 29:13.65
17.  Summer Creek Bulldogs 5K Fun Run, 3/7 (Houston, TX) -- 27:59.47 (likely 3 miles)
18.  St. Paddy's Day 5K, 3/14 (New Braunfels, TX) -- 30:03.77

May
19.  2nd annual Larry Don's 7 & 7K, 5/23 (Gustine, TX) -- 42:10.65 (42:09.1) 1AG
20.  Memorial Day 5K, 5/25 (Huntsville, TX) -- 30:34.63

June
21.  Stop Distracted Driving 5K, 6/6 (Huntsville, TX) -- 31:34.57 (likely 3.23 miles per Steve Allen)

July22.  Firecracker 5K, 7/4 (Mexia, TX) -- 31:04.27 (likely 3.09 miles per Keith Cotropia)

Larry Don's 7 & 7K Race Report; Saturday, May 23, 2020

The majority of this post was written on Saturday, May 23.  The last part was finished on Tuesday, June 2.

I knew for about a week or so that this morning's race in Gustine was likely a go.

I've gotten to know Randall and Kate Denning, the owners and operators of Race Day Event Services, which is based in Hamilton, over the past few years as I've run many races that they've time in and around central Texas.

I had reached out to see if the county didn't have any restrictions and that is why there were able to proceed with the race.

Kate had shared with me that they had gone through the Governor's directives and waited for his address on Monday before sending a final e-mail out with decisions.  Things really aren't addressed except that non-contact groups were allowed in no more than groups of four.

Therefore, the plan was to have staggered starts of four runners at a time.

And while the city of Gustine had cancelled its annual Homecoming festivities, it was still having its Farmers Market on the Square and the 60th annual Gustine Rodeo.  So, the race was a go!

I ran a race the last Saturday before things started to shut down around the state, country and world, so I wanted to see what the first one back looked like.

Even though Waverly's birthday was today, she didn't have any expectations of my time specifically so I drove to Waco Friday evening, stayed there last night and drove to the race site this morning.

Packet pickup was the same, but then again:  this was a smaller race.

Eighty-five (85) runners and walkers finished a year ago and 60 finished today. 

I don't know how many runners came out for Homecoming a year ago, but I would guess that the variance was just from getting going again.

Even though Kate had said in our communications that "this race will look much different than any of our others," the lack of a big crowd ensured that it didn't have to be.

There were reminders for runners to ensure that they practiced social distancing and leading up to the start that was indeed very much the case.

The biggest change was going to be that there would be no water on the course.

As the pre-race announcements were made and the National Anthem was sang, I was a little apprehensive and I sensed a bit of it in the crowd, not fully knowing what to expect.

The pre-race prayer was well offered and shortly thereafter, the horn went off. 

I was standing on the side near where the timer's area was, as I do a lot of times since I know so many of them, and I finally got going 30 seconds after the start.

When I ran the race on Saturday, March 14, a 5K, in New Braunfels, I was very tuned in on the breathing of the runner closest to me - and there were 192 finishers in that race - as we really didn't have a lot of information about how the virus was spreading.

Today, the goal was to just stay spread out front and back as well as left to right.

With sixty runners on a 7K course, it is fairly easy.  I just can't see right now when you start to have 500-plus runners in a single lane of traffic what that's going to completely look like.

Three times during the race, I needed to spit.  Of course, I've read all of the concerns of folks with runners about the flume behind when one sneezes, coughs or in this case, spits.  I literally stepped off the course, bent over and as close I could to the ground, I spit into it and got going again.

I would advocate to all that if you need to sneeze on the race course to do the same thing as well.  (OK, maybe not the bend over to the ground part, but you get the idea.)  Either one of our races aren't that important, especially given that we haven't been able to do it for awhile.

This race was produced last year by the race directors to honor a friend, Larry Don Troutt, who had passed away in the year prior to last year's Gustine Homecoming.

I sensed from conversation during the post-race awards this year as well as the posting on last year's event Facebook page that there had been a race during the Homecoming celebration in year's past.

Last year, I made the trip to run a race in Comanche County and then headed off to Alpine to run a 10K that evening.  (Yes, indeed.  That was a road trip and a half, but I loved it.)  Seven Hills Running Club president Steve Allen was at that race a year ago too.

As I was saying earlier, there wasn't much different in how this year's race was run from last year's - other than there being no water on the course.

Volunteers were every place you needed to make a turn at - and the course was a mix of not-so-smoothly paved road or those with gravel and dirt, but thankfully it wasn't as hot as it was a year OK.

Overall, I ran fairly well I suppose.

Seven kilometers is 4.3496 miles, but Steve last year said he had it as 4.23 miles.

Last year, on a warm day, I ran it in 42:15.47.  This year?  42:10.65.  At least I could say that I was consistent!

I was second in my age group in 2019, about 50 seconds off the pace of Gary Cook from Carlton, Texas.  (I wonder if this is actually Carrollton.)

I guess Gary was busy this year as I took first in my age group, which I was rewarded with a nice gold-painted horseshoe.

The awards were handed out by Larry Don's brother and sister.

My only hope is that I wish that municipalities can see the way on how to bring back races online in a safe manner going forward.  Only time will tell.

Texas Running Adventures: Friday, May 15, 2020

Good evening from Waco!  I'm off on another "Chasing Texas Counties" running weekend.

I have some ambitious goals.  Let's see if I can knock off 15 counties over the next two days.

I started this weekend off with 99 counties to go.

My daughter took me to the Enterprise close to Spring High School so I could rent a car for my weekend travels.

Two weeks ago, I put 1,079 miles on one of their rentals.  Fortunately, they didn't stop me on Friday!

I had one left - Falls County - to be complete of all counties east of Interstate 35 and north of Interstate 10 and I pulled into the county seat, Marlin, at about 7 p.m.

