San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Jefferson’s Hayele area’s top 5A finisher
ROUND ROCK — Jefferson’s Henok Hayele didn’t know anything about running when he started in April as part of offseason workouts for soccer.
Hayele, a midfielder for the Mustangs last season, joined the school’s track practices for conditioning. On Saturday, he finished fifth in the Class 5A boys race at the UIL state cross country championships at Old Settler’s Park.
“I didn’t expect to see myself being here and competing after running for only seven months, which is amazing,” Hayele said.
Hayele clocked a time of 15 minutes, 28.7 seconds on the 5,000-meter course. Although it was 13 seconds behind firstplace finisher David Mora of Lubbock Monterey, it was miles ahead of where Hayele thought he’d ever be.
“Since the start, I never thought I would make it here,” Hayele said. “My coach would tell me that I would make it to state. I was thinking, ‘OK. I don’t think I am going to go that far.’ He was on my side
the whole time pushing me.”
Mustangs coach Lumumba Battle spotted a potential long-distance runner in Hayele last spring.
“(Hayele) was running with our varsity kids, and he was doing some track workouts and he was just hanging with them,” Battle said.
Hayele turned that potential into place on the state podium as a top-10
medalist.
Hayele had never run competitively until this cross country season. A native of Eritrea, a country of about 6 million located in eastern Africa, Hayele moved to the United States prior to his freshman year at Jefferson.
Like most students in San Antonio ISD, Hayele was a virtual student in 2020-21. He didn’t participate in any sports. He
joined the soccer team last school year. Then, he became a long-distance running star by accident.
“This is a huge accomplishment, and supersurprising, and I think it’s just a tribute to what hard work does for you,” Battle said. “Day in and day out, he put in the effort, not only with his running, but also for his learning to understand running. It all started to fall into place for him each week.”
Hayele showed natural running talent from the start. He dominated most of his races this season. He won the District 27-5A championship by nearly a minute.
At the Class 5A Region IV meet, Hayele was edged by McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados for first. Granados finished in 15:38.50, and Hayele came in at 15:38.65.
Hayele said he was spiked and ran about a mile without a shoe.
“I was thinking to stop, but the thing that was on my mind was winning the race,” Hayele said. “If I had to do it, I had to do it. I ran without a shoe.”
Hayele’s performance Saturday highlighted a strong showing from the San Antonio area’s competitors.
Boerne Champion’s girls finished second in the 5A team competition with 85 points. Lucas Lovejoy was first with 28.
The Chargers repeated as state runner-up. Freshman Elizabeth Leachman paced the Chargers with a 20th-place finish.
Champion captured the state crowns in 2019 and 2020.
Brackenridge senior Melody Espinoza was the area’s top 5A girls finisher in 15th.
Poth freshman Brooklyn Albert was second in the girls 3A race in 12:05.2 (3,200 meters), which was four seconds behind winner Addison Hite, a junior from Pilot Point.
“It’s a really big accomplishment, especially for my first year,” Albert said.
Albert emerged from the top pack and took second place with about 800 meters remaining.
“I wanted to get a good start and then kind of stay with the girls, and start picking them off, which I kind of did,” Albert said. “But I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get the first-place girl.”
Albert led the Pirettes to a second-place team finish with 108 points. Whitesboro had 90 for first. Lytle took third with 122.
Lytle also took the medal podium by winning the 3A boys team champion. The Pirates scored 72 points followed by Eustace (82) and Great Hearts Northern Oaks (126).
Cole senior Anthony Meyer was the area’s top individual finisher in fifth place (16:14.7).