Gold Rush: Cross Country Teams Race To 5A Crowns

ROUND ROCK — What a finish.

The Carroll Dragons boys’ and girls’ cross country teams have dominated the competition all season and completed their journey with the ultimate finish — state championships. Saturday morning in Round Rock, Carroll captured the Class 5A state championship in boys’ and girls’ cross country.

The boys’ finished in record-setting fashion producing five runners in the top 10. Carroll’s winning total of 20 points was the lowest in the history of the 5A state meet. The girls’ finished with a team score of 34 points and Humble Kingwood was second (48 points) and Marcus ended third.

Following the incredible performances, both teams jumped into Old Settler’s Park pond to celebrate. It marked the girls’ first title since 2008 and fifth in Class 5A since 2005. This was also a milestone for the boys’ program, marking the first title in school history.

“I told my runners, ‘Today is our day, we will not disappoint,’ ” Carroll cross country coach Justin Leonard said. “People came to see if we were for real. And we are.” 

Both Carroll teams erased the heartbreak of last season’s finish at the state meet when the girls finished third and the boys were second. The Dragons’ top finisher was Nate Sullivan, who claimed fifth overall. And his teammates weren’t far behind — Ben Golestan (6th); Joe Sansone (8th), Trevor Gilley (9th) and Jordan Chavez (10th). The five runners left little doubt atop the leaderboard as a distant second-place Houston Strake Jesuit ended with 110 points.

For the Lady Dragons, Courtney Krieghauser led the way and edged out The Woodlands’ Madie McLellan for second place. The Lady Dragons earned three spots in the top 10 as Shelby Chapin was sixth and Felice Johnson was seventh.

“We left everything on that course and came away with gold,” Leonard said. “I am proud of each and every one of them.  They gave it their all throughout the season.”

Varsity Girls (34 pts.)- 1st

2nd place- Courtney Kriegshauser: 11:23.50

6th Place- Shelby Chapin: 11:29.80

7th Place- Felice Johnson: 11:31.40 

13th Place- Julia Sunderland: 11:43.70

18th Place- Rachel Harper:11:47.90

25th Place- Allison Naval: 11:54.30

36th Place- Sarah Roe: 12:03.70

Varsity Boys (20 pts.)- 1st

5th place- Nate Sullivan: 15:40.30

6th Place- Ben Golestan: 15:40.50

8th Place- Joe Sansone: 15:47.40

9th Place- Trevor Gilley: 15:51.90

10th Place- Jordan Chavez: 15:53.20

15th Place- Alexander Johansson: 16:07.10

25th Place- Connor Hendrickson: 16:25.90