Region 2-6A
Girls
Koonts qualified for the state track meet in the 1600m last year and recently ran a 18:01 for a SB performance. Not too far behind Koonts is Conroe Grand Oaks sophomore Staucie Lees. Lees will be in the lead pack as she hasn't finished less than third in any race this season other than Nike South where she finished ninth.
Several girls who have already run at the state meet will compete in this race making it difficult for other runners to have a breakthrough with so much experience toeing the line.
Rebecca Wylie (Klein Cain) checks in with a 18:05, Kristen McHugh (Klein) has a 18:10 SB, Lydia Butler (Klein Oak) ran 18:16 at Nike South, Emily Ellis (Bridgeland) ran 18:18, and Elizabeth Winkler (Klein Oak) ran 18:19 to all come in under 18:20.
As far as the teams attempting to qualify for the state meet, The Woodlands (3rd), Klein Oak (5th), and Klein (6th) were all top finishers at the state meet last year and they figure to be key cogs at regionals once again.
Klein is ranked No. 3 in the recent CCCAT poll. They have a 18:33 team average and can run under 60 seconds of one another. The Woodlands is ranked No. 9 and they have a 19:11 team average.
Bridgeland and Klein Oak look like they're both heading back to Round Rock. Bridgeland has a 19:22 team average and Klein Oak has the ability to run at an average of 19:16. The key for Bridgeland will be their three through five positions. They have the potential to run within 10 seconds of one another. If they can do that and find the three through five runners of the other teams they could win the regional title.
Klein Oak has two low stick runners. They key will be for them to get as few points as possible. The race on the back end of each team will be the difference makers and it could get close.
Boys
Wylie executed a perfect score at the 9-6A district meet. They've been running well all season long and it'll be interesting to see how they compete against teams they haven't seen in person all year long like The Woodlands and Bridgeland.
The Pirates executed a 16:10 average, which is impressive, but their 37 second split is exactly what they'll need to be able run with The Woodlands. Senior Hunter Jackson is their No.1 and junior Caden Biltz as No. 2 lead the squad and they have their team ranked No. 10 in the state.
Speaking of The Woodlands, they only placed one runner in the top five and three in the top 10 at the UIL 6A District 13 championships. Pablo Lesarri was runner-up to lead the Highlanders, but Nicholas Grams (15:50) took the win with his Conroe Oak Ridge teammate Harris Ledbetter in third, Asa Wolfe (The Woodlands College Park) in fourth, Payton Chambers (Conroe Grand Oaks) fifth, Colby Hornbeck (The Woodlands College Park) seventh, and Victor Rosas (Conroe) finished ninth.
Straton Miller, Ben Reyes, and the rest of the Highlanders soon followed to produce a 33 second split, exhibiting their team running capabilities and verifies their No. 3 ranking.
At the UIL 6A District 15 meet, the team strategy was in full effect as the Klein and Tomball teams were trying to place themselves in good position to advance.
Klein Oak captured the district title thanks to Jack Boyd running a 14:52 PR as did senior teammate Derek Waite (15:37). Teaming up with the two Panther leaders were the team hunters. Junior Hunter Hendry and senior Hunter Daily ran strong races with Daily's timely 16:11 PR and the fifth scorer Aidan Cervantes in with a 16:17. That was good enough for only 37 points as the team produced a strong 15:49 average.
Klein got a huge run from junior Caleb Theodore to help bolster their team advancement. Theodore ran a nearly 45 second PR as he dropped a 15:48, which continued his season long linear improvement. He teamed up with usual top runners Gerardo Mendez and Thomas Kubala to form a solid top three.
Riley Trent also PRed to help drive his Tomball squad to the next round of running. The rest of his boys banded together to produce a 16:28 average and took third place overall as a team.
If I'm choosing the top 10 individuals, look for Nicholas Grams to take the win with Jack Boyd, Noah Willows, Thomas Kubala, Jerry Mendez, and Noah Willows, Hunter Jackson, Rylan Malarchick, Benjamin Montgomery, and Toby Eaton to finish top-10.
The final team standings could see The Woodlands, Bridgeland, Wylie, Klein Oak, Klein, and The Woodlands College Park taking the top six.