Emmanuel Sgouros (L) and Sahil Dodda (R) ran PRs in Huntsville, Alabama on Saturday
Last year, we saw private school and parochial school athletes run extremely well with three of them qualifying for national championship meets. Yesterday, two SPC juniors had themselves quiet a day at the RunningLane National Cross Country Championships.
Sahil Dodda from Dallas St. Mark's School of Texas and Houston St. Johns' Emmanuel Sgouros both ran the races of their lives. Without having a SPC meet to draw a conclusion to their season, these two Texans took their talents to Alabama to compete against some other top runners in the nation.
Dodda ran a 15:04.17 to finish 40th overall at the meet, which would ranks him No. 5 in the state of Texas. He had a previous best of 15:30 this year from the Greenhill Distance Festival. That time might also be a new SPC All-Time record.
Sgouros also got in on the fun with his new PR of 15:21.69 to rank him No. 25 in Texas for 2020. He had a previous PR of 15:44 at the Houston Area Prep School Cross Country Championships earlier this season.
The RunningLane National Cross Country Championships was a blazing fast meet producing some of the fastest times in history. Jenna Hutchins ran the fastest time by a girl in history when she ran a 15:58 for the high school XC National Record.
Then, American Fork HS (UT) ran the fastest 5K team average in history with a 15:00.99. Also, 69 boys ran under 15:20 in the race.
To have two Texas athletes take advantage of the atmosphere is quite the accomplishment, especially after having their 2020 track season and their state cross country meet taken from them by COVID.
Can't wait to see what's to come for these gentlemen on the track!