Swindler, Teel lead 'Stangs to fifth place at state cross country meet

November 15, 2009

ROUND ROCK — The Friendswood Mustangs captured the Class 4A Region III crown and then finished fifth at the UIL state cross country meet at Old Settler's Park in Round Rock.

Senior Brandon Swindler finished with a career-best fourth place with a time of 15:38.81 while freshman Ryan Teel placed eighth in 16:07.62. Swindler's previous top finish at state was ninth place.

The other Friendswood runners included senior James Gregory (32nd - 17:14.78), freshman Levi Kessler (60th - 17:57.64), senior Raymond Lowery 62nd - 18:01.67), senior Matt Craig (70th - 18:32.56), and freshman Austin Cline (76th - 18:54.60).

As a time - Friendswood scored 166 points for fifth place behind state champion Borne Champion (30 points), El Paso Jefferson (120), Frisco Liberty (136), and Lockhart (141).

“I didn’t even know that we’d be here at the beginning of the year,” Haffelder said. “So this is just great. It’s kind of a surprise, a shock.”

This was the ninth straight year that the Mustangs have advanced to the state meet which is a testament to the outstanding job that Haffelder has done with the program and the hard work by each runner.

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