McKenzie Bailey (2285) competes this weekend in Denton
The Girls Elite Race will be exciting with some of Texas' top ranked individual runners toeing the line. Along with the previously mentioned teams competing this year are also two Austin area teams with Georgetown and Westlake who will look to race it out.
Georgetown has all-state distance runner Mckenzie Bailey bringing her 17:17 SB into town. On this exact same weekend last year, Bailey ran her 17:08 PR and will look for another PR on a fast Denton Course. Bailey has finished in the top five at the state cross country meet each year of her high school career and could be shooting for the gusto this season. A sub 17-minute run this weekend could be in her cards.
Plano West senior Haley Harper had a different approach to her 17:49 season average at three 5K races this season. Earlier this week, we highlighted how she went from running 22 minutes last year to a 17:41 PR this season. Harper is still learning how to be a front-runner, but she is handling things nicely. Expect to see her as one of the race leaders in Denton.
Madison Galindo from Bentonville is the defending state champion from Arkansas' largest classification. She led her squad to the team title in 2021 and has been tuning up so far this season. The upcoming weekend could be her big statement on the year.
Carson Wasemiller, senior from Fayetteville, Arkansas is the returning runner-up at last year's 6A state meet behind Galindo. She also seems to run well here in Texas. She turned in a track 5K PR at the Texas Distance Festival (18:11) last spring and two weeks ago ran a 18:33 season opener at the McKinney Boyd Bronco Stampede on the Myers Park course.
Sydni Wilkins from Frisco Liberty is having a nice season as she has run faster with every race. She started with a 18:49 at Southlake and ran a 18:16 last weekend on a much tougher course.
Fort Worth Southwest Christian freshman Madison Larsen is one who we haven't seen much of, but we did witness the youngster drop a 18:31 for her first high school race at Southlake in August.
Conroe Grand Oaks sophomore Staucie Lees will also add to a long list of capable runners. She has a 18:36 SB from College Park a couple of weeks ago. Lees finished third last weekend at Texas A&M behind two of the best runners in the Houston area.
Not only do we have Arkansas' individual state champion and runner-up from their largest classification, but we also have Louisiana's top two runners from last year. Ruston senior Lily Garrett is the defending 5A state champion out of Louisiana. She also recently committed to the University of Tennessee. Jenna Key of C.E. Byrd was runner-up to Garrett last year in Louisiana. Key has a 18:37 SB.
Other girls who should be front pack runners are Austin Westlake No. 1 runner Blair Johnson, Kaufman No. 1 Kathryn Tucker, Hallsville's Avery Perkins, Georgetown junior Dennie Decker, and Denton Guyer senior Eliana Perks.
In the team race, you could be in for a surprise. Northwest Nelson has yet to be named, but these girls have been looking strong all season long. They have the ability to run with a very minimal compression and they could push a low 19-minute team average.
Prosper Rock Hill, Georgetown, and Keller could provide a challenge for Nelson as could either Ruston, Fayetteville or Bentonville.