ROUND ROCK – The Zephyr Bulldogs earned silver medals as a team for their second place overall finish at the UIL Class A Cross Country State Championships Saturday morning at Old Settlers Park.
Zephyr generated 90 points which trailed only the 57 of state champion Comstock, and was comfortably in front of silver medalist Tilden McMullen County (133).
The Bulldogs qualified for state with a third-place finish at the Region IV-A meet in Corpus Christi in October, but were hitting on all cylinders at state as Eli Williams led the charge in sixth place (17:14.1) followed by Aaron Fagan in eighth place (17:17.3), Riley McCuller was 21st (18:03.09), Spencer Marwitz was 43rd (18:37), Reese Hamm was 56th (18:53.1), Cash Whisenhunt came in 68th (19:11.3), and Slade Butler came in 100th (20:05.8).
Williams, Fagan and McCuller all earned all-state recognition for placing in the Top 25 as individuals.
Also competing at state in Class A boys action was Blanket’s Alex Valdes, who placed 61st in a time of19:00.5, while Sidney’s Rees Miller came in 85th in a time of 19:38.1.
In Class A girls state cross country action, Richland Springs placed 13th as a team sparked by Rylie Eckert’s sixth place time of 12:21.4, along with Emma Bryant (94th, 14:23), Raegan Eckert (104th, 14:31.7), Paige Bailey (116th, 14:55.4), Mallory Okerson (137th, 15:52.9), and Kinzey Daly (141st, 16:12).
Rising Star’s Laynee Allgood placed 65th overall with a time of 13:53.2, while Brookesmith’s Harley Gilliam was clocked at 14:24.8 to finish in 98th place.