For a group of young runners from Lytle, a trip to one of Texas’ biggest cross country meets turned into a weekend worth remembering.

Lytle Junior High’s eighth grade boys cross country team finished second in a combined seventh and eighth grade field of 458 runners at the 2026 HOKA McNeil Invitational, held Sept. 18 and 19 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. The annual meet draws teams from across Texas, giving the Pirates a chance to test themselves on a course that has hosted the UIL State Cross Country Championships for decades.

A Big Day for Lytle’s Young Runners

The size of the field made Lytle’s showing especially notable. Mariano Davila led the Pirates with a sixth-place finish in 11:53, followed closely by Drake Castro, who placed ninth in 12:09.

Daniel Reyes crossed the line 24th in 12:55, while Max Cortinas finished 42nd in 13:15.2. Vance Schott placed 48th with a time of 13:22.8, Shawn Sanchez finished 55th in 13:31.3 and Jacob Ramos placed 241st in 16:36.1.

Together, the eighth grade boys’ performances were enough to secure a second-place team finish in a race that brought hundreds of middle school runners to the starting line. The HOKA McNeil Invitational scheduled its middle school girls and boys races together on Saturday, Sept. 19, as part of a two-day meet featuring runners from multiple classifications and divisions.

Lytle Junior High Girls Take On 391-Runner Field

The Lytle Junior High girls faced a similarly crowded and competitive race, with 391 runners in the combined seventh and eighth grade field.

Sadie Hernandez led Lytle with a 60th-place finish in 15:40.5, just ahead of teammate Parker Leverton, who placed 62nd in 15:42.9. Valentina Palacios finished 126th in 17:37.5, followed by Mila Antu in 235th at 20:50. Marisela Angeles and Karley Emerson finished back-to-back in 312th and 313th, recording times of 23:49.9 and 23:51.9, respectively.

More Than a Finish Line

For Lytle Junior High, the results offer more than another set of times for the season. Competing at Old Settlers Park put these young athletes on a course with deep roots in Texas cross country and gave them experience racing in the kind of large field they do not encounter every week. The 2026 HOKA McNeil Invitational was the event’s 32nd edition, and organizers describe it as the largest cross country meet in Texas.

Back home, that makes the eighth grade boys’ runner-up finish something the Lytle community can celebrate, while the performances by both the boys and girls give the runners another benchmark as their season continues.

What’s Next for the Lytle Pirates

There is not much time for the Pirates to dwell on their Round Rock results. According to Lytle Junior High, the team’s next challenge is another tough course in Seguin, where the runners will have another opportunity to build on what they accomplished at McNeil.

For students who spend weeks putting in miles largely outside the spotlight, a weekend like this offers a chance for their work to be noticed. Coaches Ruiz, Luna and Jopling encouraged the Lytle community to congratulate the athletes when they see them at school, recognizing both what they accomplished in Round Rock and the work that went into getting there.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more local school, student achievement and community updates from Lytle and surrounding communities.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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