Devon Judelson competes (4219) at the 2021 Southlake Carroll Inv.
2022 XC Preseason Articles
- - -
With the cross country coming up soon, most fans are aware of the names they read about, hear about, and have seen at the state meet and national level meets. However, with a new season, you never know who has been putting in the work to take the step to the next level.
We have a list of boys who are very talented yet may not be on your radar just yet. Nevertheless, these boys are ever-so-close to being all-state material and could very well be when November 5th and 6th roll around.
Check out the list to find out who either might be in front of you at the finish line or on your heels heading into the chute this upcoming fall.
- - -
Devon Judelson - (The Colony) - 17th @ UIL 5A XC State Championships
1600 - 4:22
3200 - 9:26
Judelson ran his best races in the championship season last fall. HIs second place finish at his district meet and fourth place finish at the 5a Region 2 Championship lead into a 17th place finish at the State Meet. In the track season, his personal bests came in the championship season where he ran 4:22 and 9:26 at the district and area meet respectively. He will enter the fall of 2022 as the sixth highest placing returner from last year's State Cross Country Meet., and he could very well make his way into the top 10 in 5a cross country.
Nicholas Grams (922) competes at the 2022 Texas Distance Festival
- - -
Nicholas Grams - (Conroe Oak Ridge) - 34th @ UIL 5A XC State Championships
1600 - 4:20
3200 - 9:19
Last fall, Grams finished a very impressive third in 6a Region 2. While he could only manage 34th at the state meet, he did bounce back with a 27th place finish at NXR South. Although his track season did not extend all the way to the state meet, his personal bests of 4:20 and 9:19 both indicate he is capable of a much higher finish at this fall's state cross country meet.
Hunter Hill (4163) competes at the 2021 Southlake Carroll Inv.
- - -
Hunter Hill (Southlake Carroll) - 24th @ UIL 6A XC State Championship,
1600 - 4:30
3200 - 9:32
With a 24th place finish at the 6A State Championship and a 3200 personal best of 9:32, Hill has proven to be a big part of Carroll's last two state title winning teams. As the Dragons look to win their fourth title in a row this fall, Hill will also look to follow his teammates towards the top 10 individual finish at Old Settlers Park in November.
Derek Waite (1257) competes at the 2021 Lovejoy XC Fall Festival
- - -
Derek Waite - (Klein Oak)
1600 -4:15
3200 - 9:21
Although Waite did not qualify for the state cross country meet, he raised his game significantly in the spring. With personal bests of 9:21 and 4:15 set in his junior track season, he has clearly taken a step forward in fitness, the question will be whether he can translate that strength to the grass and execute at a high level in the championship season.
Daniel Alamilla interviews after a race
- - -
Daniel Alamilla - (Mission Veterans Memorial) 21st @ UIL 5A State XC Championships
1600 - 4:24
3200 - 9:26
Alamilla demonstrated great consistency in both the fall and spring of his junior year. At the business end of a long cross country season, he won a district title, was sixth at the Region 4 Championship and 21st at the 5a State Championship.
In the spring, he clicked off sub 4:30 miles week after week including a district title winning performance and a 4:24 personal best. He also secured a 9:26 personal best over 3200 meters at the Texas Relays.
Ben Reyes (861)squeezes through the competition at the 2021 TX MileSplit Inv.
- - -
Ben Reyes - The Woodlands 35th @ UIL 6A State XC Championships
1600 - 4:21
3200 - 9:31
Last fall, Reyes improved on each performance and ran respectable races at the state and national level. In the spring, Reyes continued to lay firm groundwork for his senior campaign on the grass. His personal bests of 4:21 for the 1600 and 8:49 for the 3000 are very promising for a rising senior that will be hungry to step up and help drive a historic program towards reclaiming their crown at the top of Class 6a.
Hunter Jackson (1957) competes at the 2021 Garmin TX MileSplit XC Inv.
- - -
Hunter Jackson (Wylie) - 27th @UIL 6A State XC Championships
1600 - 4:20
3200 - 9:31
With Luke Lambert and Nathanael Berhane leading the way for Wylie the past two years, Jackson has had exceptional role models to follow. The fall of 2022 will be his opportunity to lead Wylie back to the state meet. His 27th place finish at state last year along with personal bests of 4:20 and 9:31 form a solid foundation from which he can propel himself into being a reliable low stick as Lambert and Berhane were before him.