2021 UIL 4A boys state championship race
Athens senior Micah Swann had the best race of his high school career in the last cross country race of his high school career for Athens.
This race was much like his career . . . a progression.
In the first half mile of the race, Swann was back in the pack on the levee, but when he passed the one mile marker he had moved up to around 10th place.
At a mile and a half, Swann moved up to the top five, at the two mile mark, he was in first by a stride, and with a half mile to go, he was ahead by about 10 seconds.
Swann improved as a runner with each passing fall and spring season. Last year, he qualified for the state cross country meet for the first time where he finished 19th overall.
He held on yesterday to run a 15:42 personal record and was able to get the UIL 4A individual boys state championship.
Chris Moreno (San Elizario) finished second in 15:45, Edwin Rivera (Kaufman) was third in 15:48, Angel Sanchez (Fort Worth Diamond hill-Jarvis) was fourth in 15:53, and Hudson Bennett (Burnet) rounded out the top five in 15:56.
The 4A boys team battle was the Region 1-4A meet picking up where it left off last week. The top four teams at yesterday's 4A state meet were the four qualifiers from region 1.
Led by Moreno's runner-up finish, San Elizario pressed to the team state championship with 93 points and their 16:41 team average.
Argyle put together a very impressive race by running for a 16:40 team average and totaling 97 points, just four behind San Elizario.
Canyon grabbed the third podium spot with a 16:46 average and a total of 102 points.