Region 2-1A
Girls
Mariana Sanchez (Buena Vista) returns as the defending regional champion. She has company with Ireland Sanchez (Buena Vista), and Ummi Chanez (Marfa) along with a host of other top-10 returners from last season.
Chanez is the top returner from the state meet from last season with her fifth place finish, but Sanchez is running at a great clip as well. Sanchez will enter regionals with the top time of 12:32.
Not to be forgotten are Roby's trio of Hailee Garmer and Lilly Benson, Chasity Benson who are also running at a high speed.
Roby comes in with the fastest team average of 13:34 followed by Buena Vista and their 13:44 average, and Marfa who checks in with a 13:51. This is where the rubber meets the road as it's Buena Vista who will ride in with a No. 3 ranking by the CCCAT.
Things will be interesting as Eula comes in with a No. 6 ranking, Roby at No. 9, and Marfa coming in at No. 10.
Boys
Mertzon Irion County senior Tayte Cormier, last year's third place finisher at state is the top returner from last year's UIL 1A state meet. He has the fastest time heading into the region. His 15:53 is over 35 seconds faster than what he ran in Round Rock.
Also heading into regionals with times faster than Cormier's state meet run are Austin Magness (Paint Rock) and Ed Pettit (Veribest). Magness has a 16:23 SB and Pettit has a SB of 16:24, which will keep the regional race interesting.
Team wise, Comstock marches into regionals with the best team average. Their 18:58 is nearly a minute faster than the nearest team on paper. However, we know it'll be good based on today's released CCCAT rankings. They show No. 8 Comstock, No. 9 Irion County, No. 10 Eula as the three teams ranked heading into next week.