UIL 2A State Meet Preview: Opportunities For New Champions

The UIL 2A classification was dominated by a lot of seniors last year. That means there will be some new champions crowned as state champions. However, there are still a fair share of returning champions looking to defend their titles.

Both the girls team championship should be exciting with either four or five teams in both genders having a solid shot at taking home the gold trophy.

Check out our meet preview for the UIL 2A classification as and our teams to look out for.

Girls Teams To Lookout for:

Panhandle, Stamford, Refugio, Shelbyville

Boys Teams To Lookout for:

Timpson, Refugio, Bremond, Mason, Beckville

- Girls Distances

The UIL 2A girls 800m could be the best race of entire weekend. The timers better be on their Ps and Qs because of the nine qualifiers, eight of them ran within 1.84 (2:21.01 - 2:22.85) of one another's qualifying time. Makaylee Ray (Poolville) was second last year with a 2:21.06 and Emily Pharris (Shelbyville) was third in 2:22.49; Pharris had the fastest regional time. Jessica Garcia (Eldorado) is the only other returning qualifier from last year's race.

Last year, Angelina Lione (San Antonio Stacey) finished runner-up as a freshman in the 3200m. She ran a time of 11:42.80 to grab the silver medal and returns with third place finisher Cameron Belcher (Windthorst) and fourth place finisher Cassity Turner (Malakoff Cross Roads).

However, running well coming out of the regional championships is Kaycei Salazar (La Villa). The sophomore ran 11:42.18 to qualify with the top region mark. Turner had the other sub 12:00 regional performance wither her 11:58.02.

Belcher won a medal in the 1600m last year with her 5:21. She turned in a 5;28.85 at the regional meet and should be a factor on Saturday. Salazar turned in a 5:18.64 at regionals for the only sub 5:20 performance.

- Boys Distances

Jhoan Menjivar (Plains) is the top seed coming out of the regional round with his 1:58.78. He is also the only returner from last year's race when he finished sixth behind five seniors.

Not a single qualifier from last year's state meet race returns this year. With five seniors last year there was attrition, but it also means qualifying for the 2A boys state meet is no guarantee.

Caden Thurman (Wolfe City) did not have the ending to his UIL cross country season that he envisioned. This weekend will be his chance to redeem that. He checks in with a 9:21.71 from the regional championships and should be considered the favorite. 

However, there are three other boys who ran under 10 minutes at regionals. Marco Cunningham (Waco Meyer) at 9:51.13, Taylor Warrick (Stockdale) at 9:55.13, and Jose Vanegas-Martinez (Goldthwaite) at 9:55.73 will ensure it will be a fast and competitive race for the podium.

The UIL 2A state meet record is 9:22.03 set back in 2001 by Julian Acuna (Agua Dulce) is in jeopardy if Thurman feels like giving it a go.

Thurman will be the favorite in the 1600m as the defending state champion. He ran 4:22 last spring for the win and comes in with a 4:28.69 from regionals.

- Girls Relays

In the girls 4x100 relay, Bremond and Shiner won silver and bronze, respectively last year. They are back and should be considered favorites to medal again. However, Rufugio appears to have reloaded their stable of sprinters. They have some youngsters to go with some upperclassman experience. They have the top regional qualifying time of 49.17.

Last year, Haskell was dominant in the 4x200 relay wen they ran 1:42.58. Panhandle was second last year and Shelbyville third and they are the top qualifiers from regionals. Shelbyville's 1:44.02 and Panhandle's 1:44.09 means this could be one heck of a race.

Mason turned in the top 4x400 relay time of 4:01.80 ahead of 2022 medalists Goldthwaite who was third last season and Panhandle who won two years in a row.

- Boys Relays

All three boys 4x100 relay medalists from last season (Refugio, Marlin, and Timpson) return with solid crews. Defending state champs Refugio graduated three of the four from 2022, but Ernest Campbell returns and his company comes in with the fourth fastest time from regionals at 43.01. Runner-up Marlin has the fastest second fastest time from regionals in 42.88 and third place finisher Timpson has the top run of 42.70. Stamford qualified this year and their 42.89 from regionals has them with the third fastest qualifying time.

