TEMPLE - The Temple High Junior Varsity Boys Cross Country team hit the 5,000-meter course on Thursday morning, competing in the Broncho Cross Country Invitational at Crossroads Park in Temple. Competing on their home turf against a crowded field of regional programs, the Wildcats put forth a determined group effort to finish 12th overall in the team standings with 358 points.

Wildcats Lead Performer

Junior Weston Ricks led the charge for the Temple Wildcats, crossing the finish line first for the squad in a time of 21:38.05 to take 51st place overall (46th in scoring).

Following Ricks, senior Hunter Filip Frank posted a solid run, clocking in at 22:20.49 (73rd overall, 62nd scoring). Senior Cristobal Hernandez rounded out Temple's top three runners, crossing the line shortly after in 22:28.90 (80th overall, 66th scoring).

All Temple Performance Results:

Weston Ricks (JR): 21:38.05 — 51st overall (46th scoring)
Hunter Filip Frank (SR): 22:20.49 — 73rd overall (62nd scoring)
Cristobal Hernandez (SR): 22:28.90 — 80th overall (66th scoring)
Anthony Ramos (SO): 24:36.52 — 126th overall (88th scoring)
Christopher Glass (JR): 25:54.24 — 151st overall (96th scoring)
Louis Zapata (SO): 27:19.97 — 168th overall (101st scoring)
Ricardo Soto-Juarez (SR): 27:58.49 — 176th overall (103rd scoring)

Meet Summary & Top Medalists

Leander junior Joshua Smith dominated the 5,000-meter individual race, capturing top honors with an impressive winning time of 17:12.50. Marc Morillo of Westwood took 2nd place (18:29.20), while Buda Johnson's Israel Acosta secured 3rd (19:07.36).

In the team competition, Westwood took home the overall crown with a winning team score of 48 points, followed closely by Buda Hays (68) and Buda Johnson (76).

Top 10 Individual Medalists:

Joshua Smith (JR), Leander — 17:12.50
Marc Morillo (SO), Westwood — 18:29.20
Israel Acosta (SR), Buda Johnson — 19:07.36
Connor Riddles (FR), Leander — 19:17.25
Titus Mitchell (FR), Buda Hays — 19:21.24
Lennox Kreutzer (JR), Pflugerville Connally — 19:23.31
Dhruvin Konar (FR), Westwood — 19:27.68
Blake Davis (JR), Buda Hays — 19:30.51
Hunter Bowman (SO), Round Rock Stony Point — 19:30.83
Gabriel McPhee (SO), Killeen Harker Heights — 19:34.97

Final Team Standings

Westwood — 48
Buda Hays — 68
Buda Johnson — 76
Killeen Harker Heights — 111
Leander — 140
Round Rock Stony Point — 165
Belton — 219
Hendrickson — 254
Liberty Hill — 256
Legacy Ranch — 280
Pflugerville Connally — 308
Temple — 358
Copperas Cove — 368
Elgin — 385
Bryan Rudder — 392
Lake Belton — 401

Next Up for the Wildcats

The Temple Wildcat runners will hit the road for their next competition on Saturday, September 26, when they participate in the Ennis Lions Invitational. The meet will take place at Ennis High School in Ennis, Texas, with action slated to get underway early at 7:30 AM.