Taytum Goodman could lower the state record this weekend
1A Girls
Defending UIL 1A individual champion, Springlake Earth sophomore Taytum Goodman is the favorite going into Friday's state meet.
Goodman has the chances to lower the 1A girls state meet record. She ran 10:55.20 at last week's UIL 1-1A Regional Championships.
Bailey Neal (Sulphur Bluff) and Sydney Partin (Priddy) had a good Region 3-1A competition. Neal pulled away in latter stages of the race to win in 12:06 to Partin's 12:16.
Imperial Buena Vista scored 64 points to win the Region 2-1A championships at San Angelo. They were third last year at the state meet and return everyone including five seniors and a junior.
Tilden McMullen ran away with the Region 4-1A Championships as they look to rise from their 12th place team finish last season.
Predictions:
Taytum Goodman wins the 2021 UIL 1A state meet sets a new state record and Buena Vista will take the team title.
Brandon Passmann (L) and Isaiah Billingsley (R)
1A Boys
Isaiah Billingsley (Tilden McMullen) is the defending state champion and has the second fastest time in the entire state this season with his 14:56,50 from the FEAST Patriot 19th Annual Invitational.
Billingsley's fastest true 5,000m (16:37) on the season is from last week's UIL 1A - Region 4 Championship; that earned him a 180 speed rating.
Region 3-1A champion Lance Verner Davis (Miller Grove) has the best regional time of 16:34 from all 1A runners for a 161 speed rating and Brandon Passmann (Guthrie) isn't too far behind with his 16:48 from Region 1-1A. Passman also ran 15:57 at Hoka One One/McNeil Elite Invitational 16:09 at Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival.
Although Miller Grove lost Billingsley to moving out, they still have a strong squad. Davis is the team's new No. 1 runner and Tanner Hensley still gives the team a true 1-2 power duo up front.
With a 42 point score at regionals, they look like they are still a strong team. They still will get a challenge from Saltillo. You can throw out regional battles between Miller Grove and Saltillo, the state meet is a completely different situation.
Slidell, Jayton, and Blum all have shots at making the awards podium on Friday.
Predictions:
Individually, the race is for the runner-up position. Barring any unforeseen happenings, Billingsley should come away with his second straight state title.
There are a host of capable runners who will put on a show in the race for second place. Look for Brandon Passman and Lance Verner Davis to round out the top three.
Miller Grove will continue to roll and win another team title.