Fall Sports Preview

Grapeland Cross Country has State Ambitions

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND – The Grapeland Cross Country team is eyeing a trip to Round Rock and a chance to compete for some hardware when the meet is held later this year.

“Ragan Bowie and Kenya Woods are two really, really good runners,” Cross Country Coach Anthony DeCello said. “They will pretty much have to lead the way with our group this year. We also have Hannah Chipman who came out and she was a quality runner in junior high.”

DeCello said freshman Cierra Simon will also help the team in its quest for gold. She has run very well in the pre-season and Tierra Jones will also help out a lot.

“With those five people, I think we can do pretty well,” he said.

Asked if he thought this team had what it takes to make a run at the state meet, DeCello said, “It could be. It really depends on how much they put into it. We are a little bit behind where I think they should be time-wise.”

He stressed, however, “Cross Country is one of those sports where you don’t want to run your fastest times right now. It’s a progression type of thing. I think we’ll know more in a month.”

On the boys’ side of the course, the Sandies bring back Anthony Davila and Mark Hannah.

“Those two have worked hard all summer. (Assistant) Coach (Erica) Gros has high expectations for both of them.”

As far as his outlook for the season, DeCello said he believed it would be dependent on how much the runners put into it.

“What they put into it is how much we’re going to get out of it. We do have the talent to do really well, but we do have put in the effort. They have to want and not just me wanting it for them.”

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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