According to head coach Robin Ramsay, this year’s Smithville High School cross country team should be as competitive, if not more, than it was last year.
Even though the team has lost six varsity runners who ran fairly regularly to graduation, Ramsay expects some of this year’s runners to go far.
“We are really going to miss Anna Spangler,” Ramsay said. “She was a great leader and competitor. But, we are in a district this year where some of our runners could make it to regionals.”
Two of the runners Ramsay is talking about are Rachael and Shelby Davee, twin sisters who are only entering their sophomore year but ran varsity as freshmen, making it to regionals.
“The Davees had great seasons last year,” Ramsay said. “For the girls, sophomores MaCaylee Deleon and Ashley Cardwell will be ones to look out for as well.”
Ramsay said while the sophomores will pretty much dominate the girl cross country runners for Smithville, the seniors will lead the boys. These seniors include Corey Smith, Vinnie Maldonado, Patrick Petty, Matt Swartz, Bryce Hanna and Matthew Patrolia, who is new to the team this year.
“If the boys stick together and stay injury free, they can make it to regionals,” Ramsay said.
Ramsay did say that District 23-3A could be a little more challenging than last year’s district but that she is expecting Smithville to do well.
“District might be a little more competitive because Caldwell has a really good long distance group and Navasota usually has a few good runners, but I am expecting us to finish in the top three,” Ramsay said.
This past Saturday, Smithville competed in Hutto invitational, which was a kick-off meet and is run as a relay, meaning there are no official results. However, Ramsay said she was happy with what she saw.
“We had five girls teams and three boys teams compete and they all ran well for their first competition of the season,” Ramsay said. “We were running against some powerhouse 4A and 5A schools.”
The first varsity girls team of Rachael and Shelby Davee, MaCaylee Deleon and Kailey Elkins finished its eight-mile relay in 56 minutes and 31 seconds.
Meanwhile, the first varsity boys team of Corey Smith, Patrick Petty, Vinnie Maldonado and Matt Swartz finished the eight miles in 47 minutes and 21 seconds.
Smithville’s next meet will be on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Lexington, while the district meet will be Wednesday, Oct. 27 in Navasota.