LAMPASAS, Texas — The Belton New Tech Dragons competed Friday, September 4, at the Floyd Farms Invitational in Lampasas, but this was no ordinary cross country meet. Heavy rain soaked the course, turning the hills and trails of Floyd Farms into a muddy, slippery mess and creating some of the toughest racing conditions the Dragons will see all season.

On a day like this, times went out the window.

This race was about toughness, determination, and simply finding a way to keep moving forward. Every hill, turn, puddle, and stretch of mud presented another challenge. Shoes were soaked, footing was uncertain, and runners crossed the finish line covered in mud—but with a story they will be able to tell for years.

It was less about chasing a personal record and more about experiencing the race of a lifetime and making memories as a team.

The Lady Dragons battled through the conditions in the two-mile race, led by freshman Nyla Mathews, who finished 48th in 15:37.57. Sophomore Ellie Megoulloa followed in 60th with a time of 16:44.68, while junior Daniella Idumebor placed 67th in 18:36.08.

Freshman Melyann Tort-Negron fought through the mud to finish 70th in 19:49.16, and freshman Julisa Bedolla-Martinez completed the course in 23:05.91, finishing 73rd.

Girls 2-Mile Results
48th — Nyla Mathews, FR — 15:37.57
60th — Ellie Megoulloa, SO — 16:44.68
67th — Daniella Idumebor, JR — 18:36.08
70th — Melyann Tort-Negron, FR — 19:49.16
73rd — Julisa Bedolla-Martinez, FR — 23:05.91

The Dragon boys faced an even longer challenge, taking on the 5K course in the same rain-soaked conditions.

Sophomores Daniel Zubaty and Zorian Hajduk led the Dragons with an outstanding back-to-back finish. Zubaty crossed in 38th place at 23:19.27, with Hajduk right behind him in 39th at 23:21.26—less than two seconds separating the teammates.

Senior Zane Trusky finished 57th in 27:07.20, followed closely by fellow senior Desmond Long, who placed 60th in 27:20.91. Sophomore David Martinez finished 63rd in 28:21.33, while sophomore Ezra Valantine rounded out the Dragons in 65th with a time of 28:48.

Boys 5K Results
38th — Daniel Zubaty, SO — 23:19.27
39th — Zorian Hajduk, SO — 23:21.26
57th — Zane Trusky, SR — 27:07.20
60th — Desmond Long, SR — 27:20.91
63rd — David Martinez, SO — 28:21.33
65th — Ezra Valantine, SO — 28:48

The conditions were so difficult that runners throughout the Floyd Farms Invitational had to adjust their expectations. Reports from the meet described mud throughout the course, rain, hills, and difficult footing, with coaches placing far more emphasis on competing and handling the conditions than on finishing times.

For the Dragons, that made Friday's race something special.

Cross country isn't always about the clock. Sometimes it's about finding out how tough you are when conditions are at their worst. The Dragons and Lady Dragons answered that challenge Friday by continuing to compete when the course became a muddy obstacle from start to finish.

The times may eventually be forgotten, but the Floyd Farms mud race of 2026 probably won't be.

It was wet. It was muddy. It was miserable.

And it was exactly the kind of cross country race that makes memories for a lifetime.