By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

Westlake’s Ben Stephenson may have dropped his individual battle with rival runner Collin Smith of Austin High, but the senior did his part to help the Chaps win the District 25-5A war.

Paced by Stephenson’s second-place time of 16:00.30 minutes on the 3-mile course at Zilker Park Friday, the Chaps tallied 33 points to win the district championship for the fourth consecutive year.

Smith edged out Stephenson with a time of 15:36.65, but the shallow Maroons placed a distant fifth.

Bastrop had 63 points and finished second to Westlake for the third straight season. Unlike the last couple of years, however, the Chaps cruised to the title with ease behind a balanced effort that saw all five scorers place in the top 11. Last year, Westlake beat the Bears by one point; in 200, the Chaps won by 11 points.

Simon Plowes finished fifth in 16:43.90, and Nick Maass placed seventh in 16:48.80 for the Chaps. Nick Domino (eighth, 16:50.00) and Matt Ballou (11^th, 17:00.40) completed Westlake’s scoring.

Grady Baker (13^th, 17:00.85) and Matt Miller (23^rd, 17:41.35) also competed for Westlake, which will next compete in the Class 5A Region IV meet Nov. 8 at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio. Bastrop and third-place Anderson will join the Chaps at the regional meet.

 

Girls place third, qualify for regionals

Westlake couldn’t unseat rival Bastrop from its spot atop District 25-5A, but the Chaps did earn a trip to the regional meet Nov. 8 in San Antonio with a third-place score of 95 at Friday’s district race at Zilker Park.

Ashley Maton led Westlake with a sixth-place time of 12:01.05 on the 2-mile course, and Clair Conner placed 15^th in 12:46.15. Westlake’s other three scorers all placed below 20, including Alanna Iverson (23^rd, 12:56.55), Adrienne Dodd (25^th, 12:57.80) and Ariana Oliveira (26^th, 12:58.25).

Liz West (28^th, 13:10.65) and Becca Smith (29^th, 152) also competed for the Chaps.

Bastrop tallied 39 points to win the meet, and Bowie placed second with 74 points. Bowie’s Ashley Benes won individual honors with a time of 11:35.20.