WSMS Time Trial photos now available in ONLINE
ALBUM
LHS XC Boys — Fall Festival Recap
A huge thank you to all of our parents, volunteers, and booster club supporters who helped make the
Lovejoy XC Fall Festival a success! The meet ran smoothly, and we received a lot of positive feedback
from visiting teams, coaches, and spectators. Your support makes a big difference!
Our varsity boys placed 4th overall, finishing just one point behind #8-ranked McKinney North — a
district opponent we’ll see again at the District Championship on October 7th. While North edged us out
this time, we gained confidence by defeating #6-ranked Boerne (last year’s 5A state runner-up) and
#9-ranked Prosper Walnut Grove.
We had strong performances from our top three runners — Tristan, Joey, and Arjun — while Carter, Adam,
and Haden stepped up with significant improvements on a tougher course compared to the Marcus meet. In
addition, our open varsity and JV athletes delivered standout performances that showcased the depth of
our program. Building team depth has always been a tradition of Lovejoy Cross Country, and this year’s
squad is working to continue that legacy.
McKinney North may have edged us out on Saturday, but our focus remains on preparing for when it matters
most — District, Region, and State.
LHS Girls XC — Fall Festival Recap, Runners of the Week
Thank you again to all who were able to help out in any way with Fall Festival. Coach Kelly has done an
incredible job of building this into a premier meet, and our booster club and parents continue to step
up every year and make sure it stays that way! (We even had many "retired" booster members show up to
help out!!) Also — shoutout to our kids who spent over an hour on cleanup duty which is no small
task — especially after running your heart out! It is a blessing to have such a great team of
people in Lovejoy XCTF. THANK YOU.
Talia Orshalick is a special athlete. She is one of the most driven young women I've ever
coached. If she puts her mind to something ... it is going to happen. She showed this her
Sophomore year running incredible in the 300 hurdles all year and working her way to a 57 in the
400. Her performance at the state track meet in May was one of the best I've ever seen. She is
now showing that same grit and determination in Cross ... and it really makes our team very
strong. She refuses to give less than her best, and she works diligently to be the best for
herself and especially her team. She had the best Cross Country race of her career so far on
Saturday going 19 flat on a tough course. She got out fast and held on for a strong finish for
her team!
Kennedy Johns is a junior who has come so far in the past few years! She is also an
amazing hurdler for us, and she has the grit and work ethic to put that speed and talent onto
the course as well. She had a breakout race on Saturday ... starting conservative but working up
throughout the race and finishing strong! She was running really well in July and had a setback
with some foot pain issues ... but she's on the comeback! She balances varsity cheer with Cross
and has done an awesome job! She is a worker!!
Paige Spencer finally got to race in a meet for the first time in a while! She has
battled some serious injuries for a year now, so we have taken it very slow on her return ...
but she came out with some fire on Saturday!!! She finished in the 5th spot for us in JV and
only ran 30 seconds off of her PR. She is a naturally great runner, and I look for her to keep
improving and show up big at District!! One of the most notable things about Paige is that
throughout her injury ... she has shown up to EVERY PRACTICE and helped take times for the team
and encourage them. She has been a huge help for me, and I appreciate her commitment to the
program!
McKenzie Archibeck is a freshman who is a standout high jumper ... come watch her this
track season!! I am so proud of her for taking the leap into cross country. She is an absolutely
amazing young woman who is kind and sweet. She is quiet, but fierce! She also plays basketball
and manages to make it all work. She — along with several from our sprint group —
ran her first 5k on Saturday. She did awesome! She is patient and tough. You never hear her
complain or show fear or doubt. She just works!!
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
Volunteers & Donations Needed for Lovejoy XC Fall Festival
The Lovejoy XC Fall Festival is quickly approaching. We will host the meet on Saturday, September 13th at
Myers Park in McKinney, TX. To continue the great success of this meet we need everyone's help!
This is Lovejoy's signature XC meet — the best 5A XC meet in Texas. It started all the way back in
2006 during the team's very first season. The proceeds from this meet fund much of the XC and Track
& Field seasons. Many volunteers and donations are needed for success.
Please check out our two sign-ups to help with this great event!
Donations items rance from $5 to $25, and please consider donating multiple items.
Please direct any volunteering questions to Jennifer Orshalik (214-578-6632).