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) awards cities all across the United States as "Runner Friendly" communities.

I think it might be in the next millenium that Marlin will earn that designation as there's just not a lot of sidewalks to run (or walk) on.

I made my way off Highway 6 and into town only to find that the Falls County Courthouse was undergoing major renovations.

I parked on the back side of the courthouse, got my proverbial picture, which is on my @walksports Instagram account, and headed back to the east down the main street.

I passed the back of Falls County Hospital and Clinic, made it to the next cross street and turned left before coming to another street where I made a second left and began to make a return trip back to where I had parked my car.

Somewhere close I heard an indication from my MapMyRun app on my phone that I had run a mile so I knew that I needed to get another half mile in.

I circled the courthouse to the west and made a return trip down the main street only to turn left and return at the railroad tracks that ran north and south through town.

Once complete, I made a couple of social media posts and had my eye on a Whataburger that I hadn't eaten at before.

One Patty Melt combo with onion rings -- the reason why I need to keep running and brisk walking -- made it the 115th different Whataburger that I've been to, including 28 this year.

I checked in at the Hampton Inn close to the Highway 6 and Interstate 35 interchange and then started to plot how I was going to get in a 5K this weekend to complete the requirements for a virtual run that I signed up for earlier in the day.

Wait.  Me signing up for a virtual race?  Yes, the one that said that he would never do it did.

A good friend of mine (and a 10 times better coach), Gary Brimmer in San Antonio, had signed up for one in his home state of Michigan - for a cause that was important to him, but he explained that one of his runners convinced him to earlier because it would be fun and right now it is all many runners have to help push them a little bit.

So I went to Running in the USA.com and started viewing this weekend's races across the country which had to go virtual and I saw a race that I had actually considered doing -- if I was in the area -- because it was an evening race.  It was the Fergson (MO) Twilight Run.

They had a 5K and a 10K, but the cost was just $20.

I decided that I was in - for the 5K..  They say that they'll mail the event shirt.  We'll see.  Trust me, I have plenty.

I wanted to run an already established and certified course, but by the time I had it in my head that I was going to do this Friday night, I'm not sure if it would have been the best option to run the course they use in Waco for their Race for the Cure 5K.

So I decided to go from the corner right outside of the Hilton Waco at the Waco Covention Center, which is currently closed, and run to 6th Street, turn left to Webster and then left to University Parks and back to the start twice, followed by an out and back on Franklin.

Well, the first loop went OK, but as I started the second loop it started to lightning a little and rain.  So when I got to 6th Street, I reversed course figuring I might have to do loops.

I got back to University Parks and then ran a loop in reverse:  just a different take on the original plan.

As I made the right back on to Franklin, I kept listening for the MapMyRun app to tell me where the 3-mile mark was so I could make sure that I got 3.1 ... but not too much extra.

The timing was perfect because when the 3-mile announcement came the rain started to fall harder and I was 3.13 miles on the app when I made it back to the car, which was parked in the Convention Center public parking lot.

The time was 32:55 for 3.13 miles on the app, but when I got back to the hotel and measured it manually, following the roads, it was 3.24 miles.

I put the latter in my mileage logs, but recorded a time of 32:40 in the virtual results for the race.

Youth Sets Mark In Abilene Marathon (11/26/1970)

ABILENE, Tex. (AP) -- Paul Hoffman, a freshman at Abilene Christian, won the 26-yard, 385-yard marathon at Lake Fort Phantom Hill Thursday in the fastest time ever by a 17-year-old, 2 hours, 43 minutes and 23 seconds.

Source:  The Sacramento (California) Bee, Friday, November 27, 1970

Emancipation Marathon Pits Top Negro Stars (6/4/1943)

The most brilliant field of athletes ever to particpate in the annual Emancipation Marathon is expected to toe the mark in front of Howard's Drug Store in Ysleta at 7:30 a.m. on June 19 for the start of the ninth annual race.

Al Cohen, head of the Sporting Goods Department of the Popular Dry Goods Company, will serve as official starter and timer of the run.

In all probability the marathon record of 66 minutes, 36 seconds set in the 1939 race by Manual Lopez will be lowered.  Many of the nation's most prominent Negro athletes are now at Fort Bliss and have signified their intentions to enter the run.

The Emancipation Marathon is open to any runner who wishes to participate and who fills out the official entry blank.  Information and entry blanks may be secured by writing:  The Emancipation Marathon Committee, P.O. Box 1961, El Paso, Texas.

Source:  El Paso Times, Friday, June 4, 1943

New Jersey Runner Wins In Marathon Race at Houston, Texas (3/2/1930)

Fred Ward, Jr., of Dover, Out-runs Classy Field

Beats Clarence De Mar Boston's Veteran Long Distance Star in Spring to Take by Twelve Yrds Runs Under Colors of Melrose A.C. of New York -- His Time Is Two Hours and Twelve Seconds -- Indian Runner Finishes Third

Houston, Texas, March 2 (AP) -- Fred Ward, Jr., of Dover, N.J., today won the first annual marathon here after a spring in which he outstepped Clarence Demar, the veteran long-distance runner from Boston.

Ward, running for the Millrose A.C. of New York, set a time of two hours, 12 seconds.  He beat Demar, from Melrose A.A. of Boston, by seven yards.

Until the last eighth of a mile there never was more than 10 yards between Ward and Demar.  The first mile was made in five minutes seven seconds by the winner and the last in six minutes.  For Ward it was another triumph for one of the most promising of America's candidates in the Olympic marathon in 1932 and for Demar it was a defeat that took little from his promise as a contender in the same event.  Demar, 42 years old, and for 21 years engaged in marathon competition, has won 14 major marathon races.

Breasting a stiff North wind, Ward ran a smooth, even race with comparatively long strides; Demar flailed the wind with his arms and hands all the way and took short, choppy steps.

