Faith Academy cross country ready for state
CAPTION: The 2025 Faith Academy of Marble Falls girls cross country team are the District 3-3A champions of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. The runners are Eden Thames (back row, left), Selby Sanchez, Emerson Price, Zoe Rhoads, Jasmine Young, Abby Kosoglow; assistant coach Juliette McCannon (front row, left) and head coach Steven McCannon. Courtesy photo
The Faith Academy of Marble Falls cross country runners are ready for their final race of the year – the Class 3A state meet of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The girls run at 9:40 a.m. followed by the boys at 10:35 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco.
Both teams are taking momentum from the District 3-3A meet hosted by Faith Academy Oct. 18.
The Flames won the boys district title by scoring 36 points. Second-place finisher Temple Central Texas Christian scored 38 points.
Faith freshman Seamus Rasmussen paced the Flames by finishing the three-mile course in 19 minutes and 46.88 seconds to take bronze in the individual standings. Freshman Colton Mason was fourth in 20:30.56, senior Beau Steele came in eighth in 21:38.70, freshman Joel Stein was ninth in 22:20.37, and senior Adam Merlick finished 21st in 28:53.58.
“We weren’t sure that we could win the boys’ side, so for those guys to come together — three freshmen and then two seniors — it was just wonderful to win by two points,” head coach Steve McCannon said. “We always talk about how close track meets or cross country meets can be, and then to see it play out and get a win – it’s awesome.”
He believes Rasmussen and Mason will use the results of the district meet as fuel for the state meet.
“They have the potential,” the coach said. “We’ve actually only had one boy ever get in the top 10, Jett Murphy. If they have a good day, they both could make the top 10.”
The Lady Flames also won the district championship by scoring 27 points to San Antonio Keystone’s 31.
Though Keystone took gold and silver in the individual standings, McCannon pointed out all five of his runners finished in the top eight. The other three Keystone runners were sixth, ninth and 14th.
“For the girls side, same thing,” he said. “We knew it’d be really close with Keystone. They did get first and second in the team scoring. (Because) they (went) first and second, you’re going to have to find some ways to make that up.”
So many times in cross country, the runners who decide the placements for the team standings are the fourth and fifth runners.
So even though Keystone was atop of the podium for one and two, Faith sophomore Abby Kosglow set the pace for the Lady Flames by finishing third in 15:18.09 on the two-mile course.
Senior Zoe Rhoads came in fourth in 15:33.54, sophomore Eden Thames was fifth in 15:58.25, sophomore Jasmine Young came in seventh in 16:49.72, and sophomore Emerson Price was eighth in 17:53.88.
“Our second, third, fourth and fifth runners really stepped up and made up the difference,” the coach said. “And that’s what I’m looking forward to at the state meet.”
He was especially pleased with Thames and Kosglow.
“Eden just really came on,” the coach said. “She was the only one to run her best time from all our athletes. And once again it’s neat because she’s the anchor for our (400-meter) relay. Our 4×1 anchor is over here helping out cross country and getting in shape. That’s one thing I love about cross country. It prepares the spring athletes for track. But really, it’s trying to stoke their competitive fire, and I’m seeing that in her.
“And then Abby was in the front for the first mile, so she’s still young,” he added. “Abby’s learning what it’s like to be near the front. She’s really come on this season.”
He has been studying the results from across Class 3A runners and noted that two Lady Flames can catch four runners at the state meet if they drop their time by 10 seconds. But two other Lady Flames aren’t catching anyone if they drop their times by 10 seconds.
“That just shows you the nature of the sport that every place really does count and you’ve got to take care of business, but the meet might require you to do even more than just hold your spot,” the coach said. “You might actually have to grab a couple other spots you didn’t think you could get to make up for maybe another runner that didn’t do as well.”
McCannon called the district meet “wonderful” because of the people working it.
“The volunteers all did a great job as a team,” he said. “The meet ran on time. So, whenever you host a meet, your No. 1 job is to start at the right time, so the athletes can prepare and the coaches can be happy.”
CAPTION: The 2025 Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys cross country team are the District 3-3A champions of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. The team includes Adam Merlick (standing, left), Beau Steele, Colton Mason, Seamus Rasmussen, J.R. Sain and head coach Steven McCannon (kneeling). Courtesy photo
RESULTS
District 3-3A
BOYS (26 runners)
3, Seamus Rasmussen, 19:46.88; 4, Colton Mason, 20:30.56; 8, Beau Steele, 21:38.70; 9, Joel Sain, 22:20.37; 21, Adam Merlick, 28:53.58
GIRLS (17 runners)
3, Abby Kosoglow, 15:18.09; 4, Zoe Rhoads, 15:33.54; 5, Eden Thames, 15:58.25; 7, Jasmine Young, 16:49.72; 9, Emerson Price, 17:53.88; 16, Selby Sanchez, 22:08
Faith Academy Cross Country Championships
Junior High
BOYS
6, Aiden Rodriguez, 14:21.90; 8, Cadyn Lash, 14:49.50; 14, Ben Mycue, 15:43.80; 17, Nash Ramsey, 17:01.50; 19, Parker McKinney, 20:26.60; 21, Justus Rasmussen, 23:24.70
