Melissa High School Lady Cardinal state cross country team

Melissa High School junior, Abi Bass, won first place and set a new course record at the UIL 4A Cross Country State Meet on Nov. 6 in Round Rock, after winning both the district and regional championship titles for the 2021 season. Bass finished 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up, with a time of 11:07.2.

This was the Lady Cardinals' first trip to the state meet as a team in nearly a decade. Earlier this year, the team placed third at the district meet, followed by a fourth place team finish at regionals where each of the girls set personal-best records. At state, the team finished in the top 15.

"After a strong year of rebuilding in 2020, these girls were more than ready to release their full potential on every course they ran on this season,” said coach Zach Hernandez. “Steadily progressing each meet, the girls continued to grow closer to one another, in addition to growing closer to our goal of making it to state."

Competing this year for the Lady Cardinals were Maddison Alldredge, Abi Bass, Emma Bass, Rhoby Day, Melody Gallo, Tori Tauch, Cali Tenney, and Kaylee Vaughn.

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