Every year, the cross country state meet takes place in Waco, Texas, bringing teams together from all across the state to compete in the TAPPS 6A division.

This season, the state competition occurred on October 27th, marking the beginning of this season’s cross country journey.

The TAPPS 6A division includes some of the largest and most competitive schools within the conference.

The course is tough, with sharp turns and steep hills that challenge the ability of every runner’s endurance.

Loretto’s cross country coach, Coach Joe, proudly sent three athletes to represent the school at state.

Junior Vivienne Colon ran an impressive race, finishing 118th, and said, “I was definitely more prepared.” 

Junior Isabelle Tovar placed 121st  and shared her motto, “Running with people faster than yourself will gradually make you faster.” 

Freshman Yingyu (Emily) Lang  finished 128th and said, “It was nerve-wracking because it was my first time running at state, but I got to bond with my teammates because we spent every day together.” 

The team was supported by junior Zaely Gonzalez, who served as a team manager, keeping everything organized and cheering on the runners.

Since the team consisted of only these three girls, there were not enough runners to qualify as a full team.

As a result, their main focus was on improving individual times. 

All three athletes showed dedication, teamwork, and pride in representing Loretto Academy, making the experience truly unforgettable.