SPC 4A Boys Recap: Whiteley Bermeo Wins, St. John's Repeats

2025 SPC 4A Boys Cross Country Championship - Individual Race Recap

In a thrilling showdown of tactical brilliance and late-race grit, Oscar Whiteley Bermeo of St. Stephen's Episcopal (Austin) emerged victorious in the 2025 SPC 4A Boys Championship, running a decisive 15:55.30 to claim the title. It was a massive performance from the junior, who improved upon his 4th place finish in 2024 and outdueled pre-race favorites Will Pacey of Houston Episcopal and Andrew Wasserman from Houston St. John's

Pacey, the top returner from last year and the only sub-15:30 runner in the field this season, set a controlled but honest pace early on, pushing the front pack through a quick opening mile. But Bermeo bided his time and made his move over the final kilometer, closing hard in the humid Tomball conditions to separate himself from the rest of the elite contenders. Pacey would finish second in 16:13.20, still an impressive mark, and added another podium finish to cap off a stellar SPC cross-country career.

The St. John's duo of Wasserman (3rd, 16:29.60) and Asher Gurr (4th, 16:31.50) showcased the team's incredible depth and front-end firepower. Wasserman's transformation from 10th last year to a top-three finish this fall was one of the most impressive improvements in the SPC this season. Freshman sensation Gurr also made waves, finishing as the top ninth grader in the meet and giving St. John's a critical low score early in the team standings.

Rounding out the top five was Ben Oehler of St. Stephen's, who continued his reputation as a big-meet performer with a 16:33.00 mark. Oehler was consistent all season and delivered once again in championship conditions.

The next cluster saw fierce battles from Dallas St. Mark's, with Jackson Bailey and Nicholas Cho finishing 6th and 8th, respectively, while St. John's stacked two more inside the top 10 with Henry Caputo (7th) and Horatio Wilcox (9th). Rounding out the top 10 was freshman David Dunwoody of Kinkaid School, who delivered a breakout performance in 16:51.20, firmly establishing himself as the top freshman in the conference.

SPC 4A Boys Top 10 Individual Finishers

2025 SPC 4A Boys Cross Country - Team Race Recap

Coming into Tomball, St. John's Houston was viewed as the team to beat, and they delivered in dominant fashion, securing their second consecutive SPC 4A team title with an emphatic 34 points. Led by a remarkably tight 1-5 pack split of just 23 seconds and a scorching team average of 16:41, St. John's executed their signature pack-running strategy to perfection. With four runners in the top 10-Wasserman (3rd), Gurr (4th), Caputo (7th), Wilcox (9th), and a strong fifth in Nico Laskaris (11th), there was little room for anyone else to contend with the Houston powerhouse.

St. Stephen's Episcopal (Austin) took runner-up honors with 60 points, led by individual champion Whiteley Bermeo and top-5 finisher Oehler. Despite strong performances, a wider 1-5 spread of 1:43 and a fifth scorer in 23rd limited their ability to match St. John's depth.

The bronze went to Dallas St. Mark's with 65 points, just five back of St. Stephen's. St. Mark's front three of Bailey (6th), Nicholas Cho (8th), and William Cho (13th) gave them a strong base, and their 48-second 1-5 split was the second-tightest of the day.

Houston Episcopal, despite a strong individual showing from Pacey (2nd), settled into fourth place with 92 points. The gap between their second and fifth runners proved too large to keep pace with the podium teams, though David Farrell (29th) and Walker Vaden (18th) provided solid depth.

Kinkaid School finished fifth with 128 points, bolstered by an impressive freshman debut from Dunwoody (10th). Their team average of 17:52 and a 2:06 1-5 split showed they are a team with potential, particularly with youth leading the charge.

Greenhill and Houston Christian rounded out the team standings in sixth and seventh, respectively. Greenhill's tight pack (1:27 split) and top scorer Jack Marshall (21st) kept them competitive, while Houston Christian's 210 points showed they are still in rebuilding mode but gaining experience.