By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

The atmosphere changes when you go from running in a small community like Poolville to a grandiose regional meet in Grand Prairie.
Area Conference 1A cross country runners discovered that during Saturday’s Region 3 meet at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.
None of the runners from Bellevue, Forestburg, Saint Jo and Prairie Valley qualified for the state meet at Old Settlers’ Park in Round Rock – but many of them gained the necessary experience to give it another try in 2015.
Ashley Reyling of Saint Jo came closest on the girls’ side, clocking in at 14 minutes, 10.05 seconds, which was good enough for 39th in a field of 138 runners.
“We didn’t perform as well as we hoped,” Saint Jo head coach Glenn Boerger said. “I was proud of the effort of all of the Saint Jo runners at regionals and all season. All of our participants are underclassmen, so this experience should benefit them next season.”
Bellevue’s Kyle Waller, who claimed the district title on Oct. 22 at Willa Walla Shooting Range in Dye Mound, was the closest boy – taking 47th in a time of 19:36.85.
Bellevue coach Colby Broussard said the Eagles have run at Lynn Creek before, it’s just the course has a different atmosphere – on a unique tree-lined course designed to lessen the impact of wind on the competitors. Read more in the mid-week Bowie News.

Juan Sanchez from Saint Jo runs during the Conference 1A, Region 3 meet at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie on Nov. 1. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)