Swiftettes snag Region 1 XC Championship

The Nazareth Swifts and Swiftettes competed at the 1A Region 1 Cross Country Championships on Monday, with the girls bringing home top honors and advancing to the state meet.

Approximately 15 schools traveled to Mae Simmons Park for the Regional meet with 125 runners in the 2- mile girls’ race and 118 runners in the 3-mile boys’ race.

The Swiftettes scored with its four top runners staying in the top 15 of the pack and the others in the top onethird. The four lead Naz runners were Emma Kleman, senior, who place second; Presley Wheeler, freshman, who placed sixth; Kyanne Dunne, senior, seventh; and Chloe Birkenfeld, freshman, 11th.

Swiftettes Riley Ramaekers, freshman, placed 28th; Bliss Betzen, junior, placed 49th; and Clementine Myrick, freshman, placed 55th.

The Swiftettes won the team championship, advancing them to the state championship meet, followed by Spur, Ackerly Sands, Gail Borden and Springlake-Earth, in that order in the top five schools.

The Swifts came in ninth place in the boys 3-mile race. Bryson Brockman, freshman, placed 48th; Simon Snead, sophomore, placed 55th; Ryan Heitschmidt, senior, placed, 63rd; Bradyn Bullard, sophomore, 75th; and Max Snead, freshman, 112th.

The top five teams in the boys’ 1A division were Jaton, Ackerly Sands, Spur, Hedley and Happy.

The UIL 1A Cross Country State Championship Meet will be held in Round Rock on Nov. 23.