Hays senior captain Lena New captured the district title last season. The Lady Rebels have their sights set on making a return trip to state this year. (Photo by Ryan Dominguez)
by JASON GORDON
Hays senior and defending cross country district champion Lena New can still vividly remember the trip to the state meet the Lady Rebels made two seasons ago.
New, now the captain of the girls cross country squad, would like nothing more than to end her senior season with the team once again in Round Rock at the state meet.
“It’s hard to put into words what a great experience going to state was,” New said. “I remember when we found out we qualified; we all started screaming. We had such a great time and to end my career the same way would be fantastic. There’s nothing like being on a stage with all the best runners from around the state in the same place.”
Hays head coach Cliff Buckley said he’s certainly looking forward to seeing what his girls squad, which has captured the team district title two seasons in a row, can accomplish once practice officially begins at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 2.
Buckley has one heck of a one-two punch in New and Mariana Sigala, who finished a close second in the individual race at district last season.
“You’re lucky when you get to send two runners like Lena and Mariana out there every race,” Buckley said. “Mariana made great improvements this past spring during track and I expect bigger things from her this season, and Lena has some of those qualities you just can’t teach an athlete. She’s a fiery competitor and never wants to lose. The other kids see that and it makes them work harder.”
Buckley will try to fill the rest of his team with the combination of Samantha Scarborough, Nicole Alcantara and Sarah Alexander.
“If we can get some good production and have people step up in those 3-5 spots on the team, I think we can be very competitive,” Buckley said. “I’m very optimistic. Our goal is to win district and then see what happens from there.”
New is confident her teammates will combine to form another strong unit.
“The girls we have coming back and the new ones we have coming are very determined,” she said. “I think we have a solid core of athletes that will give us a good chance to do very well this season.”
On the boys side, it will be a rebuilding year as Buckley will pencil in an almost entirely new varsity lineup.
Only junior captain Billy Bolton and Taylor Hough will return with varsity experience.
“Billy and Taylor are both coming off very good track seasons,” Buckley said. “My real goal with the boys program is to shake the trees at the school and see if we can get some freshmen and sophomores to come out for the team and try to build things over the next couple of years.”
Hays’ first cross country meet will take place in Wimberley Aug. 28, and the New Braunfels High meet will follow Sept. 4.
The district meet will be held in Lockhart Oct. 30. The regional meet is in San Antonio Nov. 6, and the state meet is in Round Rock on Nov. 13.