LHS XC Boys — Updates
This is a big week for Lovejoy Cross Country. We will host the Lovejoy XC Fall Festival on Saturday. Some
of the top teams from across the state will travel to compete in our meet. We are still in need of meet
volunteers for the event. Please consider signing up if you are able!
Big Bro / Little Bro with WSMS
This Thursday our boys team met and ran with our future runners at WSMS for our Big Bro/Lil Bro program.
This is a great opportunity for our team to mentor and be a great example for our WSMS runners. Big
thank you for Coach Muller for helping organize this! We will be running with WSMS runners every other
week.
Logan Kelly cell: 903-821-8399
LHS Girls XC — Updates, Runners of the Week
We had a solid week of training. We ran a threshold yesterday which is one of the most important training
days we have and simulates a race for the week. CLICK HERE for
yesterday's threshold results. The next 3 weeks are races! Enjoy this cool weather today!
6-Week Grade Check — September 19th
The 6-week mark for the school year will be on September 19th. Runners must be passing all classes by
this date in order to remain eligible for UIL competition. The only courses that are exempt are AP
courses, Dual Credit courses, or Pre-Cal.
All Smiles Running with Our Baby Sis's on Thursday!
LLI Golf Tournament
We are still needing representation of Lovejoy Cross Country and Track & Field at the upcoming
LLI
Golf Tournament, which directly benefits all Lovejoy athletic programs. There are spots available
for
both teams and sponsors, and we would love for our program to be represented. Please consider
joining or
supporting if you are able.
Runners of the Week
Payton Jurist is a freshman who is totally new to the sport. I met her during middle
school track last year and immediately noticed she had something special. She WANTS to get
better. She WANTS to compete. She has a strong work ethic and a great attitude! She has been a
great addition to the team and has been improving rapidly. I am eager to watch her continue to
grow in this sport!
Lily Sanders has been a staple in our program for 5 years. She ALWAYS shows up for
practice and anything our team is doing and she strives to be the best runner and person she can
be. She is a great teammate who deeply cares about carrying on the legacy and culture of our
team. Lovejoy Cross Country is important to her, and it shows in everything she does. This
season, she has set higher goals, and she has been training hard to reach them. She had an
incredible threshold on Friday, proving that her hard work and dedication is paying off.
Cailee Horinek is one of the most talented and dedicated athletes in the entire program.
She can do it all. She is fast, she can jump, she is one of our top 4x4 legs, she is an
outstanding mid-distance runner, and she is one of our top XC gals. She has impressed her
teammates this week as she was nominated by many for this accolade. I agree with them. One
runner said, "she is such a hard worker and always gives her best effort. She is one of the
toughest runners on our team!" That says it all right there! Watching Cailee grow the past 4
years has been so awesome. She ran a 56 last year on the track, and yesterday ... she showed her
range by having an OUTSTANDING 4-mile threshold. When she puts it all together in a 5k ... she
will be dangerous!
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
WSMS XC — Updates, Athletes of the Week
I hope you all are doing well! These student-athletes put in phenomenal work today. It was HARD, and they
stayed determined throughout the entire workout. I am continually impressed by the grit they are
developing!
Another Popsicle Practice is in the Books!
Thank you to the Struthers family for partnering with us this past week to provide popsicles to wrap-up
Thursday's practice! It is so fun to celebrate the student-athletes' hard work throughout the week in
this way!
Last year, we began to recognize "Athletes of the Week" in a very special way. Celebrating their
consistent efforts, focus, demonstration of a growth mindset, determination, sportsmanship, and
heart of service, Athletes of the Week receive one of the original Lovejoy XC jerseys that they can
choose to wear at a practice each week. To cover last week and this week, we are so excited to name
Claire Carlson, Mitchell Smith, Bronwyn Vaughan, and Bryan Schmidt as our Athletes of the Week!
Claire Carlson is beginning her first year with the WSMS XC team and she showed-up with
speed and a smile! Claire has positive energy for days, and takes that right into her approach
to workouts. Her mindset, attitude, and actions exemplify the girls' program motto of "STRONGER,
FASTER, TOUGHER." It has been awesome seeing the way she maintains a genuine friendliness, all
the while being an unrelenting competitor. At this rate, Claire is headed towards success, and
significantly, she's bringing the whole 7th grade girls team with her! We are so excited to see
more great things from Claire this season and are so thankful she is part of the Lovejoy XC
Program!
