Region 1 Preview

- - -

With the defending individual state champion gone it is time for someone else to step up and take over. Since 2014, Region 1 has had a steady dose of good individuals such as Dustin Dominey (2016), Alejandro Chavez (2018) and Brandon Passmann (2021) who were all state champions.

This years group will consist of Texline senior Stratton Potter 11th place at UIL state cross country, Silverton junior Alex Acevedo 13th place at UIL state cross country, Jayton senior Ben Blankenship 14th place at UIL state cross country and the young gun sophomore Griff Reel from Guthrie who finished 4th with a 10:14 at the UIL state track and field championships.

On the team side it looks like the region will be close again. Last year Jayton, Ackerly Sands and Texline battled for the top three spots and it does not look like things will be changing this year. Jayton finished tied for third but ended up fourth at the state meet off of the sixth runner tie breaker. They return senior Ben Blankenship, junior Robert Lowery, senior Cody Redding, sophomore Andrew Lowery, senior Jaydon Rivera, sophomore Ayden Salazar, and junior Jayce Rivera.

Ackerly Sands finished the state meet in 6th place just 28 places from third. Returning runners for Sands include junior Wiley Gaskins, junior Austin Archuleta, senior Rodolfo Juarez, junior MIchael Diaz, senior Jesus Porras, and sophomore Wyatt Herm.

The Texline Tornadoes finished seventh just 31 places out of a podium finish. Returning runners for Texline include senior Stratton Potter, sophomore Will Clay, senior Angel Herrera, sophomore Joe Clay, sophomore Trayven Wilson, and junior Barrett Besner.

With the majority or all of the runners from the top three teams returning it looks like these three will battle it out for the top three spots but if any of them slip up look for the young team from Guthrie to be there.