SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Full throttle running
Cross country season is kicking – pardon the pun – in the area.
This past Thursday, the sports editor went to the Wichita Falls Invitational inside Kiwanis Park.
The course itself, despite being flat, isn’t the easiest to run, let alone walk.
The grass has burnt up from not receiving much rain in recent months and the course itself meanders like an unpredictable serpent around the boundary of the facility.
Cross country can be one of those overlooked sports, and unfortunately the blame can lie with people like me – the sports editor.
Football is king in Texas, and volleyball is the queen of fall sports for girls.
But, there’s also cross country, and plenty of it.
Today, the sports editor went to the Decatur Reunion Run inside Joe Wheeler Park.
I think it’s pretty special the Decatur Independent School District serves as host for not just one meet per year, but two.
Decatur takes the sport of cross country mighty seriously, as evidenced by all the success the Eagles and Lady Eagles have had.
The Lady Eagles have won state championships four times, the oldest from 1999 and the most recent in 2009.
Not to be outdone, Decatur’s boys have claimed state championships in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2012. The credit goes to the runners for sacrificing themselves. And to head coach David Park.
The cross country team has its own website through Decatur ISD, complete with a glossary of workout terms, the rules of the road, runner placement and expectations for team leadership.
Cross country coverage ramps up as the season goes along.
Next Wednesday, Oct. 7, Bowie High School will have its first meet at home in a long time. The race will take place at Twisted Oaks Golf Course.
I am happy to see course superintendent Chad Thummel and owners Andy Duke, Dewayne Hamilton and Greg Vicars allow runners to use the facility.
The first time I visited Twisted Oaks, back when it was known as Top O’ The Lake, I thought it was the perfect venue for a meet.
There are enough hills to challenge the runners, and the ground is soft because the course is watered on a consistent basis. The venue is maintained immaculately, in other words.
There’s only drawback I can see having a meet at Twisted Oaks. But, it’s a minor issue. Parking is not ample for school vans and spectators.
However, that could be said for most of the meets I’ve attended throughout my career. Read more from this column in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Bowie’s Dane Lancaster continues his recovery from a rodeo accident, running for the junior high boys’ cross country team. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.
The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.
To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint