Parkers Chapel's Ali Looney was ready to run in her first cross country meet of the season. The junior, who was All-State a year ago, finished fifth Saturday in the Warrior Invitational in Texarkana.
Looney covered the 5000-meter course in a time of 22:20.53.
“I thought Ali ran very well today considering the heat. She actually trimmed one minutes and 25 seconds off her time from last year on this same course, so I was very pleased to see that. She really gutted it out and battled through for this meet, which is pretty tough to do on this particularly course.”
Emma Pittman of Glenbrook School, won the meet with a time of 21:33.84. Macy McLean of Trinity Christian (22:17.85), Tessa Kuykendall of Ouachita (22:18.51) and Fezeka Barnes of Texas High (22:20.11) rounded out the top four.
El Dorado was led by Melanie Miller, who finished 17th overall with a time of 25:29.78. She was followed on the Lady Wildcats' top five runners by Addyson Taylor (30th), Priya Dod (49th), Eliza Brewster (52nd) and Iankel Gonzalez (58th).
El Dorado coach John Koonce said Miller and Taylor have led his team throughout the preseason.
“They have both worked hard all summer and it was good to get this race under their belt,” he said. “Melanie just missed out on placing and getting a medal and I think that she will use that as fuel going forward.”
Freshman Maddison Sullivan finished 48th for the Lady Trojans followed by Kenlee McAuliffe (50th) and Taylor Fortune (53rd).