A crowd of runners surges forth during the regional high school cross-country meet in San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 5. Port Aransas High School runners visible in the photo include Corban Marcantel, No. 1415, and Matt Fries, No. 1411, both near the front of the pack. The Marlins qualified at the regional meet to go to the state competition Nov. 12. STAFF PHOTO BY BEV GILBREATH Marlins cross-country runners will make their third trip in three years to the state meet when they go to Round Rock Saturday, Nov. 12, for competition at Old Settlers Park.

Matt Fries, with a time of 17:04, finished fourth in regional competition in San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 5, and was the highest finisher of the Marlins runners.

However, Corban Marcantel was close behind at seventh (17:18) and Austin Henderson was 13th (17:43). Since all three were in the top 15 at the regional meet, they earned All- Region honors.

Randy Borden, Collin Barr and Andrew Hardegree rounded out the top six Marlins.

Terrific team The Port Aransas High School varsity boys’ cross-country team took second place as a team at regional competition in San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 5. From left: Andrew Hardegree, Collin Barr, Randy Borden, Alex Groseclose, Austin Henderson, Corban Marcantel (sixth place, individually) and Matt Fries (fourth place, individually). STAFF PHOTO BY BEV GILBREATH The team as a whole finished second.

“We were neck and neck with Comstock, and just got edged out for the regional championship, but that just left the guys fired up for this weekend,” coach Steve Reaves said. He said the team is concentrating on upgrading its medals at the state level.

“If we can get healthy and have a great day running at the right time, I believe we have a team that can do it,” he said.

The Lady Marlins missed a trip to the state meet by only two points, finishing fifth out of 24 schools and only two seconds out of third place.

At the finish Matt Fries of the Port Aransas High School Marlins cross country team runs across the finish line at the regional meet in San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 5. STAFF PHOTO BY BEV GILBREATH “After a disappointing district meet they could have just coasted through the rest of the season, but instead, they took the challenge and put in a great two weeks of practice,” Reaves said.

Top Lady Marlins runner Arianna Marraro (13:41) finished 16th, missing All-Region by only one place.

The results:

Boys
Fries, 17:04, 4th
Marcantel, 17:18, 7th
Henderson, 17:43, 13th
Borden, 18:08
Barr, 18:21
Hardegree, 18:58
Girls
Marraro, 13:41, 16th
Emma Shannon, 14:03
Megan Forrest, 14:19
Meagan Hardegree, 14:32
Maddison Shannon, 14:54
Brenna Martin, 15:11
Missy Gilbreath, 15:12

Hustle! Port Aransas High School cross-country team members, from left, Brenna Martin, Emma Shannon, Maddy Shannon, Megan Forrest, Arianna Marraro, Missy Gilbreath and Megan Hardegree hustle at the regional meet held in San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 5. STAFF PHOTO BY BEV GILBREATH The 1A state cross country meet is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday.

Reach Old Settlers Park in Round Rock by taking Interstate Highway 35 north from Austin and turning right (east) on either US 79 (Palm Valley Drive) or Old Settlers Road.