4-Peat CC State Championships
Amarillo Globe-News
By Travis Harsch
ROUND ROCK — For the fourth straight year, Spearman claimed the Class 2A team championship at the UIL state meet at Old Settlers Park.
Spearman coach Starla Whiteley said she was worried about her team’s finish after some of her typically stronger runners faded, but other runners picked up the slack to give the Lynxettes a four-peat with a five-runner score of 88, ahead of second-place Melissa’s total of 97.
“I thought since we didn’t run well that we didn’t have it, so it was a shock,” she said.
“The pack that we talk about came in and won it.”
Gately Garnett finished eighth overall for the Lynxettes in 12:36 on the two-mile course. Garnett is one of five Spearman seniors who ended their careers with four team gold medals.
“We just went out how we wanted to,” she said. “We did what we needed to do. We always work hard during practice, and it pays off during the meets.”
Tylo Farrar, another Lynxette senior, finished 18th in 12:52 and said each title has meant more to her.
“Every time we do it, it means more because we’re even stronger,” she said. “It’s incredible we have a team that can train for 14 weeks every year and come out and do this every year.”
That three years of experience paid off on an afternoon when a wind advisory was issued for the Austin area, with gusts of 40 miles per hour blowing dirt from the course into the faces of the runners.
“That experience really counted,” Whiteley said. “The weather doesn’t matter, the wind doesn’t matter, we’ve got a job to do and let’s do it.”
Senior Malory Martin finished 26th, with junior Itzel Mesa in 31st. Seniors Sarah Snider and Shelby Hanna were 62nd and 68th, and sophomore Gena Hargrove finished 72nd.
