Green Dickson Park in the small town of Shiner was not only the place to be for some luxurious motorhomes parked there for a weekend camping trip but also the place to be for 37 Cross Country teams and 600 runners. 1A – 6A, Private and Public Schools, some just a few miles from Shiner and others as far away as San Antonio and Rockport, showed up to run this very popular race. The Park lays out a beautiful course for the runners. The start and finish are spectator-friendly with the runners going downhill on a wide open grass field. The run takes them throughout the park and challenges them with a tough hill as they approach the home stretch.
Faith Academy has had this Meet on their schedule now for 3 years because it is good competition, well organized and a challenging course. Senior Beck Briggs and freshman Ethan Stegent competed in the 1A – 2A Varsity Boys Division. There were 62 runners. Ethan placed 6th and Beck 28th. The total number of runners for the 1A – 6A Varsity race was 132. Ethan had the 17th fastest time of 19:41.
Mikaela Skardenni and Daniela, identical twins, are running their second season of cross country for Faith Academy. They are freshmen so they compete in the Junior Varsity Division races when they are offered. The JV Girls race had all divisions 1A through 6A competing against each other with 50 runners. Both girls ran a strategic race. They ran the first mile in the top group of 14 runners moving up into the 10th position around a mile and a half. These two NEVER disappoint running to the finish line as they always finish with an all-out sprint and because of that Mikaela was 6th place and Daniela 8th.
Johnathan Tarver and 8th grader who is homeschooled, is running his second season of cross country. So far each meet he has been running faster times and is showing he understands how to run the 2 miles. The JH Boys race had 113 runners and it was also 1A – 6A schools competing against each other. Johnathan beat 80 runners placing 30th. Emma Asen, a 7th grader who is also homeschooled and in her second cross country season was expected to place in the top 20 and medal. She developed a stitch in her side early in the race causing her to finish 48th which isn’t too bad when you are racing with 144 other girls.
The team will compete for the first time at the Kempner High School “8th Annual Cougar Classic” at Imperial Park in Sugarland on Friday, September 23rd. The meet will be very large as 40 schools have registered to attend.
Player of the Week:
Mikaela Skardenni and Daniela Skardenni (freshmen)
These identical twins are never far apart in most things they do. That held true at the Shiner Cross Country Meet this past Saturday. Mikaela crossed the finish line in 6th place and not far behind was Dainela finishing in 8th place. They were running against 50 other runners in the JV 1A – 6A Division 2 mile race.
Yvonne Woods is the Sports Coordinator for Faith Academy in Bellville, TX. She can be reached at (979) 865-1811 or email [email protected]
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