Klein crowned District 30-1A champion, Boys take home third as a team clinching birth to regional meet
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Nordheim Cross County from top row (L to R) Connly Metting, Tristan Infante, Brayden Jennings, Pedro Villanueva and Jacob Torres. Bottom: Layne Wisian, Nick Serna, Percy Torrez, Carly Metting and Abby Klein. -
Sophomore Abby Klein is out in front of the pack as she paces herself approaching the home stretch. -
Freshman Percy Torrez placed third at last week's district meet. -
Junior Tristan Infante took home district runner-up after his second place finish at the district meet. -
Connly Meeting turns the burners on and passes an opponent in last week's District 30-1A cross country meet held in Moulton.
By Jacob Stock
Yorktown News-View
Abby Klein was not expecting to be crowned district champion at last Wednesday’s District 30-1A cross country meet, but her competitive nature brought out her very best.
“I was not expecting it at all. I was just trying to push myself as hard as I could and just finish the race. It was pretty surprising even though the ending was rough,” said the sophomore Klein on earning her district champion title.
Conditions were hot and sweaty with temperatures blazing 92-degree heat in the heart of the afternoon. Klein finished her two-mile run with a time of 14.01. Finishing not too far behind her was freshman Percy Torrez who took home third at the meet with a time of 14.50. Both clinched a spot at Regionals that will be held on Oct. 25.
“It was pretty good, but I thought I could have done a little bit better but we made it to Regionals,” said Torrez on her third-place finish.
For the majority of the season, Klein and Torrez have each fueled each other by running side by side in several meets. The competitive combo will be running together for the next two years.
“I think it’s great for both of us because we push each other every day in practice to do better each and every time,” said Torrez on her teammate Klein.
“It helps us racing each other and pushing each other,” said Klein. “One meet she will win and one meet I will win, so it pushes us to do better.”
Coach Williams sees the competitiveness from the girls as a positive building block for their future.
“They work well together and I think them going back and forth this year is only going to help both them to reach their goals,” said head coach Carlton Williams on the lone two Lady Pirates runners.
Following up the girls, it was the Pirates turn to earn some hardware. Junior Tristan Infante and freshman Nick Serna helped lead Nordheim to a third-place overall finish earning the team a trip to compete at Regionals. Infante finish his 3.1-mile race in 19 minutes and earned district runner-up with his second-place finish. Serna came in right behind him at third place with a time of 19.29.
“We made a lot of good progress this year,” said Infante after the race. “I feel like we could have done a little bit better as a team, but it was really hot out there.”
Nordheim’s next finisher was Connly Metting at 19th place. His last 100 yards were one of the best all-out performances of the day. With a runner in front of him he rounded the corner with one thing on his mind, catching the guy in front of him.