ROUND ROCK – With last Saturday’s first-place showing at the 5A state cross country meet, Champion’s Elizabeth Leachman has now won five state championships in either cross country or track.
Of the five, Leachman said this year’s title is probably the most sentimental to her just because she had to overcome a lot this season to make it back to the podium.
This fall, Leachman battled a couple of injuries, strep throat and stomach flu. In fact, she didn’t even finish her race at regionals because she was feeling under the weather and only made it to state because the team qualified.
“I think it’s a different kind of special because going into this race, truly, I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so unsure going into a race, but I think it’s also super special because I got here, and got here with my team, and really, they got me here. So just to be able to come out here and do my best for them and for that to work out in a favorable way was really special.”
Leachman clocked in at 17:14.80 in defending her title that she won last year with a state-record time of 16:25.50.
Smithson Valley won the team title (54), Lucas Lovejoy finished second (97) and Aledo (145) took third, while the Lady Chargers were seventh with 171 points.
Champion had four freshman racing and Chargers coach Shiela West said it was a big stage for them.
“The four freshman had never experienced (state). You try to convince them it’s another race but in reality, there is so much more involved to this,” she said. “Your first go-round with it, there’s a lot to overcome and it’s a lot to ask of a 14-year-old, but I’m very proud of them. Almost everyone had a PR (personal record), it’s been a successful season.”
Kynley Albright came in 12th with an 18:55.2, Rebecca Bezerra crossed the finish line in 19:43.5 for 35th, Madison Mungia recorded a 20:30.2 for 61st, Addison Graham posted a 20: 32.3 for 62nd, Payton Kidder was 65th with a 20:39.8 and Luciana Zazueta-Ibarra rounded out the team with a time of 21:37.6 for 92nd.
Leachman summed up the 2024 season best.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a season,” she said.
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