Mitchell Smith is beginning his first year on the WSMS XC team and made quite a statement
from the get-go. It was initially shocking to see this 7th grader jump right into a tempo
workout with the likes of Preston, Tom, and Bryan and run with them as if he'd been doing it for
months. Continuing on theme, Mitchell battled with Tom during the Time Trial running smooth 5:41
to kick off the season with a statement! Beyond this, Mitchell has such a positive attitude, and
continues to challenge his training group with the amount of effort he brings to each practice.
We are so excited to see more great things from Mitchell this season and are so thankful he is
part of the Lovejoy XC Program!
Bronwyn Vaughan enters her second year on the WSMS XC team and has immediately worked to
inspire her teammates towards excellence and success. Her consistent, high quality work ethic
never misses a beat, and she is often found making sure to finish the last few minutes of her
run or putting in some additional minutes if there is time to spare. Along with this, she works
to unify the team by putting full effort in games and team bonding opportunities. She
exemplifies a STRONGER, FASTER, TOUGHER mindset and lifestyle, never skipping the details in
warm-ups, workouts, or post-work. We are so excited to see more great things from Bronwyn this
season and are so thankful she is part of the Lovejoy XC Program!
Bryan Schmidt enters his second year on the WSMS XC team and continues to impress me with
his full-effort attitude. When the work gets tough, Bryan gets to work. His competitive mindset
is showcased in his refusal to back down from a fight. He has continually supported the team
with outstanding past performances in races, as well as full-effort contributions in practices.
Bryan has demonstrated reliability and trustworthiness to his team through his actions. Success
isn't built in a day, and Bryan is successful. His consistent efforts have been encouraging to
me and his team. This kid has got GRIT. We are so excited to see more great things from Bryan
this season and are so thankful he is part of the Lovejoy XC Program!
Have a great weekend,
David Müeller
LHS Girls XC — Coach T Recap, Runners of the Week
We had a great meet on Saturday for those who were able to compete. Unfortunately, due to lightning, the
JV races were cancelled. The open Varsity took 2nd to Flower Mound and that group ran really solid. The
Elite Varsity group took 3rd to 6As Flower Mound and Katy. With Camryn racing, we would have been 2nd
and very close on the heels of FM — who are 5-time 6A State Champions.
Runners of the Week
The only way to describe the performance of these ladies from Saturday is ABSOLUTELY COMMANDING.
The way these 3 raced showed a state championship performance. When we throw Camryn into the mix and get
our 5-7 up to 19 flat mark ... we will be VERY hard to beat this season.
Emily Armstrong — only a freshman — but EXTREMELY COACHABLE and completely
FEARLESS. She has been looking strong and comfortable for the past 2 weeks of practice, so I was
eager to see what she could do when she had a race on her hands. She did not disappoint. I asked
her to get out with the lead pack (minus the leader, Easterwood) and just go for it and see
where she landed. She did just that taking an early spot in the top 5. She came through the
woods about 10-15 seconds behind an Aledo girl. I told her "the girl in orange is the only 5A
girl in front of you — go get her!" With just over 800 meters to go ... she did go catch
and beat her! This competitive edge from a freshman adds a big boost to our veteran line-up who
has state experience.
Bridget Bernal has been working HARD. She's increased weekly mileage just a bit and has
been cross-training 2-3 times a week. Coming off of an 8th place finish at the state track meet,
she has proven that she is going to be a strong competitor in class 5A this season. She also got
a great, aggressive start and had her typical unbelievable finish. She is so solid and
dependable — you know when she steps on the line she will give everything she has every
time and finish either where you expect or better. She is ultra competitive and has big goals
for this season.
Sofia Dominguez is off to a great start this season. She had some really amazing and fast
races on the track at the end of the season, and she has also been busting her tail this summer.
She is fit and she is fast. When she is on — there is nothing she can't do — she
gets this look on her face, and you know she's about to run fast. Saturday she ran this race
very tactically sound — she knows what works for her, and she executed it to perfection.
She ran in our #3 spot and was only 27 seconds behind Emily and 17 seconds behind Bridget. This
is an amazing gap for 1-3 and will make us tough to beat.
