John Cooper School launches cross country season

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY After Two Meets Canceled, Season Finally Starts!

9/9 Rosehill Christian Cross Country Challenge at Spring Creek Park, Tomball (recently added event)

Boys 5^th (12 teams) • Girls 5th (13 teams)

What a great start the cross country season…finally! After their first two meets were cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey, Cooper was finally able to compete in the Rosehill Christian Cross Country Challenge held at Spring Creek Park in Tomball.

“Our kids have trained hard and we were in desperate need of a meet, if only for a payoff or purpose for all of their hard work,” said Coach George Dohner.

This meet was a telling meet for Cooper as they squared off against two of their Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) competitors–both St Johns’ and Kinkaid’s schedules were also affected by the hurricane, so it was the first meet for all. Cooper did well finishing in fifth place in a field of 12 boys’ teams. The Cooper girls also finished in 5^th place in a field of 13 teams.

Cooper’s top boy finishers were Mitchell Shannon (12^th), Eli Araya (14^th), Will McDermott (23^rd), Brian Ross (25^th), Erik Burns (26^th). Other finishers and running very well were, Cadan Hansen and Andrew Mahler, who finished in 32^nd and 36^th place.

“The girls’ side also showed promise for a good season, competing without two of their top three runners, so a fifth place finish is very satisfying,” said Dohner.

Cooper’s top finishers were Paige Cromley (12^th), Madison Breaux (28^th), Katie Drake (30^th), Avriana Lisembee (32^nd), Uche Oguchi (34^th), and Shilpa Rumalla and Brooke DeMarco, who finished in 40 and 41^st place.

“This was a great first meet for us. The race that was just short of a 3200-meter distance,” said Dohner. “I was really impressed with this team, as five of our seven runners were competing in their first high school meet ever. One as a freshmen and four who were completely new to the sport. We are excited to see where this young team goes this year.”

Cooper’s next meet will be this Thursday, September 14, at the Willis Wildkat Invitational. The meet will be run at the Misty Meadows Girls Scout Camp in Willis. High School times will begin at 5:30 pm, with the freshman race. Varsity races will begin at 6:45 pm.