Hornet runners win on home turf

For the fourth straight meet, Carlo Martinez blazed to victory for the Hornets cross country team. This time, he led from the outset at the Gatesville Bill Bradley Invitational Saturday.

He clocked a personal best of 15:40 to finish ahead of the pack.

“It was a good race,’’ Martinez said after polishing off another winning finish. “it felt good today to win especially here.’’

The junior led from start to finish. Teammate Luis Macias took second overall with a time of 16:27.6.

Macias had some anxious moments holding off a runner who mistakenly missed taking in the final loop of the 3-mile race.

“”It was kind of crazy,’’ Macias said. “He kind of cut in their right at the end. I was able to finish it off.’’

Officially, Stephenville’s Raj Guatam took third at 16:27.6 behind Macias.

Gatesville’s Jack Armstrong was 14^th at 17:59.1 followed by Angel Armendariz in 22nd at 18:40.7, Abraham Armendariz in 28^th in 19:16.9. and Braeden Shuemake in 30^th at 19:19.2.

The boys were second overall with 62 points. Stephenville was first with 43 points.

For the girls’ team, freshman Vania Martinez clocked a 12:17.7 for first in the varsity girls. She finished well ahead of second-place Kat Helmer of Waco Live Oak Classical. Helmer ran a !2:38.2 in the 2-mile race for the girls.

Hornet sophomore Bethany Penrod took seventh in 13:00.5. Other Hornet finishers were:

23. Kyla Hinojosa, 14:10.9

24. Grace Penrod, 14:12.7

39. Valeria Jimenez, 15:13.9

57. Payton Armstrong, 16:23.2.

The Hornets girls’ team was third overall with 86 points. Brownwood was first with 54 points and Stephenville second at 71.