By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Comstock’s Sebastian Talamantez is headed back to the State cross-country meet to defend his title.
The junior took first at the Region IV-1A Cross-Country Meet Tuesday in Corpus Christi and helped lead the Comstock Panthers to the team title as his quest for back-to-back state championships moves one step closer.
Talamantez not only finished the course first, doing so in a time of 16:37.81, but he did so in dominating fashion as he took the top spot nearly 22 seconds faster than the next closest runner, Jose Ventura from Lasara, who was second in 16:59.53.
Talamantez’s time was about 12 seconds off his state-winning time from last year. He edged Ryker Haivala of Cumby Miller Grove by two seconds, 16:25.1 to 16:27.1, to win his first state championship and bring the first state boys cross-country title to Comstock.
This will be Talamantez’s third straight trip to State. As a freshman he finished 51st in 18:50.3.
Comstock could be the favorite to win the Class 1A team title at State as well. All seven of this year’s Panthers raced at State last year, finishing third overall.
Returning to State alongside Talamantez are senior Edgar Crane, who was sixth in 17:54.19; senior Gerardo Ibarra, who was seventh in 17:56; sophomore Jordan Allen, who was 12th in 18:40.17; sophomore Noah Bahena, who was 17th in 19:00.32; sophomore Mauro Lopez, who was 33rd in 20:18.90; and sophomore Neal Billings, who was 64th in 21:31.90.
Comstock’s boys are scheduled to run at State Saturday, Nov. 2 beginning at 8:45 a.m. The meet will be held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
Comstock’s boys will be joined by Kennia Lopez who was 10th in the Class 1A Girls race 14:10.88. The top four teams and top 10 individual runners not associated with a qualifying team advanced to the State meet.
The Class 1A girls will race at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
