The 2023 Southlake Carroll Boys Cross Country team during a post race interview with Texas Mile Split. (L to R) Caden Leonard, Blake Bullard, Alex Severson, Griffin Cords, Brady Golomb, Ryan Van De Berghe, Zach Troutman and Jude Alvarez.
The Southlake Carroll cross-country teams ended their 2023 regular season by winning the varsity elite championships at the Nike South Invitational in The Woodlands on Saturday.
Taking home gold in the varsity elite race, the boys team is currently ranked fifth in the country. Meanwhile, the girls varsity elite team outran a major contender, landing them in ninth place nationally.
Sophomore Caden Leonard achieved top individual honors in the varsity elite race, winning with a time of 15:06. Senior Jude Alvarez placed third overall (15:23) while senior Zach Troutman finished seventh (15:27). Following closely behind are juniors Blake Bullard in 10th (15:31), Alex Severson in 13th (15:38) and Griffin Cords in 14th (15:41). Senior Ryan Van De Berghe rounded out the Dragons’ finishers in 41st place (16:16).
The varsity elite girls prevailed over two-time reigning state champion Flower Mound, led by junior Elizabeth Smits in 10th place at 18:02. She was followed by Alexandra Walsh in 12th (18:15), sophomore Vanessa Vezga in 20th (18:29), junior Sarayu Veluri in 24th (18:42) and senior Sylvia Schwedler in 28th (18:56). Seniors Charlotte Martin, 35th (19:01) and Julia Gassett, 43rd (19:15), as well as junior Gabriella Tesoriero, 81st (20:14), rounded out the Dragons’ runners.
The 2023 Southlake Carroll Girls Cross Country team gather for a post race photo. (L to R) Alex Walsh, Vanessa Vezga, Julia Gasset, Elizabeth Smits, Sylvia Schwedler, Sarayu Veluri and Gabriella Tesoriero.
Senior Carter Haskell also led the varsity boys to victory with a fourth-place finish with a time of 16:23. Sophomore Michael Fuller finished 11th (16:37), followed by juniors Ryan Krasinski, 16th (16:43) and Caleb Lo, 17th (16:44), as well as senior Michael Kovach in 38th (17:03).
Junior Carmela Bell steered the varsity girls in placing 12th at 20:24, followed by seniors Kylee Cusick, 28th (20:50.3), Sophia Wilwayco, 29th (20:50.7), Lucy Pettigrew, 56th (21:34) and Lauren Sims, 75th (22:01).
“This was a great final tuneup before the district meet,” head coach Justin Leonard says. “We faced some of the best teams in the state today, and it was good for our boys and girls to see what it takes to come out on top.”
The postseason begins on Thursday, Oct. 12, where the Dragons will host the District 4-6A meet at Bob Jones Park. The boys seek their fifth consecutive state championship, while the girls aim to improve on last year’s runner-up finish at state.