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
LHS XC Boys — Coach T Recap
Two of our boys groups were able to race this weekend at the Coach T Marcus Invite. Unfortunately, the
lightning forced our JV races to be cancelled. We were able to race some of the top 5A teams in the
state. #2 McAllen and #1 Grapevine both had higher team finishes on Saturday. Our boys were able to
significantly defeat #5 College Station. This race gives us an idea of where we stand at this current
point in the season.
We still have work to do and everyone has the task of improving our depth and
closing the gap time for our 1-5 runners. This is going to be our focus of improvement for the remainder
of this season. We will face #3 ranked boys team Boerne at our home meet, Lovejoy XC Fall Festival, on
September 13th.
This week I have been challenging the student-athletes to new heights by asking them to take more
ownership of their workout — and it has not been easy — but their growth and determination
has been AMAZING! I am really impressed with these young leaders. They are learning a lot about
investing in their workouts, inspiring each other towards excellence, working with new teammates,
communication, and being a problem solver. It's TOUGH and THEY ARE DOING IT! Please be proud of your
student-athletes and encourage them to continue embracing challenges with a growth mindset — good
things are headed their way!
1-Mile Time Trial Photos
Thank you Mrs. Elliott-Kubes for taking these photos for us!
This week we will compete at the Marcus Coach T Invite in Denton, TX. The course is typically fast and
the meet is one of the most competitive early season meets in Texas. 5 of the top 10 ranked 5A teams
will attend: Lovejoy, Grapevine, McAllen, College Station and Aledo. 6 of the top 10 ranked 6A teams are
schedule to attend: Southlake, Waxahachie, Byron Nelson, Flower Mound, Keller, and Austin Vandegrift. We
will leave bright and early for this meet at 4:40 AM!
End of SportsYou — Switching to Rooms on Thrillshare/Apptegy
To comply with new district policy, we will be ending Sports You on Sunday 8.24.25 and switching to the
Lovejoy ISD app through Apptegy.
Logan Kelly cell: 903-821-8399
LHS Girls XC — Updates
It was a big week of training, and we are definitely getting stronger. CLICK HERE for today's
threshold results. For many it was our first 4-mile of the season, and we were very solid!
We attended the WSMS time trial on Thursday, and those little girls get so excited to see their Big Sis.
We had a parent email after the fact and she stated that her daughter had been apprehensive and nervous,
but "her big sis had good words of encouragement for her." That shows how simply showing up can help
someone! I'm proud of the girls!
We have Marcus (which is typically a fast course and a good chance to run great times) next Saturday. I
will get the entries and details out early next week. Note ... it is an early one!
My Birthday Bouquet made by a few of the girls. I told them now when I'm 80 years old I'll always
remember their faces! 😊
Great picture taken by Lily Sanders on our run Thursday!
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
LHS Girls XC — Runners of the Week
This week we have a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior ... all from the sprint group! Each of them
really stood out at the Rock Hill meet. Each of them is at practice EVERY DAY — year round. Even
though they are 3 hurdlers and a 400/800 girl ... they are all in on being the best they can be. They
have a different training schedule than the distance crew ... and their competitive side shows up big on
race day!
Zoe Manley — The growth of this young woman over the past year has been amazing to
watch. First things first about Zoe ... she is a fierce competitor who HATES TO GET BEAT! She has
been this way since I've known her in 7th grade track. Last year she was very nervous about Cross
Country races ... and when we got down to the bottom of it ... it was really because she just
doesn't like to lose. A year later, and she has gotten so much stronger both mentally and
physically. She had an absolutely amazing race at Rock Hill and definitely showcased her competitive
and tough nature!
Michaela Martin is now a junior — which is so hard for me to believe! She is one of our
top hurdlers, and she is a worker! Michaela brings such a joy to our team. She is fun and funny and
always keeps us all on our toes! She is also responsible, generous and thoughtful. She encompasses
all the attributes of a Lovejoy Track and Cross Country athlete. Even though Cross is not her
favorite time of year ... she makes it a priority for the team, and she shows up with a great
attitude and does whatever is asked with a smile (sometimes maybe only a half smile depending on the
workout) on her face! She continues to grow as an athlete, and I am looking forward to seeing her
hit the oval in the spring!
Chloe Long is one of our fearless senior leaders who makes the team tick. She has been a
huge
asset to our track and cross country team and to me as a coach. She is a great communicator and
has
a strong voice. She cares for others when needed, and she also holds people accountable when
needed.
