The Coppell Middle School North Cross Country team had an incredible showing at the Zone Meet, proving once again that hard work and Cougar pride pay off. The 8th grade girls kicked things off with a dominant performance, capturing first place overall as a team. They packed the top 10 with strong finishes from Angie Nguyen, who placed 2nd with a time of 13:15.82, followed by Kate McGrath in 4th at 13:46.81, Mirabelle Sagel in 6th at 13:52.65, Milleena Garcia in 7th at 14:17.25, and Brylee Felix in 8th with a time of 14:41.81. It was a true team effort from start to finish and a well-deserved first-place victory.

The 8th grade boys followed with an impressive performance of their own, showing depth and determination throughout the race. Austin Shelby led the group, finishing 8th with a time of 12:24.54, closely followed by Vihaan Sapkota in 10th at 12:27.76, Christian Bennet in 11th at 12:28.47, Paxton Nomura in 14th at 12:32.93, and Graham Burgess in 16th at 12:40.80. Their consistent pacing and teamwork kept North competitive in every stride.

Next up, the 7th grade girls took the course and completely stole the show. They not only claimed the top three spots but also placed all five scoring runners in the top nine, earning another first-place team finish for North. Leading the charge was Madeline Koehler, who finished 1st overall with a time of 13:09.71. She was followed by Karissa Hansen in 2nd at 13:59.01, Samvrita Sunil in 3rd at 14:08.80, Sansthigha Vasantharaju in 7th at 15:16.25, and Nithya Boppana in 9th at 15:27.77. Their performance was nothing short of dominant and showcased the bright future of North’s program.

The 7th grade boys wrapped up the day with another strong showing, finishing 3rd overall as a team. Caleb Rose led the way, taking 1st place with an outstanding time of 11:28.02, followed closely by Ben Peiffer in 2nd at 11:37.36. Supporting the team’s high finish were Preston Boucher, who placed 11th with a time of 12:35.44, Vivaan Naria in 17th at 13:21.59, and Ashmit Adhikari in 26th with a time of 14:05.57.
It was an unforgettable day for the Cougars, with both girls’ teams bringing home first-place titles and the boys delivering strong performances across the board. North Cross Country showed true heart, hustle, and determination—finishing their season with pride and proving once again why they’re a force to be reckoned with.