Among the current dynasties in Texas Cross Country lies Providence Classical, a 2A TAPPS school located in Spring, Texas. Since 2020, its boy's squad has won four consecutive state titles while the girls have captured three straight crowns. And yet, few cross country fans have heard of this powerhouse.
When scrutinizing this year's returning roster, it's not a stretch to see Coach Trina Jones' harriers returning to the top of the podium, sweeping for the fourth consecutive season.
25.5.
Over this four-year run, the Paladin boys have averaged 25.5 points per season at the TAPPS State Cross Country Championships. To say they're dominant is an understatement. The second-place team over this same period has averaged 75.5 points, three times as much.
The girls, on the other hand, are seeking their fourth straight team title, keeping pace with boys by scoring 23 last season to 62 for runner-up Shiner St. Paul. In their previous two seasons, the margins of victory were slight: 68-69 in 2022 and 56-58 in 2021.
What's even more impressive - unless you're an opponent - is that both squads return 5 runners from last year's state title teams. For the boys, this means 4 who finished in the top 9 [#5 finished 30th], and for the girls, all 5 finished in the top 16.
Steven Wimberly finished in a time of 17:14.46 at the TAPPS State Cross Country Championships, finishing third, one spot ahead of teammate Henry Stevens at 17:20.30. With below freezing temperatures and a muddy course, Wimberly crossed the finish line 1.26 seconds behind Southcrest Christian graduate Gabe Preston and 14 seconds behind the overall leader Ethan Locke of Valor Prep. Wimberly owns a PR of 16:35.30, and last season on the track, he captured the 2A 800 title (2:01.35), finished second in the 3200 (9:50.58), and helped the Providence 4x400 win the state title. He's poised for a strong senior campaign.
Henry Stevens, also a senior, has run 16:46.00, a PR he accomplished at the October 7th St. John's 42nd Maverick Ramble. After a track season that saw Stevens finish 2nd in the 1600 (4:38.25) and 3rd in the 3200 (10:08.15), don't be surprised if he and Wimberly both land in the top 3.
Kaeden Beno and Elijah Zuniga, both rising sophomores, finished 8th and 9th respectively at last year's TAPPS State Cross Country Championships, and with 3 of the top 7 having graduated (including 2 from Providence), there's an excellent chance that the Paladins may place four runners in the top 5 or 6. Both Beno and Zuniga set PRs at the 42nd St. John's Maverick Ramble, Beno in 17:18 and Zuniga in 17:09.
Luke Williamson, who finished 30th last season, is a rising junior ready to move into the top 20. He ran a PR of 19:01.6 on October 14th at the Covenant Christian Cougar Classic and helped Providence to a 6th place finish in the 4x100 at the TAPPS State Track & Field Championships.
When five girls who finished in the top 16 all return, you know you're primed for a fabulous season. Of those 16, the #1 overall finisher, Brooke Cerny of Shiner St. Paul has graduated, as have three others, including #11 Breanne Ohmes of Providence.
In second and third place respectively were Berkeley Scott and Savannah Goodwin who have an outstanding chance of claiming the top 2 podium spots in 2024. Scott completed the 2-mile course in a time of 13:40.82 and Goodwin finished less than a second behind in a time of 13:41.33.
At the September 15th Texas A&M Invitational, Berkeley ran a 13:10.2 PR. She also finished 6th in the 800 at the TAPPS State Track & Field Championships and helped the Lady Paladins to a victory in the 4x400. Goodwin also ran track, specializing in the 100, 200, and 400.
Isabelle Eppers, a rising junior, finished 6th last season, setting a PR at the TAPPS State Cross Championships - 13:52.20. Eppers also ran track, finishing 5th in the 400, 6th in the 4x200, and 1st in the 4x400.
Kennedy Lynch finished in 7th place, one spot behind her teammate, Isabelle Eppers. The rising senior also set a PR at the Texas A&M Invitational, an impressive 13:09.30. No stranger to the track, she finished 3rd in the 100, 6th in the 4x200, and 1st in the 4x400.
[Are you starting to notice a pattern that several of the Providence ladies enjoyed great success on the relays, training for speed on the cross country course?]
Rising senior Hannah Mann set her PR at the 2022 TAPPS State Cross Country Championships, blazing a time of 12:32.00. In 2023 Mann finished 2nd in the 3200 in a time of 13:28.16.
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With seven titles over the last four seasons, Coach Jones has learned how not to let complacency set in and steal the motivation and inspiration for another state title. This season, as crazy as it sounds, has the potential to be as special as any of the last four - if not more so - and in their tiny corner of Spring, Texas, that's saying quite a lot!
2023 BOYS GIRLS
28 - 1st 23 - 1st
54 - 2nd 62 - 2nd
2022
25 - 1st 68 - 1st
67 - 2nd 69 - 2nd
2021
27 - 1st 56 - 1st
97 - 2nd 58 - 2nd
2020
22 - 1st 84 - 2nd
