ROUND ROCK — Saturday’s University Interscholastic League cross country state meet was all gravy for Friendswood boys coach Steve Haffelder.
He didn’t even know if the Mustangs would make it this far.
Haffelder’s team had one more pleasant surprise for its coach in 2009.
Friendswood placed fifth overall at the state meet at Old Settlers Park on Saturday, its highest finish in four seasons. Brandon Swindler placed a career-best fourth while freshman Ryan Teel got a surprising 12th.
The Mustangs lost three of their top five runners from a season ago. They still managed to get to their ninth straight state meet and finish in the top five.
“I didn’t even know that we’d be here at the beginning of the year,” Haffelder said. “So this is just great. It’s kind of a surprise, a shock.”
Swindler’s previous best at the state meet was ninth. He actually beat the two runners from Brenham and Westbury, who bested him a week ago at the Region III meet.
The senior actually ran about 20 seconds slower than his time at Humble. But he ran the hilly terrain at Round Rock better than most.
Swindler said his time in Colorado during the summer, along with some hilly courses like Montgomery, helped.
“I was happy,” Swindler said. “I think I handled the course well. I would have liked to get a medal.”
While his cross country career is over, Swindler noted that he still has track in the spring. He won the silver medal in the 3,200 meters in 2008.
Swindler’s teammate, Teel, still has three years left and a bright future. The freshman ran a personal-best 16:07 despite the hilly terrain.
“Ryan was great,” Haffelder said. “For a freshman to come in and do that is pretty impressive. We’re looking forward to him.”
Senior James Gregory took 31st, also an improvement over his showing at the region meet. Levi Kessler got 60th. Raymond Lowery (62), Matt Craig (70) and Austin Cline (76) also contributed as Friendswood finished with 166 points.
Boerne Champion won the event with an impressive 30 points. Champion was trailed by El Paso Jefferson (120), Frisco Liberty (136) and Lockhart (141).
