The St. Paul Lady Cardinals cross-country team’s main goal for 2019, win a seventh state title, has been officially met.
The Lady Cardinals scored 47 points to take first in the TAPPS 2A state race Monday at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco. Temple Holy Trinity Catholic booked 80 points to finish runner up.
“We are really proud of the girls for the hard work they put in this season. They feel the pressure of everyone’s expectations but they did a great job of focusing on their individual goals in order to achieve the team goal of winning state. In the end our goal for each runner is to finish the race feeling they ran their best, regardless of the outcome of the team totals,” St. Paul head coach Dana Beal- Sestak said.
Julianna Davis finished first individually with a time of 12 minutes, 47.1 seconds and averaged 6:23.50 a mile.
Rebecca Wagner was seventh with 13:25.1 (6:42.50/mile).
Ashlyn Pesek was No. 14 in 14:16.5 (7:08.20) and was followed by Paige Brown in 14:18.9 (7:09.50).
Sadie Mikes was clocked at 14:21.50 (7:10.7) for No. 17; Cortney Tuch was No. 19 in 14:25.0 (7:12.50) and Tristin Davis was No. 22 with 14:43.0 (7:21.50).
“This year’s meet was very challenging for many reasons. Number one- it’s the state championship meet. Another challenge is the course itself. It is extremely difficult with long ascending hills without a lot or relief of flat running,” she said. “The wind added additional challenges and then you can have doubt and fear of being the first team not to win in seven years. Throughout all these adversities they handled themselves as the competitors we have seen them be all season.”
The St. Paul boys scored 153 points to come in fifth place.
“We are really proud of the boys and how they competed well on the tough course,” Beal-Sestak said. “We are really proud of them and how much they have accomplished during this season.”
“Cade Davis and Taylor Robinson provided great leadership for a very young team.”
Cade Davis led St. Paul with No. 10 in 18:35.0 (5:58.5).
Fisher Davis was No. 25 in 19:59.1 (6:25.50); Taylor Robinson was No. 32 in 20:44.7 (6:40.20); Trent Brown crossed the line in 21:50.4 (7:01.3).
Kaleb Linn was No. 68 in 23:58.1 (7:42.40); Jacob Twyford was No. 70 in 24:02.3 (7:43.8) and following was Dario Hernandez in 24:08.5 (7:45.7).