Yellowjackets claim silver

Boyd senior Noah Richardson advanced to the 2020 3A state meet as a junior last season. 

The veteran of the team will now lead the Yellowjackets to Round Rock after Boyd claimed the second in the 3A Region II race Tuesday. 

Boyd claimed the silver team medal with 84 points. Whitesboro won the meet with 29. Commerce (90) and Valley View (101) also advanced teams to the state meet. 

Noah Richardson clocked 16:44.80 to finish second in his final regional race. 

“It’s a blast. We’ve been preparing for this moment this whole season,” Richardson said. “I’m not going to be by myself this year. We’ve got a really good team chemistry this year. We knew it was going to take a full team effort to advance this year. I’m really looking forward to the state meet with these guys.”

Noah’s younger brother, freshman Myles Richardson, turned in a 16th-place run in 18:05.36. Senior Hunter Bowen ran 18:20.02 for 18th. 

“I’m super proud of my guys, and will go to battle with them any day of the week,” said Boyd coach Oscar Hernandez. “We needed Noah to get a low number, and he came out here and did what he does. Myles really stepped up and finished second for us today. He and Hunter ran in the top 20, and we had Ostan [Hernandez] and Sidney [Holt] in the top 40. We’re happy with how we did, and we’re pumped this team is going to state.”

Paradise sophomore Andrew Messenger will also advance to the state meet for the second consecutive year. 

Messenger ran 17:20.32 for eighth place to advance as an individual runner. 

“I’m glad to go back to state,” Messenger said. “I finished regionals in the same place as I did last year. I was a little further back than where I wanted to be, but I’m going to work on improving this week leading up to the state meet.” 

Messenger’s performance at the regional meet drew praise from his coach. 

“Andrew is just an amazing runner,” Essig said. “He’s got a plan, and he does it every race. I’m very proud of him. I know he wants to improve a little bit at the state meet, and I have no doubt he can achieve whatever he sets his mind to.”