El Paso Hanks: Michael Abeyta
Michael Abeyta runs to a 6th place finish at UIL 5A State Cross Country meet as a freshman
El Paso Hanks sophomore MICHAEL ABEYTA had a better than average freshman year. Abeyta stepped on his first high school cross country course and immediately made his presence felt. In fact, he didn't place lower than third all season until he got to state. At the UIL 5A State meet, he took 6th place and grabbed a 15:33.97 personal best on the season.
As a freshman, Abeyta gave it a shot at the post season with a run at the Nike Cross Nationals South Regional meet. He placed 22nd with another sub 16:00 5K performance.
On the track, Abeyta has shown the leg speed to go along with his endurance with his 52.12, 1:59.67, 4:17.29, 9:33.08 personal bests. He also has the big meet experience and has shown the ability to handle the big lights. As a freshman, Abeyta just won the UIL 5A 1600m title and at the Great Southwest Classic he took second in the 3200m and 5th in the mile , giving him more seasoning. With the endurance, speed, big meet experience, and a Texas state title, Abeyta has the weapons to make him a prime candidate to have a big sophomore season capable of hitting the national level.
LaPorte: Ryan Schoppe
Ryan Schoppe runs at the 2016 Region 3-6A Championships
Much like Abeyta, RYAN SCHOPPE hit the ground running in his freshman season. We learned early in the season who he was when at the Region III Meet Preview he went 16:38.80 for 4th place. From there, Schoppe ran an early 15:50.20. He also competed in some big meets with top ten performances at Texas A&M and McNeil.
He then went on to drop his 15:40.51 PR at district and had a top ten finish at the tough and senior laden Region III Championships to qualify for the UIL 6A State meet. At state, Schoppe had an Alex Maier freshman like finish with his 43rd place. More importantly, he had another sub 16:00 5K.
In the Spring, Schoppe displayed his leg speed on the track. He had a pair of 4:25 races in the 1600m with his best being 4:25.12. In the 3200m, his slowest time on the season was a 10:01.05. Schoppe strung together a season full of sub 10s topping out with an impressive 9:19.01 PR at Texas Relays and a 6th place finish at the UIL 6A state meet.
If Schoppe can have a strong off season and a little physical strength, he can definitely be an ideal sophomore candidate to make the jump to the national level.