The UIL 1A boys race was a step for step battle for almost the entire 5,000m. The 2020 champion Isaiah Billingsley (Tilden McMullen) and Brandon Passmann (Guthrie) put on a show for the Round Rock fans.
The pairing of the Region 4-1A champ Billingsley and the Region 1-1A champ and Passman was worth making the trip to Old Settlers Park.
Billingsley went to pull away, but Passmann was ready to match move for move. Over the last 800m, the Guthrie senior made his move taking the lead right before the bridge and it proved to be the difference maker.
That provided for an exciting finish as Billingsley put on a final kick but Guthrie had enough room and held on for his first cross country state meet championship.
1A BOYS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 0 Brandon Passmann 12 Guthrie 15:32.90 0 0 Isaiah Billingsley 12 Tilden McMullen 15:41.30 1 0 Tayte Cormier 11 Mertzon Irion County 16:29.10 2 0 Lance Verner Davis 12 Miller Grove 16:44.60 3 0 Coy Collins 11 Saltillo High School 16:59.30 4 0 Brandon Timms 9 Tilden McMullen 17:00.30 5 0 Gunner Tarver 11 Saltillo High School 17:01.40 6 0 Christian Gonzalez 10 Sulphur Bluff 17:01.70 0 0 Tanner Hensley 12 Miller Grove 17:07.40 7 0 Collin Thomas 11 Saint Jo 17:11.80 0
Miller Grove won their third straight team championship on the legs of Lance Verner Davis (4th place) and Tanner Hensley (9th place).
Saltillo finished second with 105 points and Tilden McMullen was third overall with a 154 point total.