The Preseason MileSplit50 Top 25 Boys Rankings Countdown

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School: San Antonio TMI Episcopal

Year: 2024

2022 Notable Finishes: 38th at Champs Sports Nationals in 16:03.60; 9th at Champs South Regional in 15:01.42; 4th at NXR South Regional in 15:40.10; 2nd at TAPPS State Cross Country Championships in 15:29.20; 2nd at FSU Invitational in 15:09.80.

Analysis: Last year's cross country campaign was a breakthrough season for Parra, who, along with his twin brother Franco, flew through Texas with some impressive performances. 

In September, Marcelo was second in his debut at the FEAST Patriot Invitational in a personal record of 14:54.62 for 5K, then he won the Boerne Invitational the following month, was second at the FSU Invite a week later and was second at the TAPPS Class 5A Championship (15:59.20) on Oct. 31, just behind his brother, the pair finishing four seconds between one another. 

But Marcelo's season only ramped up from there. He qualified for both NXN and Champs Sports Nationals in November, finishing fourth and ninth, respectively, in those region races. Parra's final meet of the season came in December at Balboa Park in San Diego, where the Texan finished 38th at Champs Sports nationals in 16:03.60. 

Having accomplished much of everything he set out for in 2022, Marcelo might be out for round 2 in 2023.