Grapevine Girls after their district meet
This is going to be a battle just like on the guys side. The top two returning teams are both looking to be strong contenders for the title. Both Grapevine and Canyon Randall return almost all of the runners from last year's state team. The battle between the two at Region 1 was one of the closest of the day coming down to just 3 points between them! Unfortunately for Grapevine, returning state champ Skyler Simon has been dealing with a hip injury for most of the year. Hopefully she will be ready to go at State to make this a crazy close battle. At 100%, Simon would give Grapevine two runners in the top pack with junior Lauren Edwards also running well. Canyon Randall has their own front runner in junior Karyss Betzen who was the Region 1 Champ by a second. Looking at team scores based of 2015 SB 5k times, Grapevine leads the pack. On the other hand, Region 1 showed us they can be beaten. If I had to guess, I would pick these two teams to be battling it out again at State.
Dripping Springs girls led by Hanna Moore Photo By: David Everett
While Grapevine and Canyon Randall look to be the favorites, there are some teams that I think might be able to give them a run for their money. The Dripping Springs girls looked good at Region 4, taking the team victory by scoring 71 points. They have been running well all year with a relatively young captained by senior Hannah Moore. Dripping Springs also has a great 1-5 split of 47 seconds which will help them at State. Forney, The Colony, and Prosper all look to be in the mix as well. All three teams were separated by only 15 points in Region 2. Forney has two strong front runners in seniors Lauryn Barrientos, and Danielle Beckstead. Barrientos has run sub 18 for 5K while Beckstead is right on that barrier. Forney has the largest 1-5 split of the top three teams from region 2 with a 2:06 gap. Even though Forney pulled of the win at Region 1, I'm sure The Colony, and Prosper will be coming back hungry with something to prove.
Abby Gray
The hands down favorite in the individual race is Alamo Heights senior Abby Gray. Gray finished 12th last year making her the 7th fastest returner, but its the impressive races she's run this year that peg her as the favorite. Gray's only losses this year have come from Ashton Endsley and Paige Hofstad. Gray won her region meet running a minute and fifteen seconds faster then 2nd place.
Betzen & Taylor's down to the wire finish at Region 1
Some girls who will be looking to challenge Gray (or battle it out for second) are Barrientos, Edwards, Betzen, Megan Hernandez from Gregory-Portland, and Frisco Liberty's Kendall Rose and Carrie Fish. All of the above except Hernandez have state meet experience under their belts. One runner who doesn't but will look to challenge for a podium spot is Hereford freshman Sabbatha Taylor. Taylor could be in the mix after finishing runner up to Betzen at Region.