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After tackling the rocky Greenhill course in last Saturday’s challenging 6-mile relay, our runners came into the Marcus Coach T Invitational on Saturday, August 31, more prepared and determined than ever. Despite fierce competition and challenging conditions, our teams secured several top finishes, including a 3rd place overall for Varsity Boys Elite and a standout 2nd place finish for Maya Eastwood in the Elite Varsity Girls 5K. 

Divided into three groups—Varsity Elite, Varsity Open, and JV Elite—our athletes faced a formidable course through forested trails, battling not just the difficult terrain but also the intense heat. Staying focused, controlling their pace, and maintaining a strong sense of direction were crucial. Navigating this unpredictable terrain demanded strategy, precision, and mental toughness, and our runners rose to the occasion.


 

Individual and Team Highlights

 

Varsity Boys Elite: 3rd Place Overall

 

Top Performers:

  • Pranav Vegiraju blazed through the course, earning 8th place overall with an outstanding time of 15:02, against a tough field of over 215 runners.
  • Rohit Kalpathy delivered a strong performance, completing his 5K in 15:48.

 

Coach Wren added, “The boys finished 3rd overall in a stacked field of schools.  We knew that this meet would give us a better idea of where we are as a team.  I was very pleased with how we ran.  I feel like we are in a better place than we were a year ago at the same point.  Pranav Vegiraju led the way with a 15:02 and an 8th place finish.  Rohit Kalpathy and Grant O'Neal ran very well also.  Jayden Benjamin and Ansh Singhal stepped up and did what the team needed them to do to round out the top 5.”

  

Varsity Girls Elite: 16th Place Overall

 

Top Performers:

  • Maya Eastwood dominated the field, finishing 2nd overall with an impressive time of 17:11, outpacing 162 other competitors.
  • Mallory Sherrer put in a strong performance, crossing the finish line at 19:16.

 

Coach Wren emphasized “We finished 16th overall in a very tough field of schools.  All the girls ran well on a tougher course than two weeks ago.  It was a great opportunity for the girls to run the district course and get a feel for what it'll be like a little over a month from now.  Maya Easterwood went toe to toe with Macy Wingard, the defending state champ, and finished at 17:11, just 5 seconds behind her for a 2nd place finish.  Maya was excited about getting to run against some of the state's best and definitely rose to the occasion.”

  

Varsity Boys Open: 2nd Place Overall

 

Top Performers:

  • Tanish Neelapu battled against 251 other runners to secure 13th place with a swift time of 16:50.
  • Rodrigo Abrego was right on his heels, also finishing with a time of 16:50 to claim 15th place.

 

Coach Wren remarked, “This group just missed winning the meet by finishing 2nd.  Rodrigo Abrego and Tanish Neelapu led the way for this group both running a time of 16:50. Sam Meier and Jose Murillo rounded out our top 4 by both running a 17:23.  I love the progress this group is showing.”

 

Varsity Girls Open: 19th Place Overall

 

Top Performers:

  • Avery Fishman led the way, finishing her 5K in 22:03, competing fiercely against 209 other runners.
  • Ava Garcia was right on Avery’s heels, crossing the line just two seconds later at 22:05.

 

“We finished 19th overall, but I loved the competitiveness of this group.  Avery Fishman, Ava Garcia, Rhea Bala, and Vanini Agarwal led the way.  Avery ran significantly faster than two weeks ago, and Vanini improved her time by nearly a minute.” Coach added.

 

JV Boys Elite: 7th Place Overall

 

Top Performers:

  • Hugh Harris and Ansh Patel were in perfect sync, both clocking in at 18:26, standing out in a massive field of 376 competitors.

 

Coach Wren praised the teams’ performances: “This team finished 7th overall.  Hugh Harris and Ansh Patel led the way for this group by both running an 18:26.  I was pleased with how this group competed.”

 

JV Girls Elite: 7th Place Overall

 

Top Performers:

  • Ishitha Mallidi put up a solid effort, finishing with a time of 23:23, against 285 runners.
  • Pragna Vykuntam followed closely, securing her spot with a time of 23:29.

 

Coach Wren remarked, “We finished 7th overall.  Ishitha Mallidi ran a much-improved race and led the way for this group.”

 


 

Looking Ahead

 

Coach Wren concluded: “This next weekend we will be a split-squad.  Our top runners will be running at the Lubbock ISD Invitational and our remaining runners will be running at the Southlake Invitational.  I look forward to both groups competing again this weekend.  The runners in Lubbock will be running on the regional course and the other runners get the opportunity to run on a fast course at Bob Jones Park.”

 


 

Our team showed incredible strength and determination on this challenging course. Despite facing some of the top runners, our athletes secured impressive top 20 finishes and demonstrated outstanding teamwork and strategic thinking. With this momentum, we’re excited to see how they’ll perform in the upcoming meets, including the Lubbock ISD Invitational and the Southlake Invitational. We're proud of their efforts and will keep pushing forward until the next race!


 

Contact Information
For more details or to support the team, please contact:


Patricia Chi
Email: chi.patricia@gmail.com
Phone: (469) 831-3709