Taylor cross country takes on HOKA Invitational
ROUND ROCK — The Taylor High School varsity cross country team competed Sept. 22 in the 2023 HOKAMcNeil Invitational meet held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
One of the largest meets in Texas and held at the site of the UIL Cross Country State Meet every year, the Ducks and Lady Ducks ran against very good competition from schools across the state in the 3A-4A division.
In a massive field of entries with 226 runners in the boys’ 5,000-meter run, Ducks senior Emilio Arenas had a solid run on Friday morning as his time of 18:30.00 was good for 75th place. Taylor senior Brandon Aguilar placed 187th with a mark of 20:15.20, while fellow senior Giovanni Aguilar also cracked the top 200 with a time of 20:23.60 in 195th place.
The Lady Ducks also competed in a huge field of 239 runners and held their own in the girls’ two-mile run. Taylor sophomore Zari Thompson was again the Lady Ducks’ top runner as she placed 108th with a time of 14:06.40. Lady Ducks junior Zakaya Frederick came in 216th place with a mark of 16:19.60, while fellow junior Charitee Franklin was right behind her in 218th place with a time of 16:27.20.
Taylor will have one more regularseason cross country meet as the Ducks and Lady Ducks will next take part in the Camp Tejas Invitational Sept. 29 hosted by Giddings High School.
