Cross Country: Lubbock Invitational provides big test

It would be an easy trade in theory.

Permian High School's girls cross country team has won all four of its meets this season. But head coach Carl Chancellor would give that streak up in a second today during the Lubbock Invitational at Mae Simmons Park if it meant better things were in store on the same course later this year.

In a perfect world, though, Chancellor would like to see the Lady Panthers perform well today in the season's largest gathering of District 2-5A teams - notably, Odessa High, Lubbock Coronado and Amarillo High - and continue the momentum they've built in the opening month of the season.

"It's going to be awesome to be able to go and see everybody," Chancellor said. "The kids expect to go out there and fight to the bitter end, and that's what we're going to do. But we've got our job to do, and our big goal is at the end of October, not the end of September."

The District 2-5A meet is scheduled for Oct. 30 on the same Mae Simmons course, with the top three teams qualifying from that event for the Region I-5A meet on Nov.  8.

Today's meet is a warmup for the regional meet for every classification, with more than 100 teams from Class 1A to 5A getting an initial taste. The Class 1A girls race kicks off the day at 9 a.m., with the 5A girls running at 2 p.m. and the 5A boys going at 2:30 p.m. to close out the event.

The Odessa High and Permian boys will get a chance, as well, to go head-to-head against District 2-5A rivals - old ones like San Angelo Central and new ones like Lubbock Coronado, Amarillo High and Amarillo Tascosa.

In the girls portion of the meet, Lubbock Coronado and Odessa High both have been ranked in the state's top 10 this season. Odessa High also has Kirsten Taylor, Tiffany Barrera, Jordann Beason, Gaby Valeriano and Mindy Navarette back from last season's state qualifying team, though Navarette will be out sick today.

Odessa High also is the defending girls champion of the Lubbock Invitational.

"It'll be pretty interesting," said OHS head coach Tracey Borchardt, whose team is 1-1 in meets against Coronado this season. "I can't wait to kind of just see how we go out and compete. I don't think we're anywhere near what we're going to be, but we're getting that way. I expect to go out and have a pretty good day, but I just don't know. I know that Permian's going to be tough to catch."

Permian also has some experience in its pocket to go along with the season's undefeated start.

The Lady Panthers were a program-best seventh at the regional meet last season, with seniors Lakeisha Johnson and Laura Porras finishing 17th and 20th last season individuals.

Bianka Cortez, who was 47th at regionals last year, also should help in the knowledge department for the Lady Panthers to assist newcomers including talented freshmen Jamia Graham and Monick Garcia.

"Our courses have been getting harder and harder each week, and we're excited to see where we're at on the district course," Chancellor said. "Some of the schools get to train there every day, so we're going to get out there and the girls will be firing on all cylinders. Every week the girls are training hard and taking care of business, and we've just got to run true to ourselves."

>> LUBBOCK INVITATIONAL 

Saturday at Mae Simmons Park

(x-individual runners only)

GIRLS

Class 5A

Time: 2 p.m.

Entries: Abilene High, Amarillo High, Amarillo Tascosa, Cedar Hill, Clovis (N.M.), Coppell, El Paso Eastwood, El Paso Franklin, El Paso Hanks, Haltom City, Lubbock Coronado, Lubbock Monterey, x-Midland High, Odessa High, Permian, San Angelo Central.

Class 4A

Time: 1 p.m.

Entries: Amarillo Caprock, x-Amarillo Palo Duro, x-Big Spring, Canyon Randall, Dumas, El Paso Andress, El Paso Austin, El Paso Bowie, El Paso Chapin, El Paso Del Valle, El Paso Riverside, El Paso Ysleta, x-Fort Worth North Side, Joshua, x-Pampa, Plainview, Saginaw Boswell, San Angelo Lake View, Stephenville, White Settlement Brewer, Wolfforth Frenship.

Class 3A

Time: Noon.

Entries: Andrews, Borger, x-Dalhart, Fabens, Levelland, Llano, Lubbock Cooper, Lubbock Estacado, x-Pecos, Perryton.

Class 2A

Time: 10 a.m.

Entries: Abernathy, Ballinger, Bushland, Childress, x-Crane, x-Denver City, Dimmitt, Floydada, Holliday, Idalou, Kermit, Littlefield, Lubbock Roosevelt, Muleshoe, Olney, Panhandle, Post, Shallowater, Slaton, Spearman, Tulia, Wall.

Class 1A

Time: 9 a.m.

Entries: Borden County, Bovina, Boys Ranch, Canadian, Cotton Center, Crosbyton, Farwell, x-Forsan, Grady, x-Gruver, Hale Center, Hamlin, Hart, Irion County, Lockney, Loop, Lorenzo, Morton, Munday, Nazareth, New Deal, x-New Home, x-Paducah, Petersburg, Plains, Ropes, Seagraves, Shamrock, Smyer, Southland, Springlake-Earth, Sudan, Sundown, Sunray, Tahoka, Vega, Wellington, Wellman-Union, White Deer, Whiteface, x-Wilson, Wink.

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BOYS

Class 5A

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Entries: Abilene High, Amarillo High, Amarillo Tascosa, Cedar Hill, Clovis (N.M.), Coppell, El Paso Franklin, El Paso Hanks, Haltom City, Lubbock High, Lubbock Coronado, Lubbock Monterey, Midland High, Odessa High, Permian, San Angelo Central.

Class 4A

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Entries: x-Amarillo Caprock, x-Amarillo Palo Duro, Big Spring, Canyon, Canyon Randall, Dumas, El Paso Andress, El Paso Austin, El Paso Bowie, El Paso Chapin, El Paso Del Valle, El Paso Riverside, El Paso Ysleta, Fort Worth North Side, Hereford, x-Pampa, Plainview, Saginaw Boswell, San Angelo Lake View, Stephenville, White Settlement Brewer, Wolfforth Frenship.

Class 3A

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Entries: x-Abilene Wylie, Andrews, Borger, Brownfield, Burkburnett, Dalhart, Fabens, x-Graham, Levelland, Llano, Lubbock Cooper, Lubbock Estacado, Pecos, Perryton, x-Sweetwater.

Class 2A

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Entries: Abernathy, Ballinger, Bushland, Childress, Colorado City, Crane, Denver City, Dimmitt, x-Floydada, Holliday, Idalou, Kermit, Littlefield, Muleshoe, Panhandle, x-Sanford-Fritch, Shallowater, Spearman, Tulia, Wall.

Class 1A

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Entries: Amherst, Borden County, Bovina, Boys Ranch, Cotton Center, Crosbyton, x-Farwell, Forsan, Grady, x-Guthrie, Hart, Lockney, Loop, Lorenzo, Morton, x-Munday, x-New Deal, New Home, Paducah, Plains, Seagraves, Sundown, Sunray, Tahoka, Wellman-Union, x-Whiteface, x-Wilson, x-Wink.