Justin Northwest runner eyes top-10 finish at state after winning regional title

By John English

Special to the Star-Telegram

Katherine Chavez heard a familiar voice last week in the final 1,000 yards at the regional cross country meet.

It was that of Justin Northwest coach George Lutkenhaus offering words of encouragement, as she sprinted in a dead heat with Southlake Carroll's Courtney Kriegshauser.

"He yelled, "You better win this thing!" Chavez said. "I knew then that I needed to kick it up a bit."

With 600 yards left, Chavez did kick it up and brought home a regional championship to the Texans cross country team.

Chavez, a sophomore, will compete in the state meet for the second straight year. It is Saturday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

"I am hoping for a top 10 finish," Chavez said. "I ran last year and finished 17th, and to make the top 10 would be really cool."

Lutkenhaus said he believes Chavez has a good chance of finishing in the top 10, or perhaps even medal.

"If you're in the top 10, you've got a shot at being in the top three," Lutkenhaus said. "Katherine is running very well at the moment, and if she can keep that up, she has a good chance at state."

Heights junior excels

Graciela Navarro won three cross country meets this season, and after her effort last week, she's headed to state.

The Fort Worth Arlington Heights junior finished sixth at the Class 4A Region I meet in Lubbock.

"I thought she performed above average for what she was ranked going in," coach Andy Acuna said. "I think she was ranked eighth going in, and she beat out a couple of girls she was ranked behind."

"The fact is that we thought she would finish third. We knew we couldn't get one or two, but we felt we could get that third place spot."

Acuna said it is Navarro's willingness to "push herself" that makes her such a special distance runner and said

"We want to try to get top 10," Acuna said. "Region II is very tough. Right now, we've got a range of about six girls that can win that top spot. We're going to go out and just try to run our race, and do something a little different this time and try to come out a little stronger.

"We want to get into that top pack of girls and kind of run with them."

Carroll sweeps into state

Southlake Carroll boys and girls teams swept the 5A regionals I for a second straight season.

The Carroll boys finished 35 points, 76 ahead of second-place Flower Mound Marcus.

Joe Sansone finished second at 14 minutes, 59.20 seconds, while teammate Nate Sullivan was right on his heals in third place with a time of 15:03.70. Connor Hendrickson was sixth (15:15.60).

The girls won with a score of 39 points, 60 points ahead of second place Marcus.

Courtney Kriegshauser finished second overall at the meet with a time of 17:28.80, while teammate Shelby Chapin finished third with a time of 17:36.50.

Antigone Archer took eighth place with a time of 17:47.20, and Elena Arriaza was 10th with a time of 17:49.20.

Boswell girls nab silver

The Saginaw Boswell girls cross country team qualified for the state meet, finishing second at the 4A regionals.

Penny Taylor led the way for the Pioneers, finishing third overall with a time of 18:09.00, while Katie Hess was eighth at 18:42.70.

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