Alex Maier is introduced at the Footlocker Cross Country National Championships
This time last season, it might have sounded foolish to say ALEX MAIER would be the third fastest Texan in the 5K behind REED BROWN and SAM WORLEY, #9 in the nation, and the top sophomore nationally.
The distance star from Flower Mound high school was coming off of a solid freshman campaign where he was better than the average freshman. In his first year at Flower Mound, Maier had a couple of top ten finishes and ran as fast as 16:04.12 in the 3 mile and 16:15 for the 5k for his cross country season. On the track, Maier went 2:04.32, 4:27.0, and 9:32.56.
Concluding his freshman cross season, Maier was able to qualify for the UIL State meet and finished in the top 50, with his 48th place. The following meet, he followed that up with a 63rd place finish at the Nike Cross Nationals South Region.
Alex Maier runs to a 5th place at the Nike Cross Nationals as a sophomore
Racking up the state and national accomplishments all season, Maier finished runner-up at district, regionals, and the 6A state meet proving that nobody in Texas except those named Brown or Worley could beat him. He maintained the dominance and consistency in the post season with a 4th place finish at the Nike Cross Nationals South Region and 3rd at the Foot Locker South Region. From there Maier finished his sensational sophomore season with a 5th place finishes at both the Nike and Footlocker Cross National meets losing to only one non senior in those races.
This season, can another sophomore (not named Graydon Morris, Gracie Morris, or London Culbreath) make the Alex Maier jump from being average or "good for a freshman" to join him and other upperclassmen on the national level with success among the nation's elite? It's possible. Here is a glance into the sophomore class of Texas distance runners who, with luck for a healthy season and some good old fashioned hard work could join Maier among the nation's elite distance runners this season.