She is so reliable when it comes to practices and meets; she can be counted on to be consistent
in
her attitude and effort at all times. She is also a great cheerleader for the team —
another
person who thinks ahead and is thoughtful toward her team. I have loved watching her growth the
past
3 years!
Camryn Barney is just a freshman, but she has a strong presence about her already! She
will
be one to watch for the next 3 years. Camryn is a competitor. She is tough. She is feisty. Cross
Country is completely new to her this year, but I foresee greatness in her future. She is all-in
with XCTF, and I am excited to see her thrive over this year!
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
LHS XC Boys — Rock Hill Recap
This past weekend our boys team competed very well at the Rock Hill XC Opener. The majority of our
runners
ran a new personal best time at the meet for 3200M. This is a great start, but we still have a lot of
work to do! Our next race and first official 5K race of the season will be at the Coach T Marcus
Invitational on 8.30.25.
Friday was a great season opener for the Leopards!! We took commanding wins in all 3 divisions! We had 2
FRESHMEN win their first high school race as individuals! Emily Armstrong (elite division) and Lily
Stabile (JV division) both got out fast and strong and never looked back! All 3 teams looked great and
ran hard. We will continue to work!
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
LHS XC — Meet Rules
Thank you to all who attended the meeting last night! CLICK HERE for the slides
so you may view.
A few very important details we'd like to highlight as we go into our first meet on Friday. We will also
cover this in our team meetings on Thursday.
Athletes
Athletes are to wear uniform and team shirt or team issued equipment with black pants. We always
look uniform and unified. No college sweatshirts, etc.
Athletes are here to compete. They are expected to be prepared.
Athletes bring their own water, pre and post race snacks and any other items needed on race day.
(spikes, rain gear if needed, etc.)
Athletes will warm-up and cool down with the team they race with that day. Once athletes have
competed, they are expected to be out on the course cheering for their teammates in other divisions.
Athletes will ride the bus to and from the meet. If an extenuating circumstance occurs, I need to
know at least 48 hours in advance.
Keep track of all issued gear — any lost items will need to be replaced/paid for. Put items in
a safe place or with a trusted teammate!
Parents
Please refrain from being at the team tent. We think of this as our "locker room" area where
kids can rest and prepare for their race (or relax after).
The starting line and starting area is for athletes and coaches only.
Please refrain from being in the chute (finish line) area. You may see parents from other
teams congregating there, and this is done at the middle school level as well. Top-tier meets will
have this area roped off so that it isn't even an option for spectators/parents to be in this area.
Some smaller meets may not though. The finish area is for the runners, coaches, and workers.
The girls team will ALL meet near the finish line to wait for the last runner on the team and
debrief. They are NOT to leave their team until released by coach or team leader. After that,
runners will have some time to visit parents and fans before they do their cool down. **In the
case that your runner goes down on the course or at the finish line (rare — but it
happens) please feel free to assist your runner.**
Be careful of crossing the course — always watch for runners (like crossing the street).
Have fun and enjoy the racing! Your kids have worked HARD, and it takes a lot of courage and
strength to get out there and run! This is such a great sport with great camaraderie for both our
kids and parents. We pride our program in having the most respectful, hard-working kids around ...
you will see that on display at meets!
Carly Littlefield Logan Kelly
LHS Girls XC — Updates
Thankful for all of our awesome athletes and especially our XCTF kids who showed up early Monday morning
to greet the staff on their first day back!!! Shoutout to Michaela, Natalia, Talia, Anna A, Chloe L,
Kate R, Claire, Ella S, and Tatum!!!!!
PINK team were the winners from the time trial. An especially sassy crew! :)
WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE! Coach Kelly and I have grouped up boys and girls to try to benefit the kids, and
while it's in the growth stages, I think it helped a lot of kids this morning for mile repeats.
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
LLI Golf Tournament
The 17th annual LLI Golf Tournament is being held Monday, September 22nd at The Heritage Ranch Golf &
Country Club. There's a 1:30 pm shotgun start (check-in starts at 12:00 pm).
This is a big fundraiser for Lovejoy athletics in part benefiting the XC/Track booster club.
Please consider participating in the tournament, and sign up your golfing friends.
CLICK HERE for
the tournament information and registration/sponsorship links.
