The 2024 UIL Region I Cross Country Championship course had its rough patches, and Diego Morales had his own — losing a shoe early on in the race.
At Mae Simmons Park, built on an old landfill, the pathway was crowned with broken glass, rocks and Morales’s blood, sweat and tears.
Not only did he not stop, he did not waiver in his determination. Crossing the finish line with a battered foot, Morales had gone above and beyond to give his team a chance to make state.
“He had the team-first mindset,” Coppell coach Landon Wren said. “He sacrificed his body for his teammates, and that’s the kind of runner he is — the ultimate teammate.”
His sacrifice is not a one-time incident; it is visible in the miles he puts in every week and his widely-recognized status as a silent leader. Morales inspires fellow runners through his example, logging between 45-50 miles weekly.
“On the days that nobody goes out to run, he goes out and does it without anyone having to ask,” junior runner Jose Murillo said. “He went from being bottom of JV freshman year to being No. 1 on varsity now. That’s inspiring to the rest of us.”
Fellow junior runner Tanish Neelapu finds himself progressing to new heights through their shared time during practices.
”We both push each other when we run, and it makes both of us better,” Neelapu said.
However, this drive and relentless work ethic did not set the early stages of Morales’s career. He began his running journey with his father in the annual 5K Fun Runs at Andrew Brown Park East. Early on, Morales showed little interest in the sport.
“My dad forced me into running around fifth grade, and I stopped for a while after that,” Morales said. “It wasn’t until middle school when I joined the cross country program and got serious about running.
His father, Jose Morales, is no stranger to the difficulties of running, having the same family tradition instilled in him by his own father.
”My father would take us to a local park for running every other week,” Mr. Morales said. “I took it further than he did, and Diego has taken it further than I ever did.”
Currently, all five members of the Morales family participate in charity races together. Mr. Morales would initially match Diego’s pace during such races, but now, Diego has pulled ahead of his father in speed. Though the Morales’s no longer run together, their bond is woven into every stride Diego takes.
“When it’s the final stretch of the race, it motivates me a lot when I see my dad cheering me on,” Diego said. “It gives me that push to pass the next person and keep going.”
Despite multiple injuries within the past year, his willingness to work hard prevails in his meet results.
“He’s progressed even quicker than I thought,” Wren said. “He’s not the most vocal, but he’s intelligent, coachable and always willing to put the team first.”
Looking ahead, Diego is unsure of what his future holds. He may not continue with running despite his breakout success.
“I want to see what offers I can get,” Diego said. “If it’s somewhere good, I’ll try to stick with it a bit longer.”
For his father, the collegiate path is not the ultimate goal. Rather, it is the continuation of the family tradition.
“I’d love for him to keep it going,” Mr. Morales said. “It’s been something that’s kept us healthy and together as a family. It would be great if his kids could share the same passion he’s shown for it.”
Regardless, Morales’s future will continue to be shaped by the strength found in others, particularly his teammates who push him and his father who initially set him on this path.
“Every team needs a runner like Diego,” Wren said. “He doesn’t just run for himself, he runs for everyone around him.”
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