Bastrop placed fifth as a team and defeated District 25-5A champion Bowie (18th) and Westlake (10th) at Brooks City Base in San Antonio.
“(The girls) went in with a whole different outlook,” said head coach Kim Miller. “They dug deep and tapped into their God-given potential and ran with a lot of heart.”
No strangers to the regional championships, Bastrop came up just short again of qualifying for the state championships.
The Lady Bears placed fourth in 2008 and 2007. The top three teams make it to the state meet.
Miller said she felt her team went into the district meet with something to prove to former coach Chris Carter, who left Bastrop for Westlake in the summer.
She felt they put that behind them at regionals.
“I think they decided this meet it was about themselves and no one else,” Miller said. “I believe that took the stress off.”
Hillari Raemsch was the top runner for the Lady Bears with a 23rd place finish, running the course in 12:14.3 minutes.
Megan Fohn placed 29th while Rebekah Voigt finished 63rd.
Haley Mendel finished 63rd while Ashley Edwards and Kelsey Buell plaed 117th and 133rd, respectively.
The Smithville Lady Tigers will not be sending a runner to the state meet for the first time in four years.
The Lady Tigers, who qualified as a team, placed 14th overall as Rachael Davee was the top finisher, placing 30th.
Shelby Davee placed 43rd and Anna Spangler finished 65th.
“Our girls team was young and inexperienced, but I think we were successful considering that,” said Smithville head coach Robin Ramsay. “Our seniors really stepped up and led those youngsters.”
Corey Smith placed 41st on the boys side.