Jaden's Journey: DC's Mahar makes State XC trip

Dodd City's Jaden Mahar. Courtesy photo

DODD CITY -- A trip to State had just eluded junior Jaden Mahar, during his first two years of high school.

On March 5, it took eventual State champion Graford to deny Mahar,
then a Dodd City sophomore, an advance, edging his Hornets basketball team, 30-27, in the Region III-1A boys' basketball final.

The previous couple of falls, he had come up short in cross country, too, despite regional advances each of his first two years to compete in the sport.

Mahar this fall has not been denied State.

He advanced to Round Rock as an individual, finishing 27th on Oct. 25 in the Region III-1A boys' cross country race in 20:47.19.

"I'm really excited and happy I get to go this year," said Mahar, "after I didn't last year and had a medical situation that ended my regional race freshmen year.

"I want to do the best I can -- get a new personal record," he said on Oct. 31. "I'll just go out and run.

"I've prepared for this all season."

Mahar became the first boy to advance to the State cross country competition from Dodd City since Alec Simpson in 2019 -- the inaugural year for the sport at the school.

"I'm happy Jaden made it. He had a chance the last two years," said Bruce Mauppin, Dodd City's only cross country coach since its start and superintendent at the school. "For him to make it is great."