Runners test state course

It was good to be back on the course as star runner Ashlyn Royal was back for the first time in nearly a month.

“This is her first meet back since September 7,” Cross Country Head Coach Lacey Lambert said. “She has been out hurt. Coming back off of injury, she ran a really good time.”

It was good timing too. The race at McNeal last weekend is the same location as the state championship. It is experience Royal will hopefully need as she has made the state meet in two of the last three years. Royal narrowly missed making state last year, during her junior season, after trying to run the race while sick.

“This is a tough course,” Lambert said. “The heat also plays in as a factor, and it is a hard course to run. It was good for her to get an opportunity if she is fortunate enough to make it to the state meet and run on that course again.”

Royal finished in 13th out of a total of 186 runners with a time of 13 minutes and 28 seconds.

On the boys’ side, other extra curricular activities kept much of the team away from the race. Quinton Mendoza was the top runner for Wimberley finishing the two-mile race in under 20 minutes.

“That was a really great race for how tough the course is,” Lambert said.

Wimberley will face a quick turnaround with a meet on Wednesday afternoon in Mason.

Luckily for the Texans, the team is beginning to get healthy. Top runner Griffin Neal is expected to return after an extended injury absence. Also, with the meet held on a Wednesday, the portion of the team out with a band competition and tennis tournament should be available.

“It will be nice to have pretty much our whole team back,” Lambert said. “We will only have one runner who won’t be able to make it.”

The season is beginning to come to a close with district scheduled for October

17.