3.
Keller (Texas) High has even bigger aspirations in 2017. The program finished 15th at NXN, second at NXN South, and won UIL Class 6A. It returns its top seven runners and also adds a valuable transfer in Cambria Clark, who comes from Smithson Valley. The team is loaded up front with Abbey Santoro, who finished third at UIL 6A a year ago. Learn more about the squad below.
Probable Top Seven:
- Abbey Santoro, senior: second at district, second at region and third at UIL 6A, running a season PB of 17:23.99. She finished third at NXN South and was 64th at NXN.
- Julia Black, senior: third at district, fifth, at region and fifth at state. She ran a season PB of 17:39.28 and was 11th at NXN South.
- Isabel Van Camp, junior: sixth at district, seventh at region, and 11th at state. She ran a season PB of 18:11.25.
- Vera Thompson, sophomore: seventh at districts, 25th at region, and 14th at state in a season PB of 18:21.03.
- Cambria Clark, junior: the transfer from Smithson Valley was first at District 27, fourth at Region 4, and 23rd at state. She ran a season PB at McNeil in 18:02.26.
- Sydney White, senior: ran a season PB of 18:51.58.
- Makenna Pallozzi, sophomore: ran a season PB of 19:09.08.
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Keller (Texas) High head coach James Zaring answered a few questions about his upcoming season. See his answers below.
How long have you coached at your school?
I'm starting my eighth year.
What is your meet schedule this fall?
- Aug. 26: Greenhill 6 Mile Relay, Norbuck Park, Dallas
- Sept. 2: Marcus I Invitational, North Lake Park, Denton
- Sept. 9: Southlake Carroll XC Invite, Bob Jones Park, Southlake
- Sept. 16: Guyer Wildcat Prowl in the Park, South Lakes Park, Denton
- Sept. 23: Debbie G - Keller Invitational, Indian Springs MS, Keller
- Sept. 30: Chile Pepper Festival, Fayetteville, AR
- Oct. 5: District Warm-up, The Buff, Haltom City
- Oct. 13: District 3-6A Championships, The Buff, Haltom City
- Oct. 23: UIL Region I Championships, Mae Simmons Park, Lubbock
- Nov. 4: UIL State Championships, Old Settlers Park, Round Rock
- Nov. 18: NXN South Regionals, Bear Branch Park, The Woodlands
- Dec. 2: NXN, Portland, OR
How has your summer training gone for your team? What do you focus on during the summer months?
Training has been great. We focus on mileage, flexibility and overall fitness
Which athletes do you see as the probable top five this season?
Abbey Santoro, Julia Black, Isabel Van Camp, Cambria Clark, and Vera Thompson.
Who are your team captains or leaders and what stands out about them as examples for the rest of their teammates?
Abbey Santoro, Julia Black, Natalie Ryan, and Frances Klein. Our team voted for these young ladies based on their leadership abilities. They are examples of positive role models, both in and out of the competition arena.
Who are some new faces who will make an impact on your team this year (i.e. freshmen, transfers, runners who have improved a lot)?
Cambria Clark -- transfer from Smithson Valley, Texas.
What are some staple workouts your team does during the season?
Mile repeats, speed ladders on hills.
What will be the biggest reason why your team is successful this season?
Unity. This group is not concerned about who is No. 1. They are the true meaning of team.
What will be the biggest obstacle or challenge facing your team this season?
The past. We worked really hard to achieve our goals last year, and trying to keep them focused will be our main obstacle.
How would you describe your team's culture?
Family. These girls hang out together, go rock climbing, go to movies together. They make the entire team -- from the fastest to the slowest -- feel like they are truly important and part of the team.
What are your top three goals for the team this fall?
- Win the UIL 5A championship
- Win the NXN South Region
- Score a top-five finish at NXN
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Top Returning 5K Times From The 2016 XC Season
| AVERAGE | Keller (TX) | |||
| 17:23.99 | ||||
| 2) Julia Black | 17:39.28 | |||
| 18:11.25 | ||||
| 18:21.03 | ||||
| 18:51.58 | ||||
| Average Time: 18:05.43 Total Time: 1:30:27.13 1-5 Split: 1:27.59 | ||||
| 19:09.08 | ||||
| 19:25.55 | ||||
Top Returning 1600m Times From The 2017 Outdoor Season
| AVERAGE | Keller (TX) | |||
| 5:00.45 | ||||
| 2) Julia Black | 5:05.55 | |||
| 5:11.67 | ||||
| 5:23.00 | ||||
| 5:31.32 | ||||
| Average Time: 5:14.40 Total Time: 26:11.99 1-5 Split: 30.87 | ||||
| 5:33.12 | ||||
| 5:29.00 | ||||
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| Flo50 Rankings Timetable | |||
| Aug. 19 | 25 -- Pine Crest, FL | Aug. 22 | 10 -- Centerville, OH |
| Aug. 19 | 24 -- Riverside, SC | Aug. 23 | 9 -- Great Oak, CA |
| Aug. 19 | 23 -- Palos Verdes, CA | Aug. 24 | 8 -- Mountain Vista, CO |
| Aug. 19 | 22 -- Bozeman, MT | Aug. 25 | 7 -- Jesuit, OR |
| Aug. 19 | 21 -- Billings, MT | Aug. 26 | 6 -- Davis, CA |
| Aug. 20 | 20 -- North Rockland, NY | Aug. 27 | 5 -- Buchanan, CA |
| Aug. 20 | 19 -- Saratoga Springs, NY | Aug. 28 | 4 -- Broomfield, CO |
| Aug. 20 | 18 -- Fort Wayne Carroll, IN | Aug. 29 | 3 -- Keller, TX |
| Aug. 20 | 17 -- Mountain View, ID | Aug. 30 | 2 |
| Aug. 20 | 16 -- Naperville North, IL | Aug. 31 | 1 |
| Aug. 21 | 15 -- Blacksburg, VA | Sept. 1 | Final Rankings |
| Aug. 21 | 14 -- Cardinal Gibbons, NC | ||
| Aug. 21 | 13 -- Johnston, IA | ||
| Aug. 21 | 12 -- Edina, MN | ||
| Aug. 21 | 11 -- Carmel, IN | ||