Under clear skies and a cool breeze, Troy High School proudly hosted the District 17-3A cross country meet for the first time on Saturday, October 5. Both the boys and girls teams showcased their strengths as the starting gun fired, with runners quickly finding their pace and rhythm edging out of the pack of runners in each heat.

Athletic Director Tommy Brashear expressed his excitement about hosting the event: “It’s our first time hosting District. We were excited to be able to host. Coach Rawls is very organized and meticulous with all the things that need to be done. She does a great job, and I’m very proud of her for that. Troy is representing well.”

Coach Shayla Rawls added, “This was a great experience! It was the first time we had hosted a District meet in over 25 years, and it was an honor to do so. The meet takes a lot of work to set up and run, but it was all worth it to see it run so smoothly. I couldn't do it without Troy's staff and community support! We had so many volunteers to help bring my ideas to life, and I am thankful for that. Lastly, it was great to host this event for the kids. Our runners got to experience a home district meet! Priceless!”

The girls' varsity team delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth overall. Sophomore Gracen McMurtry led the team, placing 8th with a time of 13:23.39. Right behind her was fellow sophomore Paisley Hughes, who secured 9th place with a time of 13:37.81. Senior Celeste Mireles also contributed, finishing 16th with a time of 14:07.17.

On the boys' side, the varsity team also finished fourth overall. Senior Grayson Williams dominated the race, claiming first place with an impressive one-minute lead over the second-place finisher. Reflecting on his performance, Williams said, “Years of hard work paying off in a big way is always what you want to see, and I definitely waited patiently for that moment to be district champ. It wasn’t a PR, but considering I had run about 75 miles that week, I’m happy with the result.”

Senior Eric Ramos also shined with a personal record and an 8th-place finish. Freshman Jake Donohoe placed in the top 20 with a personal record of 18:53.30 for the 5k. Senior Emmanuel Duarte-Mejia completed the course with a time of 20:26.54.

Looking ahead, sophomores Gracen McMurtry and Paisley Hughes will make their debut at Sam Houston State for regionals at the end of October. Senior runners Grayson Williams and Eric Ramos will compete as individuals, eyeing a potential state qualification. Williams, aiming for a school record, shared “As I head to regionals and then to state, I am expecting to set a new school record in the 5k. Big things are coming, and I can’t wait to see what happens.”

As our athletes continue their rigorous training, we stand behind them. Go, Trojans!

Upcoming Meets:

• Region III Cross Country Meet:
  Monday, October 21, 2024, and Tuesday, October 22, 2024
  Kate Barr-Ross Park, Huntsville, Texas
• State Championship Meet:
  Friday, November 01, 2024, and Saturday, November 02, 2024
  Old Settler’s Park, Round Rock, Texas

We wish our Trojans the best of luck as they prepare for regionals and, hopefully, state championships!

Visit MileSplit UIL 3A – District 17 For a list of all results and times