TAPPS Cross Country State Meet Preview

William Grundy

TAPPS 3A Preview

TAPPS 3A Girls

With last year's state champion Ann Snider now at Waco High, that leaves runner-up Avery Owen (Dallas Lakehill Prep) as the top returner from last year. Fitting since she has one of the top ranked times heading into state at 11:56.30.

However, Amarillo San Jacinto Christian senior Caroline Karr has the top time with her 11:49.43 as she looks to improve on last year's sixth place finish.

2021 TAPPS 3A Girls Rankings

RANKTIMEATHLETE/TEAMGRADEMEET DATEPLACE
111:49.43
CAROLINE KARR
Amarillo San Jacinto Christian
2022
Plainview Invitational1st
211:56.30
AVERY OWEN
Dallas Lakehill Prep
2023
Hebron Friday Night Hawk Invitational10th
312:28.25
LESLI SALAS
McKinney Cornerstone Christian Academy
2023
Christoval CC meet1st
412:29.80
KAT HELMER
Waco Live Oak Classical School
2023
McGregor 10th Annual XC Invitational4th
512:32.90
AVERY JUNK
Denton Calvary Christian
2023
Jesuit XC Classic1st

The 3A girls team race was good behind Waco Love Oak Classical's win. Midland Classical, Denton Calvary, and Temple Holy Trinity were all within eight points of one another in the second through fourth place teams.

We could see another tight race tomorrow. It's Denton Calvary with the top team average heading into state with their 13:19 team average. 


TAPPS 3A Boys

Cullen McCaleb (Dallas Lakehill Prep) is the defending state champ and he is running like it. McCaleb has some very good runs on his senior resume including a 15:47 at the Jesuit XC Classic.

Zachary Kleppel and Kolbe Zuniga both of Spring Providence Classical could pose a threat to McCaleb. Kleppel has a 16:16 SB and Zuniga has a 16:18 SB.

Last year, Kleppel was as close as only two seconds behind McCaleb at the state meet and Zunica was able to finish fifth overall.

2021 TAPPS 3A Boys Rankings

RANKTIMEATHLETE/TEAMGRADEMEET DATEPLACE
115:47.90
CULLEN MCCALEB
Dallas Lakehill Prep
2022
Jesuit XC Classic8th
216:16.16
ZACHARY KLEPPEL
Spring Providence Classical School
2023
Cypress Christian Warrior Invitational1st
316:18.16
KOLBE ZUNIGA
Spring Providence Classical School
2023
Cypress Christian Warrior Invitational2nd
416:22.00
REAGAN LAYH
Midland Classical Academy
2023
Alpine Big Bend Mountain Ramble1st
516:27.00
GRAHAM YOUNG
Spring Providence Classical School
2023
Providence Classical Paladin HS Invitational1st


Last year, Spring Providence Classical ran away with the team title by only scoring 22 points. It would take a herculean effort to improve on that, but they just might running even better this season.

They have the season's best team average with a 16:47, which is 26 seconds faster than last year's team average.