Lots of sponsorship opportunities are available ranging from $500 to $3,000.
LHS Girls XC — Runners of the Week
LILY FOGLE!!!! — This young lady just continues to get better each year. She had a
breakout sophomore year with some big races in both Cross Country and track. At the 2-mile time
trial last Saturday she finished in the #5 slot on our team and ran 61 seconds faster than last
year!! She earned a spot in the Elite Varsity division for the first meet, and I know she has big
goals this season. She may be quiet ... but when she comes ready to compete — she is fierce,
aggressive, and impressive.
Margaret Meehlhause — This incoming Senior is new to us, and we are so glad to have
her! She is a leader and a high achiever, and she has showed up ALL SUMMER long! She's that girl who
— if she's going to do something — she is going to be the best she can and give 100%.
She joined Track for the first time this past year and is already high jumping and pole vaulting!
Saturday ... she almost broke 15 minutes in her first 2 mile ... just showing what a competitor she
is! I am excited to watch her continue to improve, and see the positivity she will bring to the
team.
Ella Snyder — This junior has been another amazing addition to our team this year! She
reached out to me during track season asking how she could join Cross country, and I got her started
with a running plan. She has shown up every day this summer. She ALWAYS has a positive attitude. She
never complains. She just gets out there and runs. These attributes have resulted in her going from
a 20 minute 2 mile at the beginning of the summer to a 16:41 2 mile time trial. With her work ethic,
attitude, and attendance ... I believe she will become a great runner over the course of this
season. She is also looking to be a great leader — volunteering for the leadership committee
and to help serve at convocation.
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
Time Trial Starts Leopards XC Competition Season
Lovejoy harriers kicked off their competition season with the annual Time Trial at Celebration Park this
morning in near perfect running conditions (for August in North Texas). This year the coaches divided
the runners into teams which competed for bragging rights.
Lots and lots of parents came out along with a significant alumni showing. And the largest ever WSMS
turnout — 9 Willow Springers mixing up with the LHS harriers.
In recent years Lovejoy XC has enjoyed a very deep team (both boys and girls). But with the recent
graduations of some of the team's best runners in its history, that depth is being challenged. Last
fall Coach Logan needed all of the boys' depth to win State. And Coach Littlefield's girls earned
2nd place at State. Both the boys and girls have a solid set of top-4 runners this fall, but it will
once again come down to the 5-6-7 runners to decide how well Lovejoy succeeds. And who will those
runners be? Stay tuned.
At last night's XC reunion (first one ever), the boys amazing record of 18 consecutive District
Championships was celebrated. For the first time in many years that record will be seriously
challenged this fall. McKinney North is the biggest threat, but don't forget about Walnut Grove. The
girls are looking to retake the State Championship, but have little room for setbacks. Both boys and
girls need to stay focussed and healthy. That said, this is shaping up to be another great season
for Lovejoy XC.
The girls top-5 runners averaged 5.5 seconds faster than the top-5 from last August (the girls
earned 2nd at State last fall), but were 11.2 seconds slower than the top-5 from 2 years ago (those
girls handily won State). The girls' top-10 finishers today were a top-heavy mix of 5 seniors, 2
juniors, 1 sophomore, and 2 freshmen. Experience helps at State.
For the four girls teams (orange, pink, blue, and purple) it was the
orange
pink team that prevailed. Overall the results were quite competitive.
For the boys last August, 11 of the top 14 finishers were seniors and the top-5 runners
averaged 9:48.8. Today the top-5 average was 10:04.8. The difference of 16.0 seconds for a 2-mile
race compares with the 5K State Championship where Lovejoy's 1st place top-5 averaged 16 seconds
better than 2nd place Boerne, 20 seconds faster than 3rd place Wakeland, and 21 seconds faster than
4th place Grapevine. To get back on the podium this fall the Lovejoy guys will have to pick up the
pace.
The younger Lovejoy boys turned in impressive times: 12 of the top 18 times belonged to 7 freshmen
and 5 sophomores. The future continues to look bright.
GREAT MORNING!!! Thank you all for such a GIANT turnout! I think that was the most parents we've EVER HAD
AT A TIME TRIAL!! Jim McGuinness who has been here since inception agreed! The Lady Leopards DID NOT
DISAPPOINT! We had a great day and look as good/fast as we ever have in 4 years this morning. Veterans
led the way with smooth consistency and race knowledge, and the young ones are improving rapidly. This
promises to be another exciting season as we aim to TAKE OUR TITLE BACK!
