The thunderstorms stopped just in time for the Coppell High School Cross Country team to kick off its 2016 season at the Hebron Friday Night Hawk Invitational at McInnish Park in Carrollton.  Several inches of rain made for a very muddy 2 mile course, but that didn’t stop the runners from proving how hard they have worked to get ready for this season.  Over 20 teams competed in three divisions with all of Coppell’s teams finishing in the top 4.    

Leading runners for the Coppell girls’ JV team were sophomore Jimena Benavides in 7^th place followed by freshman Gracie McKethan in 8^th.  The Coppell boys JV team, who took 1^st place overall,  had three top 10 finishers: Harvey Castro in 7^th place, Justin Chow in 9th and Christopher Figueroa 10th.  In the Championship division, three freshman girls led the way with Shelby Spoor finishing third in a time of 13:08.1, followed by Izzy Iseley in 5^th and Sydney Rowe in 9^th place.  Just as impressive were the Coppell boys in the Championship division who also took the team first place.  Sophomore Cole Lindbeck finished 2^nd with a time of 11:05.3 followed closely by Marcos Bohn in 3^rd and Grant Evans in 4^th.  The final race of the night was the Varsity Elite Division and Coppell did not disappoint.  Sophomore Maddie Hulcy was the top finisher for the Cowgirls placing 8^th in a time of 12:36.3 with Ardi Saunders following  in 12^thplace.  Coppell’s Elite boys were led by seniors Nathan Sims (10:31.5) and Alan Huo finishing in 9^th and 10^th place, just a second apart.    

Head Coach Nick Benton and his team travel to Waxahachie on Saturday, August 27 for the Woodhouse Invitational at Lakeview Camp .  Races begin at 7 am.