Kai McCullough and Gavin Chapa race at the 2024 Lovejoy Fall XC Inv.
As you probably well know, the boys cross country season is almost absurd. The teams are fast and the individual performances are even faster.
It's is almost at epic proportions.
The once unheard of sub 16-minute team average that became the formula to winning a 6A state title is almost a regular occurrence. Not only are the 6A teams doing it, but so are 5A and 4A teams and even a homeschool team has ventured into those waters.
Not to disclaim anyone specifically, but we all know the national narrative around Texas cross country course measurements.
The popular thought is we measure short. While that is no doubt by chance happening at times, the simple fact is that many courses in the state are flat. However, some aren't and runners who compete on them don't have the sub 15-minute and low 15 performances.
So, how do we know who the best are and which times are legit?
The answer is the McNeil Invitational. It's the one place teams from all across the state have the most interest in competing at. It brings South Texas teams, North Texas teams, those from East Texas, as well as West Texas and even beyond that to El Paso. Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio worlds will all collide on Round Rock.
Here are some of things on the boys side we are looking forward to.
Boys Teams Outlook
Vandegrift
Austin Vandegrift is ranked second in the latest CCCAT 6A poll. They clearly had a good off season training block and they've been the most impressive team in the state all year long.
If you take their runner's SB performances, it leads to a 15:09 team average with only a 43-second spread.
Their seven best runners are entered to run, so we will get to gage their capability on the state meet course.
Round Rock
The Round Rock Dragons are scheduled to compete and they are a dangerous team. This meet is in their home team, so expect them to be spoilers of hopes for teams travelling in.
Round Rock is ranked No.9 in the CCCAT poll and they also boast a healthy team average and spread. At each runner's best, they can run in the 15:46 range with a 33-second gap.
McKinney Boyd
Boyd was one of the best teams in Texas last year and despite graduating some very talented runners and Joaquin De La Cruz who has a 14:52 PR is their leader and they can count on him for single digit points.
They have run a 15:50 team average, they're getting better and threatening every week to get closer to the state's best.
Coppell
The Cowboys have also reloaded their tool box. The CCCAT No. 10 ranked team touts one of the top runners in the state of their own in Pranav Vegiraju. Vegiraju has a 14:59 PR on the season.
Coppel has a 15:47 team average of their own that will be key to watch this weekend.
McAllen
McAllen is the first 5A team in our preview and they are a fascinating team. They are ranked No. 4 in the CCCAT poll and seems to be one of the more versatile teams in 5A.
They have a 16:21 average that is dwindling by the week and their spread is a mere 33-seconds.
Waxahachie
The Indians are another sub 16-minute averaging squad. They are the No. 8 ranked 6A team in the most recent CCCAT poll and their 15:52 team average is legit.
Graham Scott is their lead runner and the rest of the squad helps produce a slim 45-second gap.
Boerne Champion
The Chargers are the No. 3 ranked 5A team in the state. They have two sub 16-minute guys in Charlie Houck and Luis Tovar and then Caleb Dehart at 16-even.
The team average is only a 16:05 and they have their spread just over a minute.
Summer Creek
Humble Summer Creek isn't the first school you think about when it comes to distance runner. Heck it isn't even the first school in their district. If we were talking sprints, hurdles, throws, etc, then they'd be your school.
Nevertheless, Summer Creek has a nice team and are trying to get it to the state meet this fall.
The Bulldogs didn't get into the Gold race and unfamiliarity might be the reason. They might change that with a good race this weekend.
Their No. 1 runner on the team this season is sophomore Da'Juan Allison and qualified individually for the state meet along with senior Michael Menke.
Allison has a 15:43 SB this year to go along with his brother Ja'Juan Allison has a 16:05 SB, Menke has gone 16:34 and Caden Perry has a 16:35 SB.
Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass is another team who has state meet aspirations and is a lot like Summer Creek. Eagle Pass will have to duel with several Region 4-6A teams and this weekend will go a long way to how they'll be set up this weekend.
They have a 16:25 average and their 57 gap will give them a solid chance.
Katy Tompkins
Tompkins has a solid average and gap time. Carter Maloy has the fastest time this season with a 16:00 and teammates Diego Reyes At 16:03 and Mathias Pitzel at 16:04 give a big 1, 2, 3.
