Floresville junior Kaden Cypert snagged a top 10 medal at the UIL state cross country championships on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas, matching his seventh-place performance from last year. But here’s the kicker: he did it battling a brutal iliotibial band syndrome.
This Kid Is All Grit, No Excuses
Seriously, this dude Cypert has been dealing with IT band syndrome since early October. That’s the kind of injury that messes with your knee and hip movement, making every step a grind. He finished the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 16.4 seconds, exactly the same ranking as last year. But last year, he clocked a faster 15:38.5. You’d think he’d be bummed about the time, but listen to this kid.
“It wasn’t exactly what I wanted,” Cypert said, “I’ve been battling injuries throughout the season. Honestly, I’m not mad. Same finish as last year. Top ten in the state. It could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse, too.” That’s the mindset of a true competitor right there. He knows what he’s overcome just to be on that starting line. Last spring, he won gold in the 1,600 meters in track, showing his raw talent when healthy. He’s got his eyes set on doing exactly that again.
“I’m glad I was able to race today,” he added, “I’m glad I was able to come back from it. Now, I’m looking forward to track. I definitely want to redeem myself. I feel like this (cross country) season, not that it was awful, but it just wasn’t what it could have been. And I want to make track really good for my own confidence.” You gotta respect that drive. He’s not settling, even after a tough season.
Molinar and Kellogg Showed Up Big Time
The UIL State Cross Country meet wasn’t just about Cypert’s unbelievable grit, though. Over in the Class 6A girls’ race, we saw some serious pushes. New Braunfels Canyon senior Madison Molinar and Churchill sophomore Mia Kellogg didn’t quite crack the top ten, but they finished 11th and 13th, respectively, which is huge for them.
Molinar’s late surge helped her lock in an 18:16.2 finish over 5,000 meters. That’s a personal best for her at the state meet. She’s been grinding for this, climbing from 62nd as a freshman and 34th as a junior. She went into Friday aiming for top-20, so hitting 11th is a massive win. “I was thinking about how it’s my last high school cross country meet, and I just wanted to enjoy the moment because I will never be back here racing again,” Molinar shared. “I just wanted to give it my all at the finish line.” She even caught two people at the end to get that 11th spot, which is a fantastic way to cap off her high school cross country career. She’s not planning on competing in college, so this was truly her last hurrah.
Right behind her, Mia Kellogg, a sophomore, clocked an 18:18.1. She also set a personal best at the state meet and made a monster jump from her 75th-place finish last year. Talk about a glow-up! The familiarity with the course and the meet itself clearly paid off for her.
So, what’s next? For Cypert, it’s all about that track season. He’s already talking redemption, and after battling through this kind of pain, you just know he’s going to come out swinging. Molinar ended her cross country journey on a high note, soaking in the energy of her final race. And for Kellogg? She’s only a sophomore, and after that kind of leap this year, you know we’ll be watching to see what she does next season. The future looks bright for these young talents, even if they’re fighting through the pain or celebrating their final moments.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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