August Barbosa, Indian runner of Dallas, came in third 20 minutes behind Ward.  Five minutes later came William Neville of Houston.  James Savage of New Orleans finished fifth, an hour and ten minutes behind the winner.  The three other starters Buster Bonneau and Barney Corey of Houston, and Bill Leiteritz, of Dallas, failed to finish.

As they broke the tape one, two, Ward and Demar both seemed strong though the winner had suffered a stomach cramp five miles from the finish.

Source:  The Paterson Morning Call, Monday, March 3, 1930

Six Mexican Indians To Compete in Texas Marathon Race Friday (3/25/1927)

Austin, Texas, March 23 (AP) -- Six Tarahumara Indian runners, three men and three women, were encamped in a suite at a leading hotel here today in an effort to acclimate themselves for marathon races Friday in connection with the Texas relays.  The men will run 82 miles and the women 26.

Three of the Indians complained of swollen feet in their arrival from the mountains of Mexico last night as a result of coming in contact with steam pipes in a Pullman.  Their worries vanished for a time when they were allowed to unpack a supply of native food from their blanket rolls.

Accompanied by a trainer, interpreter and a chaperon, the Indians entered the hotel dressed in more than fromal native garb.  The men wore blue denim suits while the women appeared with bobbed hair, net dresses and shawls.  All wore sandals but none had stockings.

The men will to go San Antonio tomorrow to start their race at 3 o'clock Friday morning.  They expect to cover the distance in about eight hours.  The women will start at Kyle 26 miles from here to accompany the men to the stadium.

The Mexican government furnished $1,000 to send the athletes here.

Source:  The Emporia (Kansas) Gazette, Wednesday, March 23, 1927

Demar To Compete In Texas Marathon Race (3/1/1930)

HOUSTON, Tex., March 1 -- Clarence Demar of Boston, national champion, and a half dozen other distance stars, will take part in the National A.A.U. 20-mile marathon here tomorrow.

Some of the runners have arrived and when the out-of-state stars check in the entire field of 18 will be ready for the trip to the San Jacinto battle grounds Sunday.

The marathon will start at noon when the runners are sent on their way back to Houston.

Besides Demar, Bill Agee of the Emerywood A.C., Baltimore, winner of the national 15-mile marathon, and Joe Savage of New Orleans Athletic Club are entered.

Source:  St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Saturday, March 1, 1930

Howard Payne College's Albert Wins West Texas Marathon (12/8/1973)

ODESSA -- Howard Payne's Mike Albert covered the better than 26-mile course in a record 2 hours, 38 minutes and 2 seconds to win the West Texas Marathon race here Saturday.

Teammate Tim Latham was fourth in 2:56.5.  Two Eastern New Mexico University runners placed third and fourth.

The race attracted 60 entries.

Source:  Brownwood (Texas) Bulletin, Tuesday, December 11, 1973

Nike's Sponsored Athletes at NXN South

2019 - Raevyn Rogers
2018 - Jordan Hasay
2017 - Evan Jager
2016 - Hassan Mead
2015 - Mary Cain
2014 - Emily Infeld
2013 - Chris Derrick
2012 - Leo Manzano

GearPatrol.com's 27 Books All Athletes Should Read [03/31/20]

26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career, Meb Keflezighi
A Race Like No Other, Liz Robbins
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, William Finnegan
Becoming a Supple Leopard: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance, Dr. Kelly Starrett
Born to Run, Christopher McDougall

Endure, Alex Hutchinson
Essentialism, Greg McKeown
Finding Ultra, Rich Roll
Good to Go, Christie Aschwanden
How Bad Do You Want It?, Matt Fitzgerald

Hypoventilation Training, Push Your Limits, Xavier Woorons
Let Your Mind Run, Deena Kastor and Michelle Hamilton
Liferider: Heart, Body, Soul, and Life Beyond the Ocean, Laird Hamilton
Meditations From the Breakdown Lane: Running Across America, James E. Shapiro
Running Home, Katie Arnold

Running Is My Therapy: Relieve Stress and Anxiety, Fight Depression, Ditch Bad Habits, and Live Happier, Scott Douglas
Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
Some Stories: Lessons from the Edge of Business and Sport, Yvon Chouinard
The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train and Thrive, Jim Afremow

The Game, Ken Dryden
The Glory Game, Hunter Davies
The Incomplete Book of Running, Peter Sagal
The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, Kobe Bryant
The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance, David Epstein

Two Hours, Ed Caesar
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami

Running To Get Away; March 16, 2020

Saturday was just one of those days - and weekends - to just get out of Dodge, so to speak.

Early in the week, I had been looking to see what sporting events this weekend that I could wrap around a race or two.  I'm always looking at the possibilities to stay busy.

However, two dominos fell that quickly wiped all of that out.

The first was the announcement that a Montgomery County (Texas) man had tested positive for the coronavirus at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which forced its cancellation and sent in to motion measures around the City of Houston and the entire greater Houston area.

Then it was the fact that an NBA player had always tested positive.

That set off the nuclear reaction that cancelled or postponed every major professional and collegiate tournament and event known to mankind.

I don't disagree, but the only other earth-shattering changes in my life and schedule have come with the passing's of my sister, grandfather and grandmother.

This weekend there were races in Castroville, Kerrville and Wichita Falls, as well as Amarillo, and all of those were cities that I've not run a race in before.  I even considered Chris McWatters and Tejas Trails' race in Rocksprings.

As of Friday, Wichita Falls' race, at 12 noon, was still on the books, but I think everything from Dallas-Fort Worth was going to have rain.

The only issues with the Castroville and Kerrville races were the prices of hotels in the west side of San Antonio - and Kerrville.  I have the money, but it doesn't mean that I wanted to pay it.  Especially since I have another night's stay elsewhere in my plans this weekend.

