2017 UIL 5A State Meet Preview: How Fast Will London Run?



Virtual Meet Previews: Boys | Girls

State Championship Boys 5-A Preview

Who: Teams:  Lucas Lovejoy, Grapevine, Georgetown, Rio Grande City, El Paso Austin, Frisco Wakeland

Why: Lucas Lovejoy won the 2016 title and they did it in a convincing manner. They only scored 59 points and the nearest competitor scored 103. Someone close to the program told me even though they graduated their #1 Grant Tiff that the team is even better this season. They have definitely been running like that is a real possibility. They'll be coming in with a 15:59 average and their 33 second split makes them even more dangerous. Lovejoy has run themselves to a Flo50 #9 ranking. 

The challenge will come from any of the four teams listed above. Grapevine, Frisco Wakeland, and El Paso Austin all finished in the 3, 4, 5, spots last season, so expect them to be hungry for better outcomes this year.

Individuals: Get this, there are 35 boys in 5A who have run 16:00 and under this season. That is a crazy stat that tells how good of a race this could be. Almost any of those guys can place in the top ten. One of the top returners from last season will be recent Rice commit Ace Castillo from Corpus Christi Tuloso Midway. Castillo has placed second individually each of the last two seasons. He will no doubt be hungry for the title. He will have a battle on his hands as super sophomores GRAYDON MORRIS of Aledo and MICHAEL ABEYTA fro El Paso Hanks will be also eye balling a state title of their own. These two guys are two of the most talented youngsters in the nation. They battled at the Region I meet a few weeks agon and Morris out ran Abeyta by only four seconds. Last year, as freshmen, Morris finished 3rd and Abeyta 6th at state. Both guys are big races tested as Morris qualified for the Foot Locker Nationals last year and Abeyta won the 1600m at state last spring.

Virtual Meet Previews: Boys | Girls