Laporte High School senior Ryan Schoppe was trying to be the first athlete in a while to win the UIL's largest division cross country state championship and the 3200m track and field championship in a good while. He accomplished the first half of it by winning the 2019 UIL 6A State Cross Country Championship back in November.
Schoppe was also shooting to tie the UIL state record of winning his third 3200m state championship on the track. That is a feat that had only been previously accomplished by three runners - 1984-1985 by Joey Chapman (Midlothian), 1984-1986 by Ruben Reina (San Antonio Jay), and most recently in 2005 -2007 by Colby Lowe (Southlake Carroll).
Although Schoppe has an impressive resume in the distance events, the Oklahoma State signee also has the makings of a good miler. He was runner-up last Spring in the 1600m with his 4:07.47 and then won the Adidas Boost Boston Games 1 Mile race last june in 4:09.15 over the top high school milers in the nation.