Last fall, the Sachse boys cross country team became the first cross country team ever in Garland ISD to earn all-region honors at the Nike Cross Regional Meet. Photo courtesy Kacey Laughery
By David Wolman
The Sachse boys cross country team made history at the Nike Cross Regionals South meet in College Station on Nov. 25, 2025.
The Mustangs, running as the Sachse Running Club, earned 18th place out of 32 teams and became the first cross country team from Garland ISD to earn all-region honors in this prestigious event.
Although the event took place two months ago, head coach Kacey Laughery wasn’t made aware that his Mustangs had received all-region honors until a flag and notecard from Nike arrived in his mailbox two weeks ago.
“It’s something that I would have never dreamt of,” he said. “The kids worked so hard, and the kids deserved it.”
To earn all-region honors, a team has to finish in the top 20. The top two teams in the championship division — Carroll Cross Country Club and Venom Cross Country — earned automatic berths into the Nike Cross Nationals, which was held Dec. 6, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. Nike paid for the flights of the top two teams in each of the eight regions to fly to Oregon.
Dominic Richardson, last season’s District 9-6A cross country champion, earned 111th place with a time of 16:09 to pace Sachse in College Station. Samuel Ledbetter, a state qualifier during the fall 2025 cross country season, turned in the next-fastest time for the Mustangs. He placed 114th with a 16:10.7.
Sadiki Mburu (171st, 16:32), Henry Lesley (195th, 16:40.5), Ozzy Heredia (245th, 17:10.8), Grayson Redden (289th, 17:35.5) and Ryan King (322nd, 18:50.8) also ran for Sachse in the boys championship race, while Reese Deines (318th, 19:11.3), Austin Oliver (345th, 19:37.8), Brave Cook (360th, 19:46.8), Justen Manning (363rd, 19:47.8), Joshua Smith (391st, 20:37.9) and Jacob Green (392nd, 20:38) competed in the open race boys Division 1.
Overall, Sachse had 26 runners compete in College Station.
Abigail Leonard, a two-time state qualifier, turned in the highest individual finish on the day for Sachse. She placed 69thin the girls championship division with a time of 18:56.
Arora Dinh Ngo (147th, 19:44.3), Alicia Payne (239th, 20:55.9), Kaitlyn Herrera (267th, 21:37.5), Adeline Moss (268th, 21:37.6) and Maicen Keefer (288th, 22:22.8) also took aim in the girls championship race, while Brisa Morales (219th, 23:34.7), Brighton Cook (220th, 23:24), Madison Keefer (252nd, 23:59), Yazmin Mejia (284th, 24:38.2), Alyssa Castillo (295th, 24:49.6), Colette Leonard (321st, 25:43.9) and Emilia Mendoza (339th, 26:39.3) competed in the open race girls Division 1.
Last November marked the second consecutive year that Sachse competed in the Nike Cross Regionals South race. Two years ago, the Mustangs competed only in the open division.
“Next year, I feel that our teams will be even better,” Laughery said. “Dominic has run a 4:30 mile time, which is a PR by five seconds. The kids are doing amazing and running amazing PRs. I’m excited for the future of Sachse cross country.”
Sachse will continue to train while also turning its attention to the spring track and field season. Amongst the returners for Sachse in long-distance races are Ledbetter and Leonard, both of whom were regional qualifiers in the 1,600 and 3,200.
“I’m hoping that we have a great track season,” Laughery said. “There is a meet on Feb. 7 at Wylie High School which will have some of the best distance runners from across the Metroplex. But we’ve had several practices, and the kids have shown up, and there have been no complaints.”
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