The Plano East boys and girls cross country teams pose for pictures with the first-place trophies at the Texoma Invitational. Photo courtesy Owen McCullough

By David Wolman

[email protected]

Another week on the course produced another championship-level effort for the Plano East cross country team.

Plano East’s depth led the Panthers to a sweep of the varsity 5-kilometer team titles Saturday morning at the Texoma Invitational. The Lady Panthers posted a first-place score of 19 points, while Plano East’s boys, with 35, edged runner-up McKinney North by 14 points.

Meena Mulford continued her early season success by winning first place in the varsity girls race with a 20:10.02. 

Plano East accounted for five top 10 finishes. In addition to Mulford capturing first place, Louisa Christensen placed seventh in 21:53.51, Brooke Tierney was eighth in 21:58.99, Kate Salyer was ninth in 22:20 and Reagan Diggs captured 10^th in 22:24.05.

Taylor Chu turned in a 12^th-place finish with a 22:59.87.

Josie Gryglas placed 15^th in 23:04.32, Evelyn Felipe took 24^th in 24:04.64, Emma Sahni was 29^th in 24:58.85, Jordan Grant placed 31^st in 25:03, Zoey Powell took 34^th in 25:37.39, Stella Millan finished 35^th in 25:42.27 and Payton Lowsley took 36^th in 25:48.92. 

Isabella Downing (41^st, 27:45.65), Serena Castillo (44^th, 29:05.58), Liliana Green (45^th, 29:13.31), Allison Nguon (46^th, 29:23.48), Evelyn Bush (47^th, 29:25.95), Maryam Mohammad (48^th, 30:14.76) and Paige McBride (50^th, 30:35.05) rounded out the efforts for the Lady Panthers at the Texoma Invitational. 

Plano East’s boys were just as balanced, with the Panthers accounting for five of the top 13 individual finishes.

Isaac Updike led the way, placing third with a 17:21.64. Levi Rowe finished seventh in 17:35.34. Michael Sharp was 10^th in 18:12.45, Alex Castillo took 11^th in 18:15.47, Grant Updike earned 13^th with an 18:26.37, Joshua Cruz placed 16^th with an 18:32.14, Samuel Powell was 23^rd in 19:11.06 and Mohammad Raslan took 24^th in 19:11.54. 

Cole McBride finished 40^th in 19:55.6 and Dan Tecuatl took 42^nd in 20:01.73.

Read the full story in the Aug. 27 edition. Stay informed — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.