(This story was updated to add new information: results.)
Sophomores ruled the day at the Region IV cross country championships at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Dugan Stadium on Monday.
Port Aransas’ Shane Stawar won the Class 2A boys race, Robstown’s Bianca Bosquez grabbed the silver medal in the Class 4A girls race, and Agua Dulce’s Ethan Cadena used the motivation from finishing one second out of a state berth to not only get himself to Round Rock, but help the Longhorns qualify as a team.
The top four teams and top 10 individuals not on qualifying teams advanced to the UIL State Cross Country Championships scheduled for Nov. 1-2 in Round Rock.
Despite four of the top five runners graduating from cross country power Port Aransas, Stawar led a new group of Marlins to their 16th straight state tournament appearance, winning the regional championship with a time of 17:26.33.
The Marlins finished second as a team behind Mason, tallying 95 points without a senior.
“It is pretty much about continuing the legacy,” Stawar said. “It has been 16 years consecutively. We keep it going every year.