Meet Preview: UIL Region 4 Championships

William Grundy

Region 4-4A

Girls 

Taylor Grona was the individual state runner-up last year and the Fredericksburg junior appears to be on a direct line for a state title this season. She has the best time of the year with her 11:11 at her district meet.

Sinton senior Zerah Martinez, finished ninth at the state meet and she will not allow Grona to just get an easy win. She ran a 11:33 PR at the Hoka/McNeil Invitational and can keep up with Grona's pace.

Fredericksburg has more support for Grona with freshman Rilyn Grona and junior Ann Claire Cop. Rilyn has a 11:34 PR on the season and Cop right behind her in 11:35.

Also having a solid season is La Feria junior Liana Navarro. Last year's seventh place finisher won her district race with a 11:48 SB showing her fitness level is where she'd like it to be at the right time of year.

Three Region 4 teams are ranked in the CCCAT top-10. Fredericksburg is No. 3 with La Feria at No. 9, and Bandera at No. 10.

Boys

Christian Pena (Davenport) has the top 3-mile time of 15:27 heading into regionals. Anthony Garrett (Tuloso-Midway) enters with a 15:34, Justin Ramirez (Sinton) 15:50, and Eli Guerra (Davenport) 15:55 also enter with sub 16:00 3-mile races.

The La Feria boys enter as the only ranked team in the region. Their No. 6  rank should give them confidence heading into regionals as should their win at the Meet of Champions.

Davenport, Boerne, Bandera, Tuloso-Midway, Canyon Lake, and Alice all enter with similar averages for 3 miles. Boerne could have the inside track with their ability to run less than a minute split. Bandera already knows what it takes to qualify for state and they could rely on that experience.