CFISD Runners Finish Season at Cross Country State Championships
The Bridgeland High School girls’ and boys’ cross country teams, along with Cypress Springs High School senior Manny Vela, competed at the UIL Cross Country State Championships on Nov. 3 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
The Bridgeland boys placed sixth overall at the state championship meet with an overall score of 183 points. The top-10 finish at was the team’s second in a row (the Bears placed ninth in 2022). Junior Benjamin Montgomery led the way, finishing third overall (15:06.70).
The Bridgeland High School boys’ cross country team placed sixth overall as a team at the UIL Cross Country State Championships on Nov. 3 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Also running for the Bears were sophomore Kyle Pawlak (65th, 16:07.20), sophomore Maddox McCallister (67th, 16:07.70), sophomore Vihaan Chamkur (80th, 16:14.90), sophomore Nazim Benguedda (81st, 16:14.90), senior Hayden Price (113th, 16:31.70) and sophomore Layton Carlisle (126th, 16:44.20).
The Bridgeland girls placed seventh overall at the state contest with an overall score of 175. The top-10 finish was the second consecutive for the team (the Bears placed eighth in 2022 and made their fifth state appearance in six years in Class 6A). Sophomore Lily Fawcett led the way finishing 11th overall (18:03.00).
Bridgeland High School sophomore Lily Fawcett joined Bridgeland High School junior Benjamin Montgomery and Cypress Springs High School senior Manny Vela in finishing among the top 15 runners in their respective races and earning All-State honors by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas. Also helping Bridgeland to its finish were sophomore Haley Hill (36th, 18:31.40), sophomore Susana Rawls (77th,19:13.20), freshman Kate Garrison (89th, 19:23.10), senior Arianna Elder (92nd, 19:25.60), freshman Brynlee Weston (94th, 19:27.70) and senior Ariel Braley (105th, 19:42.70).
The 2023 state meet marked Vela’s third consecutive appearance at the UIL Cross Country State Championships. He placed 11th overall with a time of 15:20.40.
Cypress Springs High School senior Manny Vela, right, placed 11th overall with a time of 15:20.40 at the UIL Cross Country State Championships on Nov. 3 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. As a result of placing among the top 15 runners in their respective races, Montgomery, Vela and Fawcett each earned All-State honors by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas.
“Another cross country season has finished with CFISD representation at the UIL State Cross Country Championships,” said Charles Ament, associate athletic director. “We were thrilled to see the CFISD athletic programs compete at a level deserving of the recognition they received on the state level. We get to see the level of commitment throughout the season. However, to see the runners from Bridgeland and Cypress Springs not only compete but excel at the state level is a tribute to the commitment and work ethic of the coaches and the athletes. Congratulations to all of the CFISD teams on another fantastic season and representing their community and district in an exemplary way.”
Source: CFISD
