Meet Preview: UIL Region 2 Championships

Region 2-5A

Girls

Up to this point, Lovejoy is the best 5A team in the state. They won state last year and at full strength, they haven't been beaten by a 5A team yet this season.

They almost pulled off the district perfect score when they put their top six runners in the top 7. Melissa senior Abigail Bass disabled the possibility when she finished runner-up.

Looking at the results, you'd think this was more of a workout than a race with the top four finishers crossing the line within four seconds of one another. Sara Morefield winning in 18:33, Bass in 18:35, Amy Morefield in 18:36, and Kailey Littlefield in fourth with a time of 18:37.

An anticipated race with 2021 UIL 4A state champion Bass competing in 5A this season will unfortunately not happen. A huge blow to one of the best runners statewide and to what was figured to be a great competition will have to wait until track and field season as Bass will rest and recover for the spring.

The Region 2-5A race will still be a good one with other strong runners like Sydni Wilkins (Frisco Liberty), Veronica Ambrosionek (Frisco Lone Star), and Avery Perkins (Hallsville). Wilkins, Ambrosionek, and Perkins have all been solid this entire season and with their 17:56, 18:16, and 18:57 races to win their districts, they look to be ready for the championship season.

Lovejoy is the best team in 5A and they have the CCCAT No. 1 ranking to prove it.

It wasn't that long ago that Frisco Liberty and Frisco Wakeland won the UIL 5A team state title back to back. It's a long shot for either of them to win this year, but it's not out of the question. They can't win another title unless they make it through this test. Behind Lovejoy, Liberty has the best team average with their 19:39 team average followed by Wakeland in 19:45. 

Frisco ISD is going to be well represented with potential qualifiers at the regional meet including Reedy, Lone Star, and Lebanon Trail. They all have team averages in the 19:50s and have shots at grabbing a qualifying spot.

Hallsville is another serious contender for a return trip to the state meet with their 19:52 team average. Along with the other teams, they'll be looking to hold off McKinney North and Kingwood Park.

Boys

Lovejoy sophomore teammates William Carlson and Caden Gary have the top times in the district with their 15:30 and 15:35 from the Chile Pepper Festival back on the first of the month. They help make up a powerful 1-2 punch for the Leopards.

They'll have plenty of company in the lead pack with eight other guys who have already run 16:00 and under this season. Garrick Spieler (Frisco Reedy) had an excellent track season as he qualified for state in both the 1600m and 3200m. He hasn't had a consistent cross country season, but the senior did run a PR at district winning it in 15:41. We already know he knows how to qualify for state and he could be looking for a regional title.

Logan Tauch is a state champion and has the proficiency to run in big races. He was a part of Melissa's 4A state championship team in 2020 and now looks to win a title of his own at the region. He comes in with a 15:44 SB.

What's intriguing about the race is that there are several other sophomores and juniors who are looking to make a name for themselves. Neeraj Kulkarni (Frisco Lebanon Trail) has run 15:48, Dax Ritchie (Frisco Wakeland) has a 15:51 and teammate Britain Chancellor is right there with a 15:52, Joe Bluestein (Lovejoy) has a 15:53, and then senior Andrew Jauregui (Frisco Liberty) has a 15:59 SB, and Josh McCartney (Frisco Heritage) checks in at 16:00 right on the dot.

If I'm picking a winner for the individual race, it would be Killeen Ellison senior Aaron Crittenden. The UIL 6A state meet qualifier last year has a 15:20 PR this season and has several sub 15 minute three mile races. He has a knack for sticking around lead packs and being able to run with nearly anyone. What makes him so dangerous is his 4:18 mile capability and his 800m speed. Crittenden was third last year at the UIL 6A state meet in 1:52.49 and will be dangerous if he is allowed to stick around.

As mentioned, the Lovejoy boys are the team to beat. They were so close to a perfect sweep at district, but McKinney North senior Lance Hulin was the Abby Bass of the boys race as he wasn't about to let them keep him out of the mix. Hulin will also be one to watch in the individual race at the  state meet with his 16:02 PR.

The Leopards managed to put their top six runners in the top seven finishers with a deviation under 55 seconds at their district meet while running a 16:19 team average on a tough Myers Park course.

Frisco Reedy and Wakeland look to be the next two best teams in the region. Reedy has a team average of 16:15 with their cross town rivals close with a 16:17. Reedy has a low stick runner in Spieler, but they also have a a two and three runner who can run close to one another. Wakeland has Ritchie and Chancellor who can both run tight as well in the lead pack. The key for this race will be their four and five position runners.

Lufkin and Kingwood Park are the two teams who aren't from the area and aren't as familiar with everyone. Both teams have run in the Dallas area this season to get a glimpse of how they stack up. It looks like it could be the two teams challenging Lovejoy, Reedy, and Wakeland or the two trying to fend off one another and the other teams for the fourth qualifying spot. 

Lufkin has the ability to run tight. This is a good pack running team and with their ability to run close to 25 seconds of one another and all in the mid 16-minute range. They'll be a tough team to keep from making the trip back to Round Rock. Kingwood Park can also run pretty tight. They have run 60 second splits and their first through fourth runners can run even tighter. The key for them will be the deviation of the five runner.

There are plenty of other teams who can sneak into the top four. Don't underestimate McKinney North, Frisco Liberty, Mount Pleasant, and Melissa. They all can average low 16:50 team averages and shouldn't be overlooked.