So I confirmed that the New Braunfels race was on, even though I've run a race here before, got a really good price on a Courtyard by Marriott near the Guadalupe River (although I was going tubing or anything) and came here.

Race start time was 8 a.m. and I got to the race site at about 7:15 a.m.

Race day registration was easier than anything I've seen.  Simple form:  Name, age, gender, sign your name and date it.  Bam, you're done.

I warmed up a little bit, ran a little bit on the banks along the Guadalupe and practiced my best social distancing as well as waited in my car some too.

The kids race went off at 7:45 a.m.

Runners were lined up about 7:55 a.m., an excellent National Anthem was performed (and almost every single person stood still) and we were off on-time at 8 a.m.

The course was a little bit of an out and back with a loop on the top of it so to speak and it had a few slight inclines as MapMyRun.com afterward indicated a gain of 103 feet.

I ran OK.  It was the first warm, humid weather race of the year.  I finished in 30:03.77.

As I had some plans for the day, I exited the race site as soon as I could and not to keep away from other people.

I think the right decision was made to cancel larger races, especially if you have somebody who isn't abiding by socially acceptable practices and showing up ill.  However, after the mile one mark, where the chatter of participants seems to go away and you start to really hear things, I realized that I was able to hear people's breathing -- and this was a race of probably 200 or fewer registrants.

Not in fear, mind you, but what if in their exerted breathing, because they were racing, and if they were carrying the virus that causes CovID-19, passed them along to everyone around them.

I thought about it a little and kept my distance as best as I could; however, I was still glad that I had the opportunity to be out there.

I was questioned later in the day - rather decisively - about who was still having races and why.  I responded the three towns that had them (Castroville, Kerrville and New Braunfels) and that they were all under 250 people.

Over the rest of the weekend, I added nine counties to my "run at least a mile in every Texas county" total and may add more this coming weekend.

Run Houston! Race Series Finisher Numbers

These do not include any virtual finishers.

10K
2015
Sam Houston Race Park -- 369 (214 women, 155 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 723 (452 women, 271 men)
Clear Lake -- 617 (377 women, 240 men)
University of Houston -- 653 (414 women, 239 men)
Sugar Land -- 418 (248 women, 170 men)
2016
Sam Houston Race Park -- 651 (389 women, 262 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 845
Clear Lake -- 679
University of Houston -- 870
Sugar Land -- 356 (193 women, 168 men)
2017
Sam Houston Race Park -- 619 (311 women, 308 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 864 (484 women, 380 men)
Clear Lake -- 598 (304 women, 294 men)
University of Houston -- 799 (428 women, 371 men)
Sugar Land -- 510 (282 women, 228 men)
2018
Sam Houston Race Park - 387 (204 women, 183 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 848 (466 women, 382 men)
Clear Lake --  581 (305 women, 276 men)
University of Houston -- 862 (466 women, 416 men)
Sugar Land -- 444 (215 women, 229 men)
2019
Sam Houston Race Park -- 428 (229 women, 199 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 857 (477 women, 380 men)
Clear Lake -- 517 (271 women, 246 men)
University of Houston --
Sugar Land -- 378 (204 women, 174 men)
2020
Sam Houston Race Park -- 352 (190 women, 152 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 685 (344 women, 341 men)
Clear Lake --
University of Houston --
Sugar Land --

5K
2015
Sam Houston Race Park -- 425 (283 women, 142 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 920 (605 women, 315 men)
Clear Lake -- 623 (422 women, 201 men)
University of Houston -- 807 (526 women, 281 men)
Sugar Land -- 492 (321 women, 171 men)
2016
Sam Houston Race Park -- 947 (602 women, 345 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 1,252
Clear Lake -- 905
University of Houston -- 1,272
Sugar Land -- 504 (282 women, 222 men)
2017
Sam Houston Race Park -- 991 (576 women, 415 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 1,212 (744 women, 368 men)
Clear Lake -- 893 (526 women, 367 men)
University of Houston -- 1,098 (665 women, 433 men)
Sugar Land -- 832 (503 women, 329 men)
2018
Sam Houston Race Park -- 591 (341 women, 250 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 1,377 (863 women, 514 men) - 12.8% increase
Clear Lake -- 807 (475 women, 332 men)
University of Houston -- 1,173 (719 women, 454 men)
Sugar Land -- 682 (409 women, 273 men)
2019
Sam Houston Race Park -- 699 (432 women, 267 men)

Minute Maid Park -- 1,371 (868 women, 503 men)
Clear Lake -- 771 (473 women, 296 men)
University of Houston --
Sugar Land -- 645 (355 women, 290 men)
2020
Sam Houston Race Park -- 722 (449 women, 273 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 1,353 (832 women, 521 men)
Clear Lake --
University of Houston --
Sugar Land --

1M/1K
2015
Sam Houston Race Park -- 29
Minute Maid Park -- 69
Clear Lake -- 81 (47 women, 34 men)
University of Houston -- 85 (45 women, 40 men)
Sugar Land -- 60 (37 women, 23 men)
2016
Sam Houston Race Park -- 58 (28 women, 30 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 86
Clear Lake -- 105
University of Houston -- 118
Sugar Land -- 52 (29 women, 23 men)
2017
Sam Houston Race Park -- 90 (50 women, 40 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 106 (48 women, 58 men)
Clear Lake -- 75 (33 women, 42 men)
University of Houston -- 97 (42 women, 55 men)
Sugar Land -- 64 (29 women, 35 men)
2018
Sam Houston Race Park -- 24 (7 women, 17 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 92 (37 women, 55 men)
Clear Lake -- 61 (28 women, 33 men)
University of Houston -- 82 (36 women, 46 men)

Sugar Land -- 70 (25 women, 45 men)
2019
Sam Houston Race Park -- 42 (19 women, 23 men)

