The Coppell High School cross-country teams delivered standout performances at the highly competitive UIL 5-6A Championship in Denton. With strong individual efforts and solid team placements, all four teams finished in the top five. From Varsity Boys’ star Pranav Vegiraju securing a podium finish to Maya Easterwood leading the Varsity Girls, Coppell athletes left their mark on an exhilarating day of racing.
Individual and Team Highlights
Top Performers for Varsity Boys (UIL 5-6A Championship):
- Pranav Vegiraju - 3rd Place, 15:05
- Rohit Kalpathy - 16th Place, 16:16
- Grant O'Neal - 17th Place, 16:19
- Team Placement: 3rd Place
Coach Wren expressed his pride in the boys' performance:
"Finishing 3rd and qualifying for Regionals in this tough district is no easy feat. While we didn’t achieve our goal of winning district, I told the boys to be proud of qualifying. There are many schools that would love the chance to compete at Regionals. It’s another opportunity to keep improving, and we’re confident that, with a strong race, we can still qualify for State. Pranav ran one of his best races this year, securing 3rd overall."
Top Performers for Varsity Girls (UIL 5-6A Championship):
- Maya Easterwood - 2nd Place, 16:52
- Mallory Sherrer - 15th Place, 19:20
- Annie Reeder - 24th Place, 20:13
- Team Placement: 3rd Place
Coach Wren praised the Varsity Girls, saying:
"We aimed for a top-three finish to qualify for Regionals, and the girls gave it their all. Although we tied for 3rd place with Hebron High School, we lost on a tiebreaker. Despite that, I couldn’t be prouder. Mallory, Avery Fishman, and Annie stepped up when we needed them most. Maya Easterwood ran her best race of the season, clocking 16:52 and finishing 2nd—an amazing time, among the top 15 in the nation. She will compete at Regionals in Lubbock on Oct. 21."
Top Performers for JV Boys (UIL 5-6A Championship):
- Rodrigo Abrego - 4th Place, 16:33
- Tanish Neelapu - 8th Place, 17:10
- Sam Meier - 9th Place, 17:12
- Team Placement: 2nd Place.
Coach Wren shared his excitement for the JV Boys:
"I’m incredibly proud of our 2nd place finish. The boys gave it everything, and many set personal records. With talented youth like Rodrigo, Tanish, and Sam, the future looks bright for our team."
Top Performers for JV Girls (UIL 5-6A Championship):
- Ava Garcia - 27th Place, 21:27
- Rhea Bala - 32nd Place, 21:40
- Akshaya Ashokanand - 39th Place, 22:02
- Team Placement: 5th Place
Coach Wren commended the JV Girls' efforts:
"We placed 5th in a very competitive field, and several girls ran their best times of the year. I was particularly impressed with freshmen Ava, Rhea, and senior Akshaya, Many of our other freshmen also ran well."
Coach Wren’s Overall Reflections
Out of 71 runners, 38 achieved personal records (PRs) in their 5K races on Friday—22 girls and 16 boys ran their best times of the season. I couldn’t be prouder of how our team performed and competed. Now, we look ahead to Regionals, where our 8 qualifiers will race for a spot at State.
Looking Ahead
As the cross-country season nears its conclusion, Coppell teams have shown incredible growth, determination, and teamwork since their journey began in August. Next up are the Region 1-6A Championships in Lubbock on Oct. 21, where the runners will compete for a chance to advance to the State 6A Championship in Round Rock. For those who qualify, it will be the ultimate test of endurance and skill. Until then, the Cowboys and Cowgirls are focused on finishing strong.
Go Cowboys! Go Cowgirls!
Contact Information
For more details or to support the team, please contact:
Patricia Chi
Email: chi.patricia@gmail.com
Phone: (469) 831-3709