Boys All-Time Distance Runners 40 - 31
40. Judson Greer - (Melissa) - Greer essentially only had a little more than his sophomore season to put himself on this list; that is saying a lot. Since his junior track season was just about all washed out due to COVID-19, this is a good spot for such a short resume. That resume has been padded already; as a freshman, Greer had top three finishes at the state meet in cross country, the 1600m, and the 3200m. He recorded the UIL 4A triple crown with state championships in cross country and the longest two distances on the track. His 3200m win came in a 4A state record of 9:06. This past fall, Greer took things to another level winning state in a 14:34.66 PR and then qualifying for NXN finishing 26th overall and winning Foot Locker South and finishing fifth at the Nationals. With PRs of 4:14.56, 8:56.99, and 14:34.66, Greer could potentially become the best runner in Texas history by taking his senior to another level.
39. James Webb - 2006 - 2009 - (Houston Strake Jesuit) - Webb took off in his sophomore year qualifying for state in cross country and track for the 1600m ad the 3200m. 1:56, 4:14.94, 8:55.39 and 15:19.40 in the 5K during cross country. His senior year, he medaled in the 3200m with his third place and 8:55.39.
38. Michael Abeyta - 2017 - 2020 - (El Paso Hanks) - Abeyta hit the high school scene rolling from the start. He qualified for state every season in all four years. His senior season was cut-off due to COVID-19 and that kept him from rising up this list. This year, he was already showing signs of a great track season to end his career. He falls into the same category as the Leon Manzano and Steve Magness types that can run it all, but could be mile specialists and we would have seen that this year. His PRs of 49.90, 1:52.64, 4:16.40, 9:13.89, and 14:34.61 in cross country prove that he can run it all. Perhaps the only things keeping Abeyta from being a Top-10 runner is the premature end to this season, which kept him from running the sub 4:10 and sub 9:00 needed to do it as well as the absence of a quality finish at a national level. Abeyta was one of the most exciting runners to watch!
37. Tim Cousins (The John Cooper School) - Cousins is the second runner from The John Cooper School on this list. The SPC star was another athletic runner who could run a full range of events. His 1:57, 4:12.41, 8:56.13 (2 mile), and 15:57 5K in cross country show of his talents.
36. Cole Lindhorst - 2017 - 2020 - (Katy Tompkins) - Lindhorst started in TAPPS as a freshman, but jumped over to the public schools for the competition level and that turned his up. As a junior, Lindhorst began to drop his times to elite status. He won the 2019 UIL 6A state meet in the 1600m with a 4:07.41 and was third in the 3200m with a 9:01.54 and he has a 15:10.05 5K PR in cross country. COVID-19 ended his senior year before he really got momentum going outdoors. The question is what could Lindhorst have done with a complete senior year? He could have pushed for close to 4:00 and sub 9:00, which could have boosted him into the Top 10.
35. Cruz Gomez - 2016 - 2019 - (PSJA Memorial) - Gomez had some wheels. The South Texas star grew beyond his town and the borders of the state during his senior year. His PRs of 1:58.63, 4:13.64, 9:02.17, and 14:48.66 cross country 5K proved his range and talents. Gomez qualified for every state meet in his career and then went national. Junior year, he qualified for NXN and then medaled in both the 1600m and 3200m at state. Senior year, he qualified for both NXN (65th) and Foot Locker Nationals. He won Foot Locker South and then finished 34th at Nationals. He returned in track season to win his first state title with his 3200m win
34. Brian Gohlke - 2008 - 2011- (The Woodlands College Park) - Gohlke had a breakthrough his junior track season when he qualified for the state meet in the 1600m. From there, he had a runner-up finish in the 2010 cross country season. From there, he wen on to qualify for NXN where he finished eighth overall. His PRs of 4:14.62, 9:01.47, and 15:17.63 make him one of the top distance runners in Texas history.
32. Stacy Sutter - 1982 - 1985 (McCullough/The Woodlands) - Sutter is one of several runners with ties to The Woodlands on this list, and for good reason. Sutter had an unbelievable cross country season in 1984. He was able to help his team to a big team title, but his individual performance was just as classic going 14:54 on the old state meet course, which was extremely difficult. He got the victory over one of the best runners in Texas history Ruben Reina. From there, Sutter qualified for Foot Locker Nationals with his South Region win.
31. Crayton Carrozza - 2016 - 2019 - (Austin St. Stephens) - Carozza is another athlete cut from the Leo Manzano and Steve Magness cloth. His PRs range from 49.71, 1:50.38, 4:11.79, 9:15.93, and 15:25.60 in cross country. Carrozza racked up the SPC state championships and led his St. Stephens' cross country team and track teams to several state championships. Unable to compete much during his senior season due to age stipulations, he managed to finish fifth at the Texas Relays against college and professional competition. His inability to compete in a fourth year of high school track and turn out some even bigger marks, specifically the 1600m and 3200m is the difference in a Top 10 ranking on this list.