Spartan harriers heading to state
Stratford’s girls made history this week at the Class 5A-Region III Cross Country Championships at Huntsville’s Kate Barr Ross Park.
Heavy rain left the course a mud-covered mess, but it hardly slowed down the Spartans, who secured the program’s first-ever regional crown with 47 points.
The top four teams qualified for the University Interscholastic League State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Just behind Stratford was College Station with 65, Magnolia with 105 and Fort Bend Ridge Point with 139.
“Our girls are just tough. They’re competitors,” said Stratford head girls cross country coach Jen Clouse. “A lot of the runners struggled with the conditions, but we didn’t let the course beat us.”
A young Stratford squad would not be denied, with the Spartans placing five of seven runners in the top 20.
Stratford was led by freshmen phenoms Grace Custer and Georgia Harper, who each made the top 10 in their regional debuts. Custer completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 22:17.60 to earn fourth place. Harper was close behind in seventh in 22:25.20. Sophomore Sydney Lawrence (11th, 22:36.10), senior Abbigail Hirst (14th, 22:47.90) and sophomore Maddie Harms (18th, 23:06.80) contributed to the Spartans’ winning tally.
Rounding out Stratford’s group were junior Caroline Crawford (48th, 24:25.80) and freshman Isabella Terrazas (59th, 25:01.60).
Stratford’s boys weren’t their dominant selves, but the Spartans, the two-time defending Class 5A state champs, will get the opportunity to go after a third straight state title.
College Station won the Class 5A-Region III boys title with 56 points, followed by George Ranch with 83 and Stratford with 97.
“We have five newcomers on the varsity,” said Stratford head boys cross country coach Tony Brillon. “The conditions were brutal, not just for us but for every team. I thought we handled it pretty well. We made the top three and we get to race another week.”