The District 13-4A Cross Country Championships were pushed back a day Thursday due to weather concerns.

The meet will instead begin today at 10 a.m. in Mount Pleasant with varsity girls, followed by the varsity boys, junior varsity girls and junior varsity boys.

The top three teams and top 10 individuals advance to the Class 4A Region II Meet on Nov. 7 in Arlington.

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Pair of local athletes

tabbed as award finalists

Two local athletes were named as Texas state finalists for the 2009 Wendy's High School Heisman Award on Thursday.

Marshall's Jonathan Tijerina and Jefferson's Kathryn McGee were each named as one of 20 statewide finalists.

According to a press release, "these finalists embody the Heisman spirit of hard work and dedication through their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and community/school leadership."

One male and one female will be named state winners on Nov. 7. The state winners will then go on to compete for the national title to be announced Dec. 11 in New York City during a televised ceremony on ESPN2.

More than 50,000 seniors applied nationwide for consideration for the award.

Tijerina runs cross country and track for Marshall while McGee plays golf at Jefferson.

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Former Marshall

standout earns award

Josh Crandell, a former Marshall cross country and track standout, earned his first collegiate cross country victory last Friday at Northwestern State's Demon Invitational.

In the process, Crandell, a freshman at Northwestern State, garnered the Southland Conference's Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

Crandell surged into the lead in the final 300 meters of a three-mile race, outrunning Mark Dotson of Xavier while posting his first collegiate win in 16:15.30. Dotson finished seven seconds back in second place. Crandell was one of seven Northwestern men's runners to place in the top 14 including three of the top five spots.

Crandell and the Demons will compete in the Southland Conference Championships in Corpus Christi on Saturday.

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Ladycats announce

playoff volleyball game

Hallsville announced it will take on former district rival Nacogdoches in a UIL Class 4A State Playoff bi-district game early next week.

The Ladycats will face the Lady Dragons at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kilgore's Bulldog Gymnasium.

Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for students.

Hallsville (31-7, 12-0) won its second straight District 13-4A championship after finishing unbeaten in league play.

The Ladycats shared the 2008 title with Pine Tree.

Hallsville will travel to Carthage today for a playoff warm-up at 5 p.m. at Bulldog Gymnasium.