NOTE: The parent meeting has been moved to August 11th at 6:00 PM via zoom.
We will get a link out prior to the meeting.
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET. TAKIN' OUR TITLE BACK!!
Carly Littlefield
LHS XC — Fundraiser
The Lovejoy Cross Country and Track Team will be kicking off our Up Tempo Fundraising campaign!
Date: Tuesday, August 5th
Time: 4:30 pm
Location: LHS Lecture Hall
This is a campaign that allows our athletes to receive donations from their families and friends. To
assist our fundraising efforts, we are asking you to help your son/daughter obtain permission for and
gather 20 email addresses and phone numbers of his/her closest supporters.
Family and friends will then receive an email directing them to the athlete’s personal web page providing
an easy way for them to donate.
Safe and Protected — Up Tempo utilizes a safe and secure online donation system. All data
is private and never redistributed. Personal information displayed is less detailed than what is
given on a team online roster or your school’s annual yearbook, with no personal information
other than name and optional picture/selfie. Your contacts are strictly private and protected,
never sold or shared.
Online donation system — Up Tempo is an online donation platform inviting potential donors
via email and social media to visit the webpage where they can easily donate and support your
program. All supporters will receive an emailed receipt for their tax-deductible gift. Reminder
emails and texts will be sent throughout the campaign with the option to unsubscribe.
We are asking you to assist your son/daughter by obtaining permission for and
gathering 20 emails and phone numbers of people closest to him/her who may be potential
donors. Your athlete will need to bring these saved in their phone notes by Tuesday, August 5th and
we will help set up his/her profile and host our “Live Kickoff” for the athletes to reach out to the
people on their list. Thank You!
We are one week closer to the season! With school starting soon, please make sure your runner is making
adjustments to their sleep schedules (getting to bed earlier) and prepping for full days ahead. Once the
stress of studies enters the picture, it becomes imperative that we are managing time wisely and
prioritizing sleep and nutrition in our daily routine.
This SATURDAY is our annual 2-mile trial. This is an important day to see how our summer training has
paid off and get some racing back into our legs before the first meet. We encourage parents to grab your
coffee and come out and cheer the team on! We will start the race at 7:00 am — athletes must
arrive by 6:30 for warm-up.
Attendance Going Forward
Please make sure your runner is at practice each day going forward. Runners who miss practice starting
August 1st or not at the time trial will not compete in the first meet of the season. Please support
your runner in making sure they are at practice each day! We have a long storied tradition of success
and the biggest component to that success is consistency and showing up to put in the work that is
required.
Logan Kelly cell: 903-821-8399
LHS Girls XC — Updates, Kennedie Hummel
We are one week closer to the season! With school starting soon, please make sure your runner is making
adjustments to her sleep schedules (getting to bed earlier) and prepping for full days ahead. Once the
stress of studies enters the picture, it becomes imperative that we are managing time wisely and
prioritizing sleep and nutrition in our daily routine. We will have a few big team meetings the first
week of school to revisit some of the topics covered at camp so we ensure a successful school year and
season.
Next SATURDAY is our annual 2 mile trial. This is an important day to see how our summer training has
paid off and get some racing back into our legs before the first meet. We encourage parents to grab your
coffee and come out and cheer the team on! We will start the race at 7:00
AM — athletes must arrive by 6:30 for warm-up. Athletes are divided into 4 teams, and the
top 7 on each team will score points!
Congrats to one of our runners, Kennedie Hummel, for her fourth place finish in Diving at the
AAU National Championships!
STRONGER. FASTER. TOUGHER. CHAMPION MINDSET.
Carly Littlefield
LHS Girls XC — Updates, Camryn Benson
HELP! As we enter the end of summer and start heading into the new school year ... (did anyone
else's summer fly by??) ... I need your help with ensuring that our girls are getting the sleep they
need to rest and recover their bodies and brains. We have discussed at great length the importance of
nutrition and sleep ... but the action must happen. I need them getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep
each night — although 9 is preferred. Anything less is asking for injury. As school ramps
up and homework and other activities arise, time management becomes imperative. I will teach and preach
on my end, and I would greatly appreciate you giving some reminders at home as well.
