Isaiah Billingsley crosses the finish line at the 2021 Woodbridge XC Classic
Class 1A
Cherish Dunlap (Utopia) has the top time of the season (12:54) in Region 4-1A. Fitting since she is the reigning regional champion. She is ahead of the 13:01 pace that won her last year's race. Charli McCabe (Medina) is the closest runner timewise, checking in with her 13:07 SB.
The qualifying teams from Region four will come down to who has the best day. Four teams have about equal chances to win the regional title.
Medina has the fastest times of the season based on averages, but their 2:18 split is what keeps them from being the for sure champion. Round Top Carmine isn't as fast as Medina on paper with their 14:23 team average, but they compete very well as a team. Their 49 second 1-5 split gives them a shot to win the region.
Nueces Canyon also has a chance to win and should definitely qualify to state. They have a 14:28 team average and if they can get a good day from their number two and three spots they can take the title.
Tilden McMullen is under their new coach (Billingsley) for the first season. His state championship pedigree will make the regional race interesting. His team has a 14:32 average and if he can get the three and four runners to have a big day the region title could be theirs.
Region 4-1A literally got the best move-in transfer in the state. Isaiah Billingsley won the 2020 state meet and has a 14:56 mark on record from way back in September.
Several guys are already running ahead of last year's regional winning times. Jack Collins (Knippa) -17:23, Brandon Timms (Tilden McMullen) - 17:30, Cole Fenhaus (Fayetteville) 17:34, and Jose Ventura (Lasara) - 17:42.
The biggest adversary for them all will be physical, but also conditional. . . .weather conditions.
Tilden McMullen should win the team title by far. They should get one point from their two low sticks and the rest should compliment them.
Fayetteville, Goodrich, and San Perlita could get the other positions, but Knippa will make a quality push.