Lady Hornets, three individuals State-XC-bound

Dodd City’s Lady Hornets. Courtesy photo

GRAND PRAIRIE -- State-veteran Lindsey Mauppin on Oct. 25 finished fourth individually to qualify again and also led Dodd City to a team Round-Rock advance as the Region III-1A girls' cross county runner-up.

Meanwhile, Ector freshman Lydia Essary, Dodd City junior Jaden Mahar and Leonard sophomore Parker Evans on Oct. 25 individually also qualified for State cross country competition.

Mauppin, a senior, assured her fourth-consecutive trip to the 1A State girls' cross country competition with a finish in 15:05.40 at the regional held at Lynn Creek Park.

She will be joined at State by these Lady Hornets who finished as follows: senior Autumn Brown, 12th, 15:46.60; junior Hannah Burney, 31st, 16:43.19; freshman Breezy Jenkins, 51st, 17:18.75; junior Addyson Chaney, 53rd, 17:18.9; and freshman Riley Murray, 111th, 19:15.44.

It equates Dodd City's first advance of a team to the State cross country competition since resuming having the sport in 2019.

Ector's Essary qualified individually on Oct. 25 for the 1A State girls' race, finishing eighth in 15:24.55 a the same regional.

Mahar finished 27th in the 1A boys' regional race in 20:47.19, becoming the second boy to advance to the State cross country competition from Dodd City, the District 23-1A runner-up again this season, since Alec Simpson in 2019.

Additionally, Leonard's Evans took 10th in the 3A girls' regional race in 14:45.23 to qualify for her first State trip.

All will compete at State on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Old Settler's Park at Round Rock: 8:30 a.m., 3A girls' 3200m; 11:40 a.m., 1A girls' 3200m; and 12:10 p.m. 1A boys' 5K.