Local Sports

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

Robert E. Lee senior Jennifer Menard qualified for regionals in track for both the 1600 and 3200 meters last year, earning All-East Texas track honors.

Her cross country coach, Dennis Baker believes the senior is "the top distance runner in East Texas right now."

Menard will get the first opportunity to prove that today as REL hosts the Tyler Lee Cross Country Classic at UT Tyler's Soccer Complex.

The high school event, which follows UT Tyler's college meet slated for 7 a.m., is broken down into four divisions: Girls Open (5A-4A), Boys Open (5A-4), 1A-3A Girls and 1A-3A Boys. TAPPS schools will also compete in the 1A-3A races.

The Girls Open race is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Boys Open race. The 1A-3A races will start at 10:10 a.m.

The UT Tyler course is all on campus and consists of grass and wooded trails. The boys will run a 5K with the girls going two miles. All races will start and finish at the UT Tyler Soccer Complex.

Menard took seventh in this event last year, her first ever cross-country race. She will be challenged in the Girls Open by Lufkin's Olivia McKinney, who was fourth last year in the Lee classic. As far as team titles, Forney, Mesquite Poteet and Lufkin enter the race with experience and depth.

The boys open race is wide open, but Baker believes his top two runners, seniors Jon-Cary Faubion (regional qualifier in 3200 meters) and Matt Millslagle (four-year varsity runner) have a strong chance to win.

Along with Menard, Spring Hill senior Amber Moore also made the All-ET track second team. Baker believes this is the first of many races where both will shine.

"Last year on (All-East Texas Track) Mia Behm (T.K. Gorman HS now at Texas) and Catherine Loden (White Oak HS now at Arizona State) were the first team," Baker continued.

"Well, Jennifer and Amber were the second team, so I think this is going to be their year."

The top teams in the 3A-A girls race are Spring Hill, Atlanta, North Hopkins and T.K. Gorman. Baker said Gorman is young, but still poses a threat because of its depth.

In the 3A-A boys race, Spring Hill, Atlanta and Palestine are expected to battle it out. Baker gives Spring Hill the edge because of Spencer Lynn, who qualified for state in cross country last year and is expected to not only help his team, but win an individual title.

Lee Boys And Girls Aim For 11-5A Titles

The Lee boys cross country team narrowly missed winning district last year, finishing just behind North Mesquite. Well, graduation took most of North Mesquite's team while Lee returns four of its seven varsity runners.

Baker likes those odds.

"Our (boys) team is based on experience and depth," Baker said. "We are probably considered favorites to win district this year because of that."

The all-senior team is made of Faubion, Millslagle, Jeremy Maranich, Jared Carrasco, Adam Miller, Cade Ticer and Brock Hatton.

The girls were third at district last year, but with Menard leading the way, Baker believes it could be an REL sweep at the district meet.

"I think they really have a shot," Baker said.

He added the team is unique in that all members of the girls team are multi-sport athletes, including Menard, who also plays volleyball. Senior Beth Felix is a teammate of Menard's on the volleyball court and a returning cross country runner. The remaining four team members all play soccer as well as run cross country and consist of sophomores Lindsey Halbrook and Taryn Matlock, and freshmen Laura Ludovico and Alex Lipscomb.

Those are just the varsity members as the entire cross country team is made up of 24 boys and 24 girls.

"We have a large group," Baker said. "We have a lot of young runners who would be varsity on other teams."

Raider Rap: Lee's will next run in the Pine Tree meet Sept. 20 at Katy Ranch in Kilgore.