Minute Maid Park -- 69 (28 women, 41 men)
Clear Lake -- 69 (32 women, 37 men)
University of Houston --
Sugar Land -- 54 (16 women, 38 men)
2020
Sam Houston Race Park -- 36 (18 women, 18 men)
Minute Maid Park -- 50 (21 women, 29 men)
Clear Lake --
University of Houston --
Sugar Land --

Total Finishers
2015
Sam Houston Race Park -- 823
Minute Maid Park -- 1,712
Clear Lake -- 1,320
University of Houston -- 1,545
Sugar Land -- 970
2016
Sam Houston Race Park -- 1,656 (101.2% increase)
Minute Maid Park -- 2,183 (27.5% increase)
Clear Lake -- 1,689 (27.9% increase)
University of Houston -- 2,260 (46.2% increase)

Sugar Land -- 912 (5.9% decrease)
2017
Sam Houston Race Park -- 1,700 (2.7% increase)
Minute Maid Park -- 2,182 (Basically even as '16)
Clear Lake -- 1,566 (7.3% decrease)

University of Houston -- 1,994 (11.7% decrease)
Sugar Land -- 1,406 (54.2% increase)
2018
Sam Houston Race Park -- 1,002 (39.3% decrease)
Minute Maid Park -- 2,317 (7.1 % increase)
Clear Lake -- 1,449 (7.5% decrease)
University of Houston -- 2,117 (6.2% increase)

Sugar Land -- 1,196 (14.9% decrease)
2019
Sam Houston Race Park -- 1,169 (16.7% increase)

Minute Maid Park -- 2,297 (0.86% decrease)
Clear Lake -- 1,357 (6.3% decrease)
University of Houston --
Sugar Land -- 1,077 (9.9% decrease)
2020
Sam Houston Race Park -- 1,110 (5.04% decrease)
Minute Maid Park -- 2,088 (9.1% decrease)
Clear Lake --
University of Houston --
Sugar Land --

2019 and 2020 The Woodlands Marathon Double

Twenty-four (24) runners have completed The Woodlands Marathon Double both years that the race made the recognition available by having a 5K on a separate weekend than the marathon and half marathon.

Those runners include the following:

HALF MARATHON BOTH YEARS
Amanda Lopez, 41, F, The Woodlands
Bobbie Petersen, 44, F, Conroe
Brandy Sambirsky, 46, F, Spring
Elias Rodriguez, 34, M, Conroe
Jason Davis, 48, M, Spring
John McGowan, 46, M, Spring
Katelyn Hunt, 22, F, Conroe
Kathy McWilliams, 75, F, The Woodlands
Lacin Coetzee, 28, F, Conroe
Malia Payne, 34, F, Conroe
Marcela Jaramillo, 46, F, Spring
Marty Cochran, 51, M, The Woodlands
Michelle Mouton, 47, F, Spring
Nilay Dinc, 41, F, Spring
Shannon Hill, 62, F, Conroe
Valerie Ferdin, 29, F, Corpus Christi

MARATHON BOTH YEARS
Amanda Kelly, 47, F, Magnolia
Christopher Kelly, 31, M, Spring
Gabriel Belforti, 48, M, The Woodlands
Stephanie Weiss, 58, F, Tomball

HALF MARATHON AND MARATHON
Bartenderx Oropeza, 44, M, Houston (HM19, MAR20)
Cynthia Biehle, 44, F, Spring (HM19, MAR20)
Danielle Cureton, 32, F, Spring (MAR19, HM20)
Jeffrey Custer, 49, M, Conroe (HM19, MAR20)

2019 The Woodlands Marathon Double

The following 113 athletes -- 95 in the half marathon and 18 in the marathon -- completed The Woodlands 5K Run on Saturday, February 23, 2019 and completed either the Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon or the Houston Methodist Half Marathon on Saturday, March 2, 2019.

