University of St. Thomas Celts Cross Country is thrilled to reveal its 2024 schedule. The Celts are ready to make their mark in the SCAC as first-year Head Coach Walt Yarrow leads the Men's and Women's Cross Country teams.
Before joining St. Thomas, Coach Yarrow left an indelible mark on the athletic program in his coaching capacity at Katy Tompkins High School. As the Head Cross Country Coach since 2017, he has experienced a lot of success. On the Girl's side, his squad won the District Team and Individual Championship in 2022 before advancing to the state championship in 2022. On the Boy's side, Yarrow's teams secured the District title six times during his seven years, and the Regional Championship in 2017, 2018, and 2023. At the state level, Katy Tompkins has been represented at the UIL Championships every year from 2017-2023 and achieved a 4th place finish in 2017 and 2023.
St. Thomas will kick off their season on August 30th at the Stormy Seas Opener hosted by Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, where they will see other conference opponents, such as Concordia University and Texas Lutheran. This will be the first meet of six in an action-packed fall campaign before the Celts compete in the SCAC Conference Championship, hosted at Centenary College. These meets will test the Celts' endurance and tenacity. Head Coach Yarrow says, "Our team leaders have set a high standard and commitment to a strong summer of training, and I am excited to see them back on campus to start the journey with this team." This year's post-season NCAA West Regional Championship will be hosted by Lewis & Clark in Estacada, OR.
Leadership
The Celts return most of their runners from last year and add six new faces. With a mixture of newcomers and veterans, they are ready to compete. This combination of talent will help the team perform better and work well together. "We have a remarkable group of runners who understand the commitment and effort required to represent UST. Their passion and dedication to the sport is inspiring, and I am proud to coach these student-athletes," according to Coach Walt Yarrow. "I look forward to seeing how our efforts collectively translate to success this season."
The Celts are led by Jhancarlos "JC" Carpio, who is a returning senior. Carpio finished 11th in the 2022 SCAC Championship and 10th in the 2023 Championship. Carpio was the top runner for St. Thomas, who finished 3rd in the SCAC last season. Carpio will be supported by junior Marc Mendoza and sophomores Diego Moya and Mason McFeeters.
The Celt women will be led by senior Samantha Hernandez and a very strong sophomore class consisting of Alejandra Ramon, Elyssa Rodarte, and Kianna Stamps. Last year, the team also finished 3rd in the SCAC championship.
Save The Dates!
Join the excitement and cheer on the Celts as they begin their season. To view the full schedule, click here!