No Aubrey O'Connell, no problem for Prosper. Coach Gegogeine rested her state champion and rolled out another stud runner to take control of a race. Junior Shewaye Johnson jumped out to the lead of the race just like her teammate would have done.

Leading the majority of the race around the soccer fields of Bob Jones Park, Johnson made competitors and spectators notice who she is stride by stride.

Also in the race and chasing throughout was a strong field with newcomer Gabby Love from Colleyville Heritage, Kaylie Cox from Southlake Carroll, Madison Peters from Pearland, and Amanda Hogan of Dallas Ursuline Academy.

Leading a race takes energy from multiple sources and is often a hard objective trying to lead start to finish. That was Johnson's game plan and it almost worked. She came just meters away from a wire to wire win only to see a strong kick from Love who used her 2:12.35 800m speed to reel in a victory.

Love who is in her first season of complete focus on cross country is already seeing the benefits of more time into the sport. The two sport athlete is not allowing the longer distance race phase her, "I just try to be the best that I can be, that means if it's an 800 if that means a 5K just do the best," Love said. She is proving that mindset as this is her second win of the season to go along with last week's 10:54.90 two-mile win at the Hebron Friday Night Hawk Invitational.

With neither Johnson nor Love the leaders some may have expected, there were more surprises at the front with Pearland sophomore Madison Peters. The Houston area distance runner was unknown to most of the Dallas are crowd, but her front running made some take notice. After a disappointing finish to last year where she was unable to finish the regional race, Peters is already showing she is ready for the 2021 season.

TAPPS star runner Amanda Hogan (Dallas Ursuline) was also in the chase pack as she finished fourth overall in a 17:43.16 PR. 

Cox was the top finisher from the host school Southlake Carroll with her third place finish in 17:35.57. Junior Audrey Dunn added a top 10 finish and sub 18 mark with her sixth place and 17:49.47. Cox and Dunn saw their teammates follow through with top 20 finishes for a 18:19 team average for the win.