HALF MARATHON (95)
Adela Allec, 36, F, Tomball
Alan Pate, 55, M, Magnolia
Alan Wilson, 59, M, Spring
Alejandro Domenzain, 10, M, The Woodlands
Alvaro Carbajo, 49, M, Conroe
Amanda Lopez, 40, F, The Woodlands
Amanda Miller, 40, F, Richmond
Amy Jackson, 52, F, Spring
Anahi Campos, 38, F, Conroe
Anette Jensen, 36, F, The Woodlands
Ashley Major, 34, F, Spring
Avya Sisco, 32, F, Magnolia
Bartenderx Oropeza, 43, M, Houston
Bobbie Petersen, 43, F, Conroe
Brandy Sambirsky, 45, F, Spring
Brooke McCoy, 34, F, Montgomery
Cesar Argueta, 38, M, Cypress
Christina Harughty, 30, F, Montgomery
Cynthia Biehle, 43, F, Spring
Damon Foy, 38, M, Tomball
David Brown, 41, M, Cypress
David Keithley, 37, M, Huntsville
Debra Sukin, 48, F, Spring
Denise Powers, 46, F, The Woodlands
Denise Smith, 65, F, Houston
Devan Atkinson, 26, M, Magnolia
Dorien McGee, 38, F, Spring
Elias Rodriguez, 33, M, Conroe
Elizabeth Ramirez, 31, F, Spring
Emmett Gott, 24, M, Spring
Eric Thomas, 59, M, Spring
Erica Alston, 39, F, Splendora
Erika Lawton, 45, F, Spring
Heather Stanley, 40, F, Spring
Horacio Espinoza, 29, M, Houston
Jackie Maerz, 33, F, The Woodlands
Jason Davis, 47, M, Spring
Jeffrey Custer, 48, M, Conroe
Jennifer Hartsock, 42, F, Cypress
Jerritt Park, 41, M, The Woodlands
Jesper Skov, 47, M, Houston
Jessica Estrada, 35, F, Willis
John McGowan, 45, M, Spring
Juan Lecanda, 35, M, Tomball
Juan Sorto, 33, M, Houston
Kara Lewis, 39, F, Montgomery
Katelyn Hunt, 21, F, Conroe
Kathy McWilliams, 74, F, The Woodlands
Kenward Sims, 70, M, Montgomery
Lacin Coetzee, 27, F, Conroe
Leslie Pallotta, 37, F, Spring
Linda Mireles, 36, F, Cypress
Lindsay Beaton, 35, F, Dickinson
Louis Hebert, 60, M, The Woodlands
Malia Payne, 33, F, Conroe
Marcela Jaramillo, 45, F, Spring
Marco Vazquez, 44, M, Spring
Mariana Sanchez, 43, F, Spring
Martha Contla, 48, F, The Woodlands
Marty Cochran, 50, M, Conroe
Maya Zani, 56, F, Spring
Michael Cortez, 29, M, San Antonio
Michael Kuykendall, 57, M, Spring
Michael Lemmons, 55, M, Spring
Michael Walsh, 45, M, Houston
Michelle Alvarez, 32, F, Houston
Michelle Mouton, 46, F, Spring
Nilay Dinc, 40, F, Spring
Oscar Estrada, 36, M, Willis
Paola Zapata, 42, F, Spring
Paul Phelps, 47, M, Spring
Rachel James, 30, F, Montgomery
Rachel Langille, 38, F, The Woodlands
Rajesh Ameen, 38, M, Sugar Land
Rajesh Vinna, 38, M, Spring
Ravi Kongara, 46, M, Pearland
Rebecca Brown, 33, F, Tomball
Renee Roker, 45, F, Cypress
Richard Salazar, 36, M, Spring
Rick Sanders, 35, M, Spring
Robert Rausch, 44, M, Richmond
Rod Booher, 65, M, Conroe
Roosevelt Johnson, 37, M, Houston
Rosalina Barragan, 45, F, Houston
Sarah Howard Alvarez, 29, F, Hockley
Sean Sipko, 42, M, Spring
Shannon Hill, 61, F, Conroe
Susan Moore, 54, F, Spring
Susana Flamenco, 35, F, Magnolia
Taylor Sharp, 25, F, Conroe
Travis Dreibelbis, 32, M, Spring
Trina McCollum, 50, F, Cypress
Valerie Ferdin, 28, F, Corpus Christi
Varun Reddy Desi Reddi, 28, M, Houston
Victoria Santos, 25, F, Houston

MARATHON (18)
Amanda Kelly, 46, F, Tomball
Chris Vasquez, 43, M, Spring
Christopher Kelly, 30, M, Spring
Danielle Cureton, 31, F, Spring
Danielle Skelton Reeves, 61, F, The Woodlands
Gabriel Belforti, 47, M, The Woodlands
Hai Nguyen, 62, M, Spring
Jake Goldstein, 25, M, Magnolia
Johanna Chesser, 41, F 
Leslie Pavlock, 45, F, Magnolia
Lillian Evans, 45, F, Waller
Linda McCall, 67, F, Conroe
Nicky Massey, 40, F, Spring
Oscar Fumero, 46, M, Springspring
Sally Redmon, 43, F, Conroe
Sonia Carr, 45, F, Conroe
Stephanie Weiss, 57, F, Tomball
Val Parreno, 45, M, Houston

Bayou City Half Marathon Series Official Finishers

Katy Half Marathon - Sunday, February 7, 2015

Cypress Half Marathon - Sunday, November 15, 2015
Katy Half Marathon - Sunday, February 6, 2016
Cypress Half Marathon - Sunday, November 13, 2016
Katy Half Marathon - Saturday, February 11, 2017
Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, April 9, 2017
Cypress Half Marathon - Sunday, November 12, 2017
Katy Half Marathon - Saturday, February 3, 2018
Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, April 8, 2018
Cypress Half Marathon - Sunday, November 11, 2018
Katy Half Marathon - Saturday, February 2, 2019
Vintage Park Half Marathon - Sunday, April 14, 2019
Cypress Half Marathon - Sunday, November 10, 2019
Katy Half Marathon - Saturday, February 8, 2020

Half Marathon

Katy -- 2,257 (1,332 female / 925 male)

Cypress -- 1,831 (1,121 female / 710 male)
Katy 2016 -- 1,610 (895 female / 715 male)
Cypress 2016 -- 1,436 (831 female / 605 male)
Katy 2017 -- 1,181 (655 female + 3 elite / 512 male + 11 elite)
Vintage Park 2017 - 970 (545 female + 5 elite / 413 male + 7 elite)
Cypress 2017 -- 1,149 (625 female + 527 male)
Katy 2018 - 1,194 (622 female + 572 male)
Vintage Park 2018 -- 876 (489 female + 377 male + 11 elite)
Cypress 2018 -- 1,077 (546 female + 512 male + 11 elite + 8 PC)
Katy 2019 -- 1,085 (525 female + 560 male)
Vintage Park 2019 -- 907 (488 female / 399 male / 14 elite / 6 PC)
Cypress 2019 -- 1,055 (549 male + 506 female)
Katy 2020 -- 1,129 (554 female + 575 male)

5K
Katy -- 466 (305 female / 161 male)

Cypress -- 303 (198 female / 105 male)
Katy 2016 -- 362 (219 female / 143 male)
Cypress 2016 -- 242 (149 female / 93 male)
Katy 2017 -- 503 (322 female / 181 male)
Vintage Park 2017 -- 356 (221 female / 135 male)
Cypress 2017 -- 246 (155 female / 91 male)
Katy 2018 -- 354 (224 female / 130 male)
Vintage Park 2018 -- 392 (252 female / 140 male)
Cypress 2018 -- 284 (174 female / 110 male)
Katy 2019 -- 594 (390 female / 204 male)
Vintage Park 2019 -- 430 (262 female / 168 male)
Cypress 2019 -- 301 (182 female / 119 male)
Katy 2020 -- 667 (484 female / 183 male)

