REBEKAH JAMES - CROSS COUNTRY COACH OF THE YEAR 2016, 2024
Rebekah James - Randall
Why Honored: James has coached cross country for over 15 years. Over that time, she has led her teams to eight state tournament appearances, earning the title of State Champion three times. One of those three, being in 2016, when James led the Lady Raiders to a state title.
James was honored as the Texas Girls' Coaching Association's Girls' Cross Country Coach of the Year for 2017, her second time being honored.
In the 2023 season, James led the Lady Raiders to the Class 4A state championship, following a third place finish in 2022. James and her team finished with 50 points, edging our Fredericksburg's 61. Four of James' runners finished in the top 18, led by state runner-up Nayomi Granados.
Quotable: "I'm pleased to see the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame finally honor cross country as a sport. There have been so many deserving coaches before and I hope to represent all of those coaches with this great honor. I think we were picked to finish third at state but the girls ran the race we planned starting out behind Prosper and passing them on the third mile. Karyss is so competitive and was our leader. She would do anything for the team over individual accomplishments."
- James
