Tayte Cormier wins 2022 UIL 1A Cross Country State Championships
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Tayte Cormier took two steps up on the awards podium this year when he won the UIL 1A Cross Country State Championship.
Last year, he was third behind two eventual Division-1 collegiate athletes and now he is at the top of 1A. He used a super start to establish his position and continued to run away with the win. The Mertzon Irion County senior took the race by 25 seconds with his winning time of 16:25.
Paint Rock junior Austin Magness was second in 17:00 holding off Lasara sophomore Jose Ventura who was third in 17:05.
1A BOYS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 Tayte Cormier 12 Mertzon Irion County 16:25.00 1 2 Austin Magness 11 Paint Rock 17:00.70 0 3 Jose Ventura 10 Lasara 17:05.70 0 4 Josh Garvin 10 Slidell 17:20.10 2 5 Ryker Haivala 10 Miller Grove 17:21.80 3 6 Griff Griffith) Reel 10 Jayton 17:27.60 4 7 Gunner Tarver 12 Saltillo High School 17:28.80 5 8 Wiley Gaskins 11 Sands School 17:31.10 6 9 Landon Cobb 10 Graford 17:35.20 0 10 Brandon Timms 10 Tilden McMullen 17:36.50 7
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The team race was a close and exciting one. Jayton has been ranked No. 1 much of the season and were driven heading into the state meet. Add them with two of the most consistent 1A boys programs Miller Grove and Saltillo.
The race ended as it began, a three team battle. With each 1K the three teams exchanged leads, but it was Saltillo and Jayton setting shop in the chase pack. However, as the race continued to matriculate, Miller Grove would run themselves further into contention.
In the end, only eight points separated the three teams when the dust settled it was Saltillo getting the narrow win over district competition Miller Grove. The margin of victory was very minimal. . . only two points would prove to be the margin 73 - 75.
Saltillo boys converse before the race
Saltillo ran a 17:55 team average with Miller Grove right there with them with a 17:56 team average. Miller Grove's 59 second split made the race as tight as it was, but Saltillo pulled things out.
Jayton was third with 81 points.
TEAM SCORES PLACE TEAM POINTS SCORERS TIMES 1 Saltillo High School 73 5+8+15+17+28 (48+55) 1:11 1-5 Split | 17:55 Avg 2 Miller Grove 75 3+12+16+20+24 (39+60) 0:59 1-5 Split | 17:56 Avg 3 Jayton 81 4+13+18+19+27 (32+53) 1:11 1-5 Split | 18:01 Avg
Saltillo had finally found the top of the podium, a position that has evaded them since 2016. That's the last time they won the state championship. Since then they've managed to podium every year and it's been their district counterparts Miller Grove getting the usual slim win over them.
From 2019 through 2021, it was Saltillo taking second place behind Miller Grove. They als finished third in 2018 and second in 2017. The 2015 season was the last time Saltillo hadn't taken a state meet trophy home and this year it's the golden one that will again be placed in their trophy case.