Aledo opens season at Mansfield

Following the best overall season in program history, the Aledo cross country Bearcats and Ladycats began the 2026 season Aug. 7 at the Mansfield Timber view 6-Mile Relay.

The varsity boys No. 1 team posted a fourth-place finish, while the varsity girls were also fourth. The format did not spotlight or place runners individually, and was also 1.5 miles in distance compared to the usual 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) in an ordinary race.

“We had some very impressive times, especially for the first meet,” Aledo coach Mike Pinkerton said.

Leading the Bearcats varsity No. 1 was Reed Murray, who clocked a time of 7 minutes, 23 seconds. He was followed by Noah Lay with a 7:28 clocking, Thatcher Pettit in 7:37 and Jonah Clary in 7:43.

All were on last season’s varsity boys team that finished fourth in the state, the best showing ever by the Bearcats.

The Ladycats varsity was led by Mayden Mitchell with a posting of 8:32. She was on the Aledo girls team that placed third in the state in 2025, their third straight top-three finish (third in 2024, second in 2023).

Also for the Ladycats varsity, Austyn Wiatrek ran the course in 9:03, Isabel Rush clocked a 9:25 and Stella Lamb had a 10:04.

The boys varsity team No. 2 placed 13th and was led by Holt Huxel’s 7:39, followed by Andrew Walsh at 7:50. Noah Baker came in at 8:15 and Marcus Rodriguez ran a 9:03.

The junior varsity girls No. 1 team placed eighth and the JV girls No. 2 squad was ninth. Times for the No. 1 team were Arwen Sensenig, 10:05; Lily Elgin, 10:23; Jax Winkelspecht, 10:58; and Rosemary Wright, 12:36. Times for the No. 2 team were Gianna Kenneally, 10:35; Kendall Bricker, 10:36; Hanalei Crawford, 10:44; and Sophia St. John, 12:15.

The JV Bearcats finished 20th. Individual times were Benjamin Schwartz, 9:09; Julian Ivanoff, 9:23; Hudson Fleck, 10:05; Cole Mayfield, 10:42.

Running individually for the JV boys, Edward Wright clocked a 10:38, while Joy Willett posted a 15:18 individually for the JV girls.

“Great way to start the season,” Pinkerton said. “We do have several runners absent from this list who will be back and ready to run next week.” Aledo will compete in the Kennedale Invitational on Friday, Aug. 14. This will be a full 5k race.