The Badgers and Lady Badgers cross country teams pose after opening their season at the Temple Early-Bird Meet Friday morning. PHOTO BY MARTA ELLISON Paced by a pair of top-25 finishers, the Lady Badgers opened their cross country season with an eighth-place showing.

Competing against a field that consisted primarily of Class 4A and Class 5A schools at the Temple Early-Bird Meet, Hailey Morrison and Michaela Ellison finished 21st and 23rd, respectively, and led their team to 238 total points.

Morrison ran the two-mile course in 12:33, while Ellison finished in 12:51. Senior Tiffany Fagg (13:22) was the third Lady Badger to cross the finish line, followed by Danesha Toro (13:27).

Desirae Yazzie (14:30) and Kaitlynn O’Rourke (15:39) rounded out the team.

In all, 160 runners competed in the varsity girls’ division.

Despite the strong showing, Lampasas was beaten by new district rival Salado. The Lady Eagles finished fifth as a team.

Taylor, another new district opponent, finished just behind the Lady Badgers by scoring 240 points.

On the boys’ side, the Badgers placed 18th as a team.

Joseph O’Rourke produced the team’s best three-mile time by finishing in 17:42 for 68th overall. Jonathan Lohman recorded a time of 17:55 to place 83rd. Lucas Kemp (18:18), Brock English (20:43) and Riley Tedford (20:44) followed in the standings.

Salado and Taylor both placed in the top 10. The Eagles finished fourth (133 points), and the Ducks were 10th with 242 points. Lampasas accumulated 511 points.

Lampasas’ junior varsity boys’ team finished 15th in the final standings.

Andres Lopez (20:22), Skylar Rolan (20:32), Brandon Bettiger (21:00), Scott Sokolowski (21:29), Jose Coronado (21:29), Nick Samaros (24:18) and Thomas Palmer (26:54) all competed for the Badgers.

Lampasas does not race again until Sept. 10, when the teams travel to Waco Midway