Princeton’s Ashton Long and Sebastian Silva run around a fence during the Princeton Invitational. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media

By David Wolman

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The Farmersville and Princeton cross country teams stayed close to home Saturday morning, with each team enjoying plenty of success at the Princeton Invitational.

Princeton senior Marian Valdez placed ninth in the girls’ 3,200-meter varsity race with a time of 13:46.04 to lead the efforts for the Lady Panthers on their home course. Not far behind her was senior Samantha Valdez, who captured 12^thplace in 13:52.22. Senior Evelyn Escamilla earned 15^th place with a 13:58.82. 

Junior Jillian McCarthy also cracked the top 20, taking 20^th place in 14:26.69. Freshman Malia Dargel captured 21^st with a 14:32.6 in her first-ever high school meet. Freshman Itzel Ramirez-Millan took 25^th in 14:53.06. Senior Emma Dickerson placed 29^th in 16:10.12. 

The Lady Panthers finished in third place with 64 points, while Princeton captured fifth place in the boys’ division with 150 points.

Sophomore Eli Fisher turned in the fastest time for the Princeton boys with an 11:08.55, good for 21^st overall.

Senior Ashton Long placed 36^th in 11:36.38, sophomore Josue Silva finished 46^th in 11:54.87, sophomore Stephen Talley was 52^nd in 12:17.16, freshman Luke Bailey placed 55^th in 12:29.28 and junior Tristan Fillingham took 61^st in 12:52.85. 

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