“Shabooya, sha-sha-shabooya, roll call!” The girls chant as the bus rolls down McNeil Road. The cheer has different purposes, depending on who you ask. It can be a stress reliever, a distractor, or an excitement builder. But it unites the team, just as they are united in their goal: run as fast as possible.

The District 13-6A track meet was on April 12-14 at Round Rock Dragon Stadium. The freshman and JV teams were district champions, and varsity placed fourth with several individuals and the 800 meter relay advancing to Area.

“Before my first race, I was super nervous because I knew I was running with a lot of upperclassmen,” freshman Julia Perry said. “I was just thinking about having a really good start and how much I had prepared all season for that moment.”

At the varsity level, the top four finishers of each event at District qualify for Area.

“I was kind of nervous, but overall I was excited,” sophomore Tobi Adebo said. “I was ready to get it over with, to just do it and try my best.”

Adebo was one of the Area qualifiers, finishing third in the 200 meter dash. Perry and Rozlyne Manor (9) advanced in the 300 meter hurdles. Also, Miki Romain (12) and Faith Tormusa (10) will be racing in the 100 meter hurdles.

“I was so excited to hear I had advanced, especially since I hadn’t advanced in any of my other events,” Perry said. “I was hugging Rozlyne and we were so ecstatic to be moving on to Area together.”

Sophomore Maddie Marrone advanced in the 3200 and 1600 meter runs, but will only be competing in the 1600. She said she wants to focus on the mile and try to advance to regionals.

Other qualifiers were Jade Jefferies (12), Aundrea Culliver (12), Adebo, and Kaymon Clark (11) in the 4×200 meter relay, Danielle Urban (12) and Haley Birt (11) in the Pole Vault, and Larissa Herold (11) in the 800 meter run.

Update: At the Area meet in Marble Falls on Thursday April 22, the girls came in fifth place as a team. The 4×200 meter relay, Birt, Adebo, Romain, Tormusa, Manor, and Perry placed in the top four and will be advancing to the Region II meet at Baylor on April 29-30.