The Waldron Bulldogs Cross Country team has been showing great promise this season by turning out some powerful run times and taking down some top-tiered schools. Over the weekend, the Bulldogs continued their greatness when they competed in the 16th Annual Today’s Bank Invitational in Mansfield. Waldron knew they were going to have some stiff competition to go up against as a total of 25 schools showed up to the meet all with the same goal in mind. To win.
The Sr High Lady Bulldogs successfully made sure that didn’t happen as they took the team title of First Place and had five girls medal in the Top 10. In the 5K Run, Ryleigh Anschutz received third place with a run time of 23:18. Placing in sixth was Constance Richmond clocking in at 24:21. Three seconds behind her with a time of 24:24 was Melissa Schroeder in seventh place. Taking ninth place with a time of 24:33 was Stephanie Sexton. And in 10th place was McKenzi Stidman with a time of 25:14. Star and Kentucky Spence brought in 11th and 16th place respectively.
For the Jr High Lady Bulldogs, Maria Grano masterfully outpaced the other runners earning her two medals for the whole meet including the First Place standing in the 3000 Meter Run with a time of 11:49. Emily Sears took 12th with a time of 13:35. Ailey Ledesma had a 14:49 run time earning her 18th. Ashlynn Stidman took 22nd. Rachel Page received 25th. Lexee Kesterson brought in 35th. And placing 59th and 60th was Nora Riedel and Keylor Hale.
The Sr High Bulldogs earned a team winning of Runner-Up and Ethan Martin medaled seventh place in the 5K with a time of 19:21. Coming in at 11th was Evan Ledesma with a time of 20:10. Noah Kastl clocked in at 21:01 taking 16th. Following up in 17th was Bladyn Mays with a time of 21:04. Mitchell Wright took 25th. Clay Montgomery placed 32nd. Ben Canada and Drake Carnley secured 33rd and 34th. Angelo Bandin placed 38th. And in 41st and 42nd was Alex Moore and Gus Billings.
The Jr High boys’ squad saw the same success as they placed Runner-Up at the Invitational. Receiving medals for their riveting runs in the 3000 Meter was Michael Grano in third with a time of 11:34 and Ambrose Poor in 10th with a time of 12:23. Landon Defoor placed 14th with his time of 12:34. Whitley Fielding took 16th with a time of 12:36. And with a time of 12:48 was Billy Garrison in 19th.
Jordan Kerr came in at 21st. Jaren Howell placed 25th. Taking four consecutive places of 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th was Cole Bailey, Fernando Guerrero, Caden Hunt, and Gabe Nevills. Placing 36th was Dakota Garrison. In 39th was Kylon Fielding. And taking 46th was Roberto Sierra.
The Waldron Bulldogs Cross Country team will be hitting the dirt again on October 5 at 12:15 in the Fayetteville Chile Pepper Run. Described as the Superbowl of Cross Country, the festival hosts over 80 college teams and over 120 high school teams during this premier running event.
