BURTON CROSS COUNTRY GETTING READY FOR DISTRICT MEET
Story submitted by Coach Kurt Ramsey
The Burton Panthers concluded their invitational racing season with a trip to Heritage Park in Belton on Thursday, October 3rd.
It is said that good things come to those that wait, and the Panthers definitely cashed in on their last race before district. Fourteen of the fifteen Panthers raced their best race of the season, and for several, it was the best race of their career.
Captain Peyton Sigsbee (Sr.) set the tone early with a blazing 12:26 time in the 2 mile, besting last year's state time by 23 seconds, placing her 4th overall and earning her a medal. Reagan Roemer shaved a minute from last week's time, turning in a 13:44 performance. Avery Applewhite (Sr.) erased 45 seconds from her season best, finishing with a 14:35.
Newcomers Madeline Dowling (Fr.) and Abigail Dowling (Jr.) finished within seconds of each other, their respective 15:01 and 15:07 serving as season bests as well. Not to be outdone, Kara Landriault (So.) cut an amazing 1:11 from an earlier season best; Kelsie Holt (Sr.) dropped 45 seconds, and Autumn Applewhite (Fr.) lopped off nearly a minute, coming in 59 seconds faster than her previous best.
The men answered the call and dropped a collective 12:23 from their times on the day. Devlin Douglas (Jr.) posted a season best time of 18:16 in the 5k race to start the Panthers off. He was quickly joined by Zach Purvis (Fr.), who's 20:24 finish proved to be a season best.
Jackson Morey (Sr.) notched a season and career best with a 21:31 finish. Andrew Gonzales (Fr.) dropped nearly two minutes to finish with a 23:22. Mason Helton matched his previous season best.
But the biggest drops of the day went to first year runners Hunter Duffy (Jr.) and Cadeyn Manley (Jr.) Duffy removed 3:24 from his previous best to finish in 21:31 while Cadeyn went from 27:50 to 24:09, a 3:41 drop.
The Panthers now get ready for the 26-2A District Meet coming up this Thursday at Davidson Creek Park in Caldwell. A combined JV race will take place at 8:30 AM, followed by Varsity Girls at 9:00 AM, and Varsity Boys at 9:30 AM.