Adele Clarke in the final 800m of the 2020 UIL 4A state cross country meet
Class 4A
Adele Clarke (Celina) is the three time Region 2-4A champion and to have an athlete win four consecutive titles would be a doable but rare feat. Not only did she win regionals, she also won the state title last year as well.
This will be the most difficult race of all with fellow district runner Abigail Bass (Melissa). Bass has been on fire all season long and these two should provide an awesome spectator opportunity to see the state's two best go head to head.
Not only will the 4A girls race bring a great individual race, but the team race will be just as exciting.
Celina is looking like the top team in the state. If they want to improve on their runner-up finish last year, they'll have to survive the toughest 4A race in the state.
Sanger has Kyley Cochran to lead them with her 11:55 SB, but the pack running of the 2-5 girls is around 27 seconds and that'll keep them in the race.
Kaufman is another team looking to climb up the state meet podium. They were third last season in Round Rock, but this is another year and another opportunity. Coach Stone's squad has a 12:39 team average heading into Monday.
Godley and Melissa both will race for the fourth qualifying position.
The Region 2-4A boys race will be just as exciting as the girls race, but with no apparent favorites Abel Solorio (Cumberland Academy), Kenny Bibb (Anna), Brandon Haub (Kennedale), and a ton of other boys return to duke it out for the regional title.
With about 15 boys with times in the range from 16 low to the 16:20s, there should be a huge pack of runners.
The boys team battle will be good for the two, three, and four qualifying spots. By the data, Kaufman should be the favorites to win. They have a 16:50 team average and led by Edwin Rivera who should be in the mix for the individual win, but with a total of three sub 17:00 runners, they'll be hard to beat.
Here's why the rest of the field will be in for a free for all. Melissa has a 17:20 team average, but with a 1:50 split, Dallas Faith Family has a a 17:32 team average, Pleasant Grove has a 17:35 team average, Kilgore has a 17:37 tam average, and Sanger has a 17:38 team average.
That's five teams shooting for three positions, which should be fun to watch. Now consider Kennedale; their numbers are skewed by a short course, but they are talented and are for real.