Half Marathon Relay

Katy -- 42 (20 female / 3 male / 17 mixed)

Cypress -- 58 (29 female / 5 male / 24 mixed)
Katy 2016 -- 61 (24 female / 12 male / 25 mixed)
Cypress 2016 -- 58 (39 female / 19 male)
Katy 2017 -- 47 (24 female / 3 male / 19 mixed)
Vintage Park 2017 -- 52 (19 female / 10 male / 23 mixed)
Cypress 2017 -- 32 (12 female / 8 male / 12 mixed)
Katy 2018 -- 56 (33 female / 17 coed / 5 male)
Vintage Park 2018 -- 64
Cypress 2018 -- 34
Katy 2019 -- 45
Vintage Park 2019 -- 38
Cypress 2019 -- 28
Katy 2020 -- 55

Kids 1K

Katy -- 126 (71 female / 55 male)

Cypress -- 83 (44 female / 39 male)
Katy 2016 -- 80 (35 female / 45 male)
Cypress 2016 -- 46 (19 female / 27 male)
Katy 2017 -- 71 (32 female / 39 male)
Vintage Park 2017 -- 59 (30 female / 29 male)
Cypress 2017 -- 42 (21 female / 21 male)
Katy 2018 -- 54 (23 female / 34 male)
Vintage Park 2018 -- 60 (29 female / 31 male)
Cypress 2018 -- 30 (13 female / 17 male)
Katy 2019 -- 75 (40 female / 35 male)
Vintage Park 2019 -- 71 (35 female / 36 male)
Cypress 2019 -- 46 (25 female / 21 male)
Katy 2020 -- 104 (48 female / 56 male)

Total Finishers (Counting Relay as 1 finisher)

Katy 2015 -- 2,891

Cypress 2015 -- 2,275
Katy 2016 -- 2,133
Cypress 2016 -- 1,782
Katy 2017 -- 1,802
Vintage Park 2017 -- 1,437
Cypress 2017 -- 1,469
Katy 2018 -- 1,635
Vintage Park 2018 -- 1,392
Cypress 2018 -- 1,425
Katy 2019 -- 1,799
Vintage Park 2019 -- 1,446
Cypress 2019 -- 1,430
Katy 2020 -- 1,955

Sources:  No Limits Timing, No Limits Timing DFW, Bayou City Half Marathon Series and RunSignUp.com, Negative Split Timing, Negative Split Productions, RM Timing Systems

Last updated March 10, 2020.

2020 The Woodlands Marathon Boston Qualifiers

Listed below are the 114 qualifiers for the 2021 Boston Marathon, based on the times listed on the "Qualify For The Boston Marathon" web page at baa.org, from Saturday's ninth annual Fidelity Investments The Woodlands Marathon.

These are totally unofficial as I do not represent the event in any way, shape or form.

These also do not include any Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) qualifiers as I am not completely verse and up-to-speed on what time each athlete must meet dependent upon what category they're in.

If an athlete below has a (+) at the end of their name, it means that they qualify in the next age group as they will be in that division next year when the race is run in Boston.

F20-24 (2)
2:58:12 - Casey Mulroy, 24, F, Richmond, VA
3:13:09 - Devyn Cook, 24, F, Conroe

F25-29 (6)
3:14:02 - Josephine Novak, 25, F, Spring
3:16:36 - Maria Elisa Gonzales, 25, F, Houston
3:12:28 - Lacey London, 27, F, Houston
3:23:29 - Mallory Crutchfield, 29, F, Tulsa, OK
3:25:43 - Rebecca Garza, 29, F, Cypress
3:28:37 - Kelli Tomlinson, 28, F, Houston

F30-34 (1)
3:21:09 - Raeah Braunschweiger, 30, F, Houston

F35-39 (11)
2:44:32 - Emily Parker, 35, F, Center Point
3:09:48 - Keri Amador, 36, F, Spring
3:13:20 - Gina Goodgame, 36, F, Friendswood
3:15:46 - Trisha Vigil, 38, F, Loveland, CO
3:27:17 - Sarah Roach, 39, F, Pearland
3:29:13 - Nikki Cannon, 38, F, Houston
3:29:15 - Victoria Nolan, 35, F, Houston
3:29:16 - Emma Alonso, 39, F, Mexico, DIF
3:31:02 - Krystal Riley, 37, F, Lufkin
3:33:56 - Jennifer Forman, 35, F, The Woodlands
3:36:50 - Dinora Villegas, 39, F, Mexico City, DIF (+)

F40-44 (11)
3:02:39 - Melissa Hopper, 42, F, Cypress
3:17:25 - Alison Matthews, 40, F, Houston
3:22:07 - Erin Rivers, 40, F, Dublin, OH
3:28:46 - Jennifer Williamson, 42, F, The Woodlands
3:29:20 - Melody Presswood, 40, F, Houston
3:29:37 - Ehimhen Agunloye, 40, F, Houston
3:31:05 - Jeana Baldwin, 41, F, Round Rock
3:36:49 - Ana Gabriela Riva Palacio, 41, F, Mexico City, DIF
3:38:24 - Marie Eikefet, 40, F, Katy
3:41:31 - Jen Foreman, 44, F, Katy (+)
3:47:49 - Jennifer Kuylen, 44, F, Fort Worth (+)

