Men's 1600m heat 8
Andrew C, Kavin, Karthi, and Ray
Cross country, just like every other fall sport is going to look different this year. The UIL has dictated that cross country meets will be limited to eight teams on the course at a time. There are also other safety guidelines in place for the athletes, coaches, and spectators during each and every competition.
The first event of the Coppell cross country season was an officially timed 1600 meter run on the track at Carroll High School in Southlake on September 5. Event participants were limited to Coppell, Keller Timbercreek, and Southlake athletes. Athletes showed up in masks, respected social distancing as much as possible, and competed in heats of 15-19 individuals. Coach Benton is staying focused on the positive. He is so happy the team was able to compete. March 7 was the last time Coppell was able to race against another team.
Coppell Cowgirls placed 2nd with a team score of 61. The Women’s 1600m time trial was broken down into 7 heats. Senior Chloe Hassman was Coppell’s top finisher, she placed 2nd overall with a time of 5:09. She was followed by Morgan Colon (6th, 5:21), Natalie Fleming (5:40), Louisa Ehinger (5:41), and Reezon Eke (5:42). Hanna Noyola (5:50), Avery Hancock (5:53), and Catherine Navarro Gutierrez (5:58) also had strong 1600m races.
Coppell Cowboys placed 1st with a team score of 33. The Men’s 1600m time trial was broken down into 9 heats. Senior Evan Caswell led Coppell, he placed 2nd overall with a time of 4:21. Teammates Rith Bhattacharyya (3rd, 4:22), Colin Proctor (5th, 4:23), and Vedant Bhattacharyya (7th, 4:27) were right on his heels. Andrew Mullen (4:33), Kavin Chengavarayan (4:41), and Raymundo Aguirre (4:46) rounded out the top finishers.
Another positive was many of the athletes were able to come away from the time trial with a new personal record. Coach Benton notes that most of the top teams in the area have now competed in 1600m timed trials. This event gave the team a good idea of where they stand and specifics to work on as the season moves forward. Next on the schedule is the Marcus 2 mile at McAuliffe Elementary on September 19.