By Brian Argabright
Del Rio senior Ozlynn Urias can say she is in the top half of some of the best high school cross-country runners in Texas.
The three-time state qualifier wrapped up her high school career Tuesday as she finished 48th out of 117 runners in the Class 6A State Girls Cross-Country Meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
Urias, Del Rio’s sole representative at the meet, finished the 5K course in a time of 19:13.94. While her time was slower than last year’s, she finished higher among racers.
This was the 16th consecutive year Del Rio was represented at the state meet.
Brynn Brown of Denton Guyer was the top finisher overall, completing the race in a time of 16:25.89.
Urias wasn’t the only runner from District 30-6A to compete at the girls’ state meet. Laredo United’s Valerie Garcia finished 72nd overall in 19:41.16.
Lewisville Flower Mound won the team title with 75 points as the team’s first five runners all finished with the top 25 overall. Southlake Carroll was second with 96 points, and Conroe The Woodlands was third with 108 points.
Though her high school cross-country career has come to an end, Urias said she still has plans to run in college, though she’s keeping the list of schools seeking her services close to her chest.
“I have been getting some colleges looking at me, but I’m still looking to see which college has the best to offer me,” Urias said. “I want to study criminal justice. My dad is a border patrol agent, so that’s something I want to start going into after college.”
Urias will depart the Del Rio cross-country program as one of its most decorated runners. And it all started when she was just five years old.
“I started running when I was five alongside the Roadrunners, a team that ran here in Del Rio. I was too young to compete, but they would let me train with them. That’s how I came to fall in love with the sport,” Urias said.
