By Moses Leos III
For the third time in her four year high school cross country career, Hays High senior Esmi Fuentes will take her talents to the UIL state meet in Round Rock.
Fuentes stamped her latest trip to Old Settler’s Park on Monday when she claimed a fourth place overall finish at the UIL Region II cross country meet in Grand Prairie.
Fuentes finished the three-mile Region II course with a time of 17:43.15, which earned her a podium finish and a medal at the meet.
She now advances to compete at the UIL 6A girls state cross country meet on Nov. 7. It marks the third time Fuentes will take on the three-mile course at Old Settler’s Park.
In 2013, Fuentes finished 41st in the UIL Girls Class 4A state meet, and claimed a 36th place finish in Class 6A last year.
Her fourth place finish at regionals was a part of the Hays High girls cross country team’s 10th place finish in the Region II team standings Monday.
Hays High freshman Shelby Adams finished with a time of 19:31.86, which was good for 57th out of 184 participants.
Also making the trip to Grand Prairie Monday was the Hays Rebel boys cross country team, which finished 18th out of 24 participating teams.
Rebel junior Ian Blount led the team by finishing in 61st place with a time of 16:29.00. Behind Blount was sophomore Robbie Woodworth, who finished 93rd with a time of 16:53.98.
Lehman High was also represented in Grand Prairie, as junior Tracy Malrey participated in the Region II boys three-mile competition.
Malrey finished the course with a time of 16:29.88, which was good for 63rd place overall.
Results from the UIL 6A, Region II cross country meet
Hays Girls – 10th place
Esmi Fuentes – 17:43.15
Shelby Adams – 19:31.86
Samantha Sloat – 19:58.84
Megan Gilliam – 20:07.82
Maya Hood – 20:24.34
Georgia Cardosa – 20:29.73
Keely Smith – 21:11.06
Hays Boys – 18th place
Ian Blount – 16:29.00
Robbie Woodworth – 16:53.98
Kurt Johnson – 17:12.70
Rj Navarro – 17:18.75
Leo Luna – 17:20.98
Daniel Garraway – 17:36.83
Isiah Mejia – 17:40.65
Lehman Boys
Tracy Malrey – 16:29.88
