Keller 2018 graduate Julia Abell (formerly Julia Black) was announced as a new hire for Texas A&M track and field/cross country as an Assistant Coach. Head Coach Pat Henry told the 12thman.com, "as a true veteran of the cross country team, she will work directly alongside coach (Wendel) McRaven in developing the next great set of distance runners in Aggieland. Julia has been an athlete with our (Texas A&M) program for the last five years, she's a Texan that I believe will be a perfect hire as both a coach and recruiter."
Abell recently completed her eligibility on Texas A&M's cross country and track and field teams. Henry said, "Julia has developed into one of our best distance runners in program history and is a school record holder in the steeplechase."
She qualified for the 2023 NCAA West Division Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase. During her Aggie career, Abell turned in Texas A&M top-12 all-time performances in three events, the 3,000m steeplechase (No. 1), indoor 5K (No.10), and indoor 3K (No. 12).
Related Links:
Henry Adds Joe Sarra and Julia Abell to Coaching Staff
Abell completed her studies at A&M with a bachelor's degree in agricultural communications and with her master's degree in business. She made the SEC Spring and Fall Honor Rolls four times and made the 2021 USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic Team.
As a prep, she competed as Julia Black for Keller from 2015 - 2018. She helped Keller finish third place as a team at the UIL 6A state cross country meet and went on to help lead them to the 6A state titles in both 2016 and 2017. The 2016 Keller squad finished 15th at NXN and was fourth overall as a team in 2017.
Individually, Abell finished in fifth place at the UIL 6A state cross country meet in her junior season junior and then was the runner-up finisher her senior year at the state meet.
