Cross Country Races for the State Title

Cross Country competes in the TAPPS 4A State Championships.

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Photo by: Elise Mckeller

Cross country runners take a picture after their races.

Nicholas Catullo, Staff Writer

On Monday, October 31, the McKinney Christian Academy cross country teams competed in the TAPPS 4A State Championships in Waco. Each team is allowed to bring the top 8 boy and girl runners to represent their school. The varsity boys team included juniors Nicholas Catullo, David Roller and Wyatt Tessier, freshmen Adam Gicheru, Colton Miller and Dane Johnson, sophomore Jack Sukhia and senior Nate McMahon. The girls team consisted of freshmen Jadyn Chastain, sophomore Joy Allen, Junior Grace Krause, and Seniors Belle Kanz, Josie Allen and Abby Thomas. The Varsity boys race started at 9:15 a.m. while the girls race started at 10:25 a.m. The first runner across the line for the Mustangs was Roller coming in eighth place. The next runners up were Sukhia and Catullo. The boys team finished up in ninth place out of 29 teams. The girls team started with Kanz coming in 16th place followed by Allen and Krause. Following the race, head coach Rhett Mckeller said, “I think State is always a reward for both the coaches and the runners. The size of the meet, the atmosphere, and the excitement never dulls from year to year.  I think the standout runs this year were Jack Sukhia, placing 29th overall and getting a PR, Nate McMahon going out with a bang his senior year with a PR run time, and Joy Allen who had been battling ankle issues but managed to be our 2nd runner for points and ran a season record.” The team finished up their season and is looking forward to next year.

Junior Grace Krause looks ahead to pass an opponent. (Photo by: Elise Mckeller)
Freshmen Adam Gicheru finishing his race. (Photo by: Elise Mckeller)