F45-49 (8)
3:20:04 - Su Wang, 46, F, Sugar Land
3:28:49 - Casey Brand, 47, F, Houston
3:31:45 - Kori Scott, 45, F, The Woodlands
3:34:07 - Kathy Bell, 46, F, Sugar Land
3:43:23 - Becky Nesbitt, 49, F, Hempstead
3:44:21 - Maricela Pol, 45, F, Houston
3:48:25 - Heather Carr, 46, F, Houston
3:53:54 - Gabriela Iorio, 49, F, Spring (+)

F50-54 (4)
3:17:10 - Henrita Van Wyngaarden, 50, F, The Woodlands
3:39:12 - Jill Weisenbach, 52, F, Indianapolis, IN
3:42:03 - Sandra Tezino, 52, F, Spring
3:53:54 - Ana Maria Bazavilvazo, 50, F, Spring

F55-59 (2)
3:45:16 - Ann Delve, 56, F, The Woodlands
3:58:37 - Kay Stewart, 58, F, Friendswood

F60-64 (1)
4:16:40 - Beverly Pottkotter, 60, F, Tyler

F65-69 (1)
4:14:28 - Yong Collins, 65, F, Richmond

M15-19 (1)
2:52:36 - Joseph Smith, 17, M, Houston (will be 18 on Boston Marathon race day 2021)

M20-24 (2)
2:38:47 - Eric Kroon, 22, M, Austin
2:59:53 - Dorian Zarate, 21, M, Houston

M25-29 (7)
2:46:23 - Eduardo Rodriguez, 28, M, Dallas
2:49:09 - Logan Terry, 27, M, Houston
2:50:30 - Magdaleno Arana, 29, M, Houston
2:52:19 - Taylor Morrison, 29, M, Fort Wort
2:57:00 - Oscar Perez, 26, M, Ciudad De Mexico, DIF
2:57:25 - Luke Wilding, 28, M, Baton Rouge, LA
2:58:21 - Eric Chen, 29, M, Houston

M30-34 (6)
2:26:24 - Benjamin Zywicki, 31, M, Louisville, CO
2:38:26 - Miguel Ramos, 30, M, Mexico City, DIF
2:51:13 - Mitchell Parker, 32, M, Vail, AZ
2:57:13 - Carlos Varas Ibarra, 34, M, Port Arthur
2:57:30 - Jeffrey Pecora, 32, M, Mount Pleasant, SC
2:57:35 - Pablo Ramos Amtmann, 34, M, Mexico City, DIF

M35-39 (8)
2:46:45 - Abel Blancas Moran, 39, M, Mexico, DIF
2:48:06 - Alberto Castro, 39, M, Dallas
2:48:48 - Luis Murillo, 36, M, Houston
3:02:01 - Richard James, 35, M, San Antonio
3:02:30 - David Cobb, 38, M, Houston
3:02:53 - Jongkook Kim, 36, M, Houston
3:04:35 - Nizar Nayani, 37, M, Houston
3:04:58 - Jarrett Hubert, 36, M, Houston

M40-44 (6)
2:49:50 - Aaron Reed, 44, M, League City
2:51:00 - Michael Hinterberg, 40, M, Loveland, CO
3:00:13 - Marcus Lewis, 43, M, Rosharon
3:04:59 - Brad Oswalt, 41, M, Baton Rouge, LA
3:06:27 - Bartenderx Oropeza, 44, M, Houston
3:13:00 - Nicolas Gonzales Nagels, 44, M, The Woodlands (+)

M45-49 (17)
2:36:53 - Meng Zhao, 45, M, Dallas
2:58:48 - Rich Ducote, 45, M, San Diego, CA
3:09:07 - Marc Gyselen, 46, M, The Woodlands
3:11:58 - Xiangmi Shi, 48, M, Sugar Land
3:12:30 - Jose Alfredo Uzeta, 47, M, Magnolia
3:12:42 - Tj Fry, 46, M, The Woodlands
3:13:28 - Troy Schrenk, 45, M, Spring
3:14:29 - Stephen Baumgartner, 46, M, Houston
3:14:30 - Kerry Lee, 45, M, League City
3:16:45 - Venkat Ganesan, 45, M, Austin
3:17:56 - Jason Wallace, 45, M, Huntsville
3:18:18 - Eduardo Garzon, 46, M, Cypress
3:18:21 - Eric Gerken, 46, M, Richmond
3:18:46 - Kunquan Yu, 45, M, Katy
3:19:19 - Enrique Rincon, 48, M, Houston
3:19:46 - Pablo Perez-Leon, 49, M, Katy
3:20:03 - Fulin Han, 49, M, Houston (+)

M50-54 (10)
3:00:25 - Myron Tetreault, 52, M, Calgary, AB
3:05:53 - John Zepeda, 50, M, Webster
3:07:44 - Patrick Hall, 50, M, Austin
3:15:34 - Keish Doi, 53, M, Kailua Kona, HI
3:15:51 - Mohamed Dolliazal, 52, M, Houston
3:17:29 - Alfonso Rodriguez, 50, M, Mexico, DIF
3:17:29 - Mark Deeny, 51, M, Austin
3:24:59 - Shihui Mang, 50, M, Plano
3:24:47 - Peter Herten, 54, M, Spring
3:24:59 - Xiang Wei, 54, M, Plano

M55-59 (6)
3:19:51 - Donny Danner, 58, M, Kansas City, MO
3:30:30 - Ariel Velasco, 55, M, Houston
3:32:07 - Cory Robinson, 55, M, Denver, CO
3:32:05 - Gerard Candrian, 59, M, Tomball
3:39:22 - Domingo Juarez, 59, M, Pflugerville (+)
3:48:13 - Robert Stepp, 59, M, Spring (+)

M60-64 (4)
3:36:46 - Pat Dunn, 63, M, Katy
3:41:55 - Ilya Itkin, 60, M, Houston
3:46:27 - Baoxiang Guan, 63, M, Houston
3:49:57 - Dan Priest, 60, M, Port Bolivar