All runners will need to get a physical over the summer and have this turned in by August 1st. A doctor
of your choosing will need to complete the UIL Physical form. You can scan and email a copy to our
athletic trainer andrew_smith@lovejoyisd.net.
Athletic Paperwork: All runners and parents will need to complete all of the LISD athletic paperwork.
Lovejoy XCTF Program Seeking Sponsors for 2025-26 Seasons
The generosity of program sponsors allows the Lovejoy Cross Country/Track & Field teams to meet their
financial obligations by supporting the high school and middle school teams during competition season.
As a business or family, you can support the program in a way that is
visible within Lovejoy ISD and surrounding communities.
Sponsorships help the Lovejoy Cross Country/Track & Field teams with uniforms, equipment, travel, meet
hospitality for coaches and trainers, spirit-wear, and team participation at community events including
Leopard Friday. It also supports team banners, trophy displays, award recognitions, season celebrations,
senior scholarships, and senior yearbook ads. Lovejoy is proud to have one of the largest and most
successful Cross Country programs in the State of Texas. The Track & Field program continues to have
state qualifiers every year!
Four sponsorship levels are available for companies and sponsors:
Olympic $1000
Gold $500
Silver $250
Bronze $100
The deadline for becoming a sponsor is August 6th.
Your booster club membership supports both the XC and Track & Field programs. Our goal is 100% family
participation!
Different membership levels are available. Membership is per family. If you have athletes at
both LHS and WSMS, you only need to join once at the High School level. Booster club members should be
prepared to volunteer at one fall event and 3-6 hours in the spring. We need you.
Membership dues and donations enable the club to provide season celebrations for Willow Spings and LHS
runners,
senior scholarships, uniforms, meet equipment, meet hospitality and more.
Join in for simple steps:
Click +ADD to indicate the type of membership you'll be purchasing.
Indicate if you'd like to make an additional donation to the Club. All donations benefit the XC & TF
teams.
Complete the membership form.
Check out (a small processing fee will be included).
Please contact the 2025-2026 VP of Memberships, Bridgette Muaina, if you have any questions.
XCTF Booster Club Board
Here is 2025-2026 Lovejoy XCTF Booster Club Board ...
Lovejoy's Region and District alignment for fall 2025 has not changed.
McKinney North, Prosper Walnut Grove, and Melissa will provide the most serious competition again this
fall.
Anna
Denison
Greenville
Lovejoy
McKinney North
Melissa
Prosper Walnut Grove
Sherman
Click HERE to
see the official UIL Conference 5A district alignments.
LHS XC Boys — Angel Fire Camp Recap
We had a great week in Angel Fire this past week! This was one of our best camps in terms or how it was
structured this year and the amount of opportunities our teams were able to interact with each other.
Thanks to Coach Littlefield for the idea of putting our runners on teams for the camp for competition
and activities. Thanks to coach Müller for helping me organize the team challenges and leading those
challenges. It was a great addition to our camp this year!
The homerun message that I talked about with our runners this week was Consistency is Key. To
get the most out of your running, be consistent!
CLICK
HERE for the camp photos taken by Coach Müller.
Logan Kelly cell: 903-821-8399
LHS Girls XC — Camp of Champs Recap
We had a great week at camp! We had some great team meetings and lectures, and the team has set some big
goals and are ready for an amazing season ahead!
Here's the early info on the annual summer running camp for Lovejoy Boys XC. This camp is for incoming
freshmen and returning LHS runners. Runners are highly encouraged to attend if they plan to run for LHS
next school year. See below for details!
RSVP
CLICK HERE to let me know if you
plan to attend or not — you can select yes or no on the google form. Please RSVP by November
30th, 2024. This form is for me only and not shared with the camp organizers.
Current 8th Graders
I highly encourage the incoming freshman to attend this camp if they plan to run in high school. It is a
great way to get to know their teammates and the program. I spoke to the boys about this at the team
breakfast the other morning. Coach Mueller will be continuing practices two times per week this winter
and he will be working with our runners again in track season. We are super excited about having his
help at WSMS. Let's keep their success from the XC season going! Our high school program just qualified
for the State Championship for the 17th year in a row and won their 9th Regional Championship in a row.
We are looking forward to adding this talented and hard working 8th grade class to the High School
program next year!
