The Llano High School cross country teams competed at the Comfort End of Summer Run Aug. 28.
The Yellow Jackets finished sixth overall in the team standings.
Sophomore Townes Smith was fifth in the boys 5K race thanks to clocking 17 minutes and 44.37 seconds. Junior Kevin Ramirez was 32nd in 21:31.94, senior Taylor Tibbs finished 33rd in 21:40.58, sophomore Colby Wesson was 34th in 21:43.11, and junior Jack Henderson finished 37th in 21:46.54.
The Lady Jackets were paced by junior Jordan Hussion, who clocked 13:34 on the two-mile course to finish fourth overall. Sophomore Emmaryee Roberson was 22nd in 15:08, sophomore Kenley Schulze was 30th in 15:36, and freshman Abby Macedo was 39th in 17:00.
"It gives Townes some confidence and encouragement," head coach Jay Parker said. "Jordan and Townes are running at a decent pace. Townes doesn't say a whole lot. He just does his thing -- that's Jordan."
As for their teammates, Parker said he sees potential. The challenge is to get the runners to run in a pack and run faster.
Each team's top runner embraces all that comes with the sport, the coach said, which is why they are having the finishes they want.
"They're steady," he said. "They show up. They know the grind. They know what it takes and the work that comes with it."
The coach noted that Hussion "shows up and works. She doesn't take days off." Even on the easy days, the junior still has a good pace and stride to her workout.
Now the challenge is to get their teammates to drop their times so Llano can look to accomplish a few more goals as a team.
"Our underclassmen are young, and they're learning," Parker said. "Kenley and Emmaryee ran hard. The young runners are talented. We have a couple of girls who want to work out with Jordan. It's one thing to say it; it's another thing to do it. Will the young girls follow? I think they want to. It's a good group, they're just young. Let's keep grinding and see how everything unfolds."
