by MARK CAUL
After a regional meet appearance in 2008, the Lehman girls cross country team is looking to get back to that level this season and contend for a district title in the process.
Although Lehman lost its top runner Michelle Hernandez, who qualified for the regional meet individually last season, to graduation, the Lady Lobos return a host of well-conditioned athletes who are more than eager to make their run at their first district title.
Amara Smith, Jessica Castro, Ashley Endicott, Mayra Zamora and Ashley Morgan are all returning varsity team members.
“We lost Michelle, but we have a lot of good runners coming back,” Lehman head coach Monica Tovar said. “We also have some younger athletes who I hope will fill roles on the varsity. We’ve only been practicing a little over a week, but I really like what I see so far. We are a team of hard workers.”
Tovar said she fully expects her team to gel in time to make a run at the district title and the regional meet. The top three teams at the district meet will qualify for regionals.
“I have a very good feeling this team will come together throughout the season,” Tovar said. “It’s definitely a goal to get back to regionals and also to finish as high as we can in district. I think a district title is a realistic goal if our girls continue to work hard.”
The Lady Lobos open their season at Lockhart on Sept. 4.
