Dragon Underclassmen Impress at Keller Invitational

The Carroll cross country program has been one of the state’s best for the better part of two decades. That consistent success is not due to just a handful of runners. To contend for state championships year in and year out, the Dragons rely on hard work, dedication and depth of talent across all grade levels.

That young talent was on display at the Keller HS Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 3.  On a day when most of the Dragons’ top runners were not competing, underclassmen led the way, showing the future is just as bright as the present.

“I was really proud of our young men and women today,” head coach Justin Leonard said. “Some of them were running in varsity or JV races for the first time, and they gave it all they had. That’s all I ever ask, and they competed very well.”

Freshman Jude Alvarez was Carroll’s top runner in the boy’s varsity race, finishing 4^th overall with a time of 16:34. Sophomore David Fisher (16:43, 9^th), freshman Brady Golomb (16:50, 11^th), senior Noah Castro (17:07, 23^rd), and junior Aidan Denk (17:11) rounded out the scoring for the Dragons.

On the girl’s side, freshman Lily Garland finished 5^th overall with a time of 19:17. She was followed by sophomore Anna Hall (20:00, 16^th), junior Karley Beall (20:09, 17^th), freshman Julia Gassett (20:13, 19^th), and freshman Tatum Janning (20:22, 22^nd).

In the JV competition, freshman Kylee Cusick finished first, with a time of 21:24, leading the Dragons to an 18-point victory in the girls race. Junior McKaylee McAdoo (21:40, 5^th), freshman Peer Foreman (21:55, 6^th), sophomore Hannah McIlvain (22:09, 12^th) and sophomore Riley Calvin (22:26, 18^th) rounded out Carroll’s top five.

In the boys JV race, sophomore Jack Litwin finished at 17:35, good for second place. He was followed by freshman Ryan Van de Berghe (17:56, 5^th), junior Daniel Kieda (18:16, 9^th), senior Ethan Satsky (18:20, 10^th), and sophomore Ethan Thomas (18:45, 15^th).

For complete results, visit the Mile Split Texas results page at tx.milesplit.com.

The Dragons will next be in action on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Marcus I Invitational in Denton.