Coppell Cross Country had plenty to celebrate at the District 7-6A Championship on Monday, Oct. 12, at Myers Park in McKinney. The Cowboys and Cowgirls brought home three team championships, with the Varsity Boys, JV Boys and JV Girls all taking first place. The Varsity Girls finished third, earning a spot at the regional meet alongside the Varsity Boys.
All four Coppell teams came home with trophies, reflecting the hard work the runners have put in throughout the season.
“The kids attacked the course and left it all out there,” Coach Wren said. “Each kid had a race plan and nearly every one of them executed it perfectly. To run in 4 races and take home a trophy, 3 of them 1st place, is a testament of how hard our kids have worked this season. I could not be happier for them.”
Individual and Team Highlights
Varsity Girls Finish Third, Led by District Champion Maya Easterwood
The Varsity Girls finished third, securing their place at Regionals. Maya Easterwood led Coppell with a first-place finish in 18:44, becoming the District 7-6A individual champion.
Finleigh Sanders-Burk finished third in 19:56, giving Coppell two runners on the district podium. Rachel Stumm placed 13th in 21:02, followed by Angie Nguyen in 20th at 21:28 and Mirabelle Sagel in 23rd at 21:34.
Coach Wren knew the girls would face a close race for the regional qualifying spots.
“We knew going in that we could potentially finish anywhere from 1st to 4th,” Coach Wren said. “I felt strongly that we would qualify but knew we had to run well to do it. I was super proud of the girls' effort and race plan on the course. There was no denying them from claiming that regional qualifier spot.”
Easterwood's victory was especially meaningful after finishing second at District the previous two years.
“Maya has finished 2nd at the district meet the last two years, so I can't tell you how excited I was for her to finally finish 1st and become district champ,” Coach Wren added.
Varsity Boys Capture District Championship
The Varsity Boys claimed the District 7-6A Championship, placing five runners in the top 10.
Sidharth Kerthipati led the Cowboys with a second-place finish in 16:04. Itsuki Pena finished seventh in 16:39, followed by Alesh Khowala in eighth at 16:50, Abishek Suresh in ninth at 16:52 and Sam Meier in 10th at 16:54.
Diego Morales finished just behind them in 11th place with a time of 16:55, while Tanish Neelapu placed 17th in 17:33.
Coach Wren entered the meet knowing the boys had the talent to win, but he also knew they would have to execute their race plan.
“We knew that we were the most talented team going in and should win the championship,” Coach Wren said. “However, I've been a coach for a long time and seen plenty of teams not win that were supposed to. This group wouldn't be denied, though. They executed our race plan perfectly and dominated the competition. They ran like the favorites that they were. Finishing 5 runners in the top 10 is quite impressive.”
District All-District Honors
Several Coppell Varsity runners also earned All-District recognition. Athletes finishing in the top 10 received First Team All-District honors, while those placing 11th through 20th earned Second Team All-District honors.
First Team All-District
Varsity Girls:
- Maya Easterwood — 1st
- Finleigh Sanders-Burk — 3rd
Varsity Boys:
- Sidharth Kerthipati — 2nd
- Itsuki Pena — 7th
- Alesh Khowala — 8th
- Abishek Suresh — 9th
- Sam Meier — 10th
Second Team All-District
Varsity Girls:
- Rachel Stumm — 13th
- Angie Nguyen — 20th
Varsity Boys:
- Diego Morales — 11th
- Tanish Neelapu — 17th
JV Girls Take District Championship
The JV Girls won the district championship with an impressive team score of 25 points, placing six runners in the top 10.
Sabrina Wright led the Cowgirls with a second-place finish in 22:24. Vanini Agarwal finished fourth in 22:48, followed closely by Hannah Stumm in fifth at 22:49. Avery Arthur placed sixth in 22:57, Adeline Mendola finished eighth in 23:01, and Shrriya Bedse placed ninth in 23:28.
Avery Fishman finished 14th in 23:57, followed by Charlotte Baade in 18th at 24:33 and Kate McGrath in 19th at 24:35.
“The JVG turned in the 2nd most dominating performance of the meet by scoring 25 points,” Coach Wren said. “Six girls finished in the top 10. This really speaks to the depth we have on the girls' team. A number of these girls would've run varsity in previous years. Our goal was to win district, and we did it in dominating fashion. Happy for them!”
JV Boys Secure District Championship with Perfect Score
The JV Boys turned in one of the day's most memorable performances, winning the district championship with a perfect team score of 15 points.
Coppell swept the first five individual places, led by Isaiah Assefa, who won the race in 17:16. Vihaan Sahni finished second in 17:30, followed by Cannon Stehly in third at 17:48, Rigved Nehere in fourth at 17:49 and Marco Noyola in fifth at 17:54.
Vihaan Sharma added an eighth-place finish in 18:22, and Ahan Kothalkar placed ninth in 18:39, giving Coppell seven runners in the top nine. Lukas Stumm finished 12th in 18:54, followed by Colten Karstendiek in 14th at 19:02.
“The most dominating performance of the day was turned in by the JV Boys,” Coach Wren said. “The boys scored a perfect score of 15 points and had 7 runners in the top 9. It simply was an incredible performance. Our boys' team is extremely deep and this race proved that.”
Coach Wren also credited the work the runners have put in throughout the season.
“The work they have put in this year led to that success yesterday,” he said.
Individual and Coaching Honors
In addition to Coppell's three team championships, several individuals received special recognition for their accomplishments this season.
Maya Easterwood — Meet MVP
Easterwood was named Meet MVP after winning the Varsity Girls district championship in 18:44. After finishing second at District in each of the previous two seasons, she earned her first district title and helped the Cowgirls qualify for Regionals.
Alesh Khowala — Newcomer of the Year
Khowala earned Newcomer of the Year honors after moving up to varsity competition this season. His eighth-place finish in 16:50 helped the Cowboys capture the district championship and reflected the progress he has made throughout the year.
Coach Landon Wren — Boys Coach of the Year
Coach Wren was named Boys Coach of the Year following a season that saw the Varsity Boys capture the district championship and the JV Boys earn a perfect score of 15 points at District. The honor recognizes his leadership and the work behind the boys program's success.
Looking Ahead to Regionals
With three district team championships, multiple All-District selections and individual honors, Coppell now turns its attention to the next challenge.
Both Varsity teams will travel to Lubbock for the regional meet on Monday, Oct. 26, where they will compete against some of the top teams in the state.
“We look forward to running at the regional meet in Lubbock on Monday, October 26, against some of the top competition in the state,” Coach Wren said. “Our boys and girls will be up for the challenge.”
Congratulations to all the Cowboys and Cowgirls on a successful District Championship!
We’re proud of their efforts, and we’ll keep pushing forward until the next race!
Contact Information
For more details or to support Coppell High School’s Cross Country program, please contact:
Patricia Chi
chi.patricia@gmail.com
(469) 831-3709