This weekend, they'll get to compete against teams outside of Houston and on a different kind of course.
Keller
Keller is another team who has been through the DFW gauntlet. However, they have sharpened themselves against that competition versus folding.
The Indians are led by their two wub 16-minute runners Anthony Abeyta (15:24) and Boston Bowcutt (15:44). They help lead the 15:57 team average and have a 59-second spread.
Weslaco East
The Weslaco East boys had their heads on straight to begin the 2024 cross country season. They came out of the gates with two immediate impressive runs.
The No. 10 ranked 5A team has a 16:27 team average with only a 40 second gap. This team has a lot of freshman and sophomore runners will get good experience this weekend.
Grapevine
Grapevine finds themselves ranked No. 8 in the CCCAT 5A poll. It is for good reason as Andrew DeYoung and his Mustangs are ramping things up for the second half of the season.
DeYoung has a 15:53 SB to help the team produce a team average in the 16:22 range. Here's what else, they are an efficient pack running team. Their low 40-second spread will be on showcase Saturday.
Boys Individual Performers
Miguel Cedillo (Winona)
Cedillo has some fast times on this season including a 14:50 from last week's run at the Quitman Bulldog Invitational. Was it a true 5,000m course? Well we will find out if the sub 15-minute run is truly in him.
He is in the Gold race, so we expect an impressive performance from him either way.
Gavin Chapa (SA Reagan)
Chapa is fresh off his win at Lovejoy last weekend and it was in a cool 14:57 personal best. What does Chapa have for an encore?
Well, he is closer to home and coming off some collegiate visits, so his confidence should be high. His 1:52 and 4:09 speed make him a devastating finisher as we saw last weekend.
Hudson Haley (Austin Vandegrift)
Haley is the reigning UIL 6A boys runner-up individual finisher and he led the runner-up team finishers.
Haley hasn't run in a couple of weeks, but he is lacing them up this weekend. He ran has a 14:48 at the Marcus Coach T Inv.
Chris Creedon (LC Clear Creek)
Creedon recently ran 15:30 to win the Region III Preview Meet and is one of Houston's fastest runners. This is only like his third race of the year, so expect some pretty fresh legs.
He is in the same boat as Chapa when it comes to speed. He also ran 1:52 last year and 4:09. He was leading the 6A 1,600m last spring until the final 50m. That perspective that could be an advantage this fall.
Joaquin De La Cruz (McKinney Boyd)
De La Cruz is the leader of the surging McKinney Boyd crew that should make some noise this weekend in Round Rock. He is also one of the Lone Star state's best runners over the last two years.
The recent Texas commit has a 14:52 personal best run this season and could end up winning this race tomorrow. He was third in the 1,600m at the 6A state meet last year.
Kai McCullough (Vandegrift)
Vandegrift has not one, but two sub 15-minute runners on their team this year. McCullough is crushing it this year with his 14:53 best and 15:08 second best performance on the year.
He has his running mate back this weekend and they could tag team this race in a major way.
Pranav Vegiraju (Coppell)
I can't believe I'm saying this, but here is another sub 15-minute performer on the year. Vegiraju is the top Cowboy at Coppell thanks to his 14:59 run earlier this year.
He could have taken the week off last week, but his desire to compete wouldn't let him take off at Lovejoy. He is a front runner, so expect him to be within sight and striking distance.
Parker Noffz (Marcus)
Noffz is the real deal, but I don't think he gets the credit for how good he is. His 15:00 PR was just a couple of hundredths of a second away from making him another runner in the 14s this season.
That could very well change this weekend. The competition is here for him to do it as well are several runners from the very race he dropped his 15-flat.
Noah Strohman (Holliday)
When you see Noah Strohman, he could look more like a cornerback than a distance runner. However we know the dude has been one of the best going back to his middle school days.
He has a 15:14 season best run from the McKinney Boyd race where he was runner-up behind De La Cruz.
The back-to-back UIL 3A state champ will mix it up against the big boys again.
Miles Westbrook (El Paso)
Last year, it was Westbrook winning the 5A race at the McNeil Inv. He hopes to win again, but just the Gold division.
He is a legit runner, and get this, yet another on this list that has a sub 15-minute run this season. He ran 14:55 at the Canutillo Inv.