Refugio set the 4x200 relay state meet record last year with their 1:28.29. Timpson was runner-up in that race with a 1:28.88; they return three runners from that quartet and they want the record for themselves. They ran 1:27.93 at the regional race, which is under the record. They have to do it in Austin, but it could be theirs on Friday.

Mason is running some great 4x400 relays this year. The lead the girls from regionals as well as the boys with their 3:23.29 from regionals. Runner-up Refugio from last year has the second best regional time of 3:24.34 They return three runners and will be eyeing the top spot.

- Girls Hurdles

Three girls return from last year's race including silver medalist Logan Prater (Eldorado). She ran 15:00 last year and comes in with a 15.26 regional time. Prater ran both the 100m hurdles and the 100m last year, but is just doing the hurdles this weekend. That could put more of her focus on this one race. Anyya Mitchell (Lovelady), and Kami Drinnon (Vega) were also qualifiers in 2022.

Sophomore Armiyah Castilleja (Bremond) at 14.98 is the top qualifier from the Regional Championships.

Last year's 300 meter hurdle runner-up Lainey Jernigan (Goldthwaite) is the top seed coming from regionals. Her 45.50 has her in a good spot for the gold medal this year. Castilleja will be a factor again as she ran a 45.76 seed from regionals and Kennedi Richey (Farwell) ran 45.87 for the other sub 46.0 seed.

- Boys Hurdles

Junior hurdlers Jkoby Williams (Beckville) and Adam Hill (Albany) went 1 -2 last year and Williams' winning time of 14.41 makes him the favorite as does his 14.44 top seed from the regional round. Hill also has the second best time coming in with Jordan Raschke (Colorado City) who is the other returner from last year checking in with the third fastest regional time at 14.70.

Williams was a double winner in the hurdles last year and this could be a back-to-back double/double for the junior. He ran 39.54 at regionals, which is just off his 39.21 to win state in 2022. Brett Wagnon (Centerville) ran 39.69 in the regionals for the second fastest time and will be a challenge for Williams to overcome.

 - Girls Sprints

This year's race will be up for grabs with the graduation of Victoria Byrd. D'miyah Griffin (Bremond) was runner-up last year with a 12.03 and should be considered the favorite. Peyton Oliver (Refugio) will challenge Griffin with her 11.99 regional best run.

Macklynn Land won the last two girls 400m championships, but she is now at Texas Tech leaving a new person to be crowned. Sydney Wyrwich (Stockdale) has the top seed time of 58.95, which leads four girls under 60 into Friday's race. Isabella Jaime (Farwell) is the only returner from last year's race when she was just a freshman.

The girls 200m is wide open this weekend. No Macklynn Land and no Victoria Byrd is huge for the girls. With Logan Prater, the other top sprinter from last year concentrating on the hurdles, means all three podium spots are up for grabs. Akenzie Weaver (Era) is the top seed with a 25.34 and freshman Tamasha Sellers (Hearne) should be the two favorites coming in under 25.60, but every girl who qualified will have a chance to medal and even win gold.

- Boys Sprints

Defending state champion Ernest Campbell (Refugio) hands down is the favorite for the win; he even has the top seed time of 10.26. He'll get a challenge from several runners including Brayden Freeman (Sanford-Fritch) who was fifth last year and has the second best time of 10.59.

The wild card in this all is Bobby Drake (Bremond). Drake is a transfer from College Station where he competed in 5A football and track until this spring. Drake at 10.12 has the fastest time in all conditions this season.

Juniors Huston Powers (Crawford) and Miguel Lopez (Bovina) are the only qualifiers who return from last season and have sub 51.0 regional performances. Jhoan Menjivar (Plains) not only rocked in in the 800m with the top 2A boys performance, but he did it again in the 800m. He is trying to replicate Taylor Long's 400/800 double from last year and his 50.01 has him in a good spot to do so.

Jason Moore (Refugio) will be looking to earn big team points and 8-10 could be on his mind. He has a 50.18 performance a the regional championships that would have him challenging for the win. He was fourth last year at the state meet in the 400m, so he definitely has the wheels to dominate in the 400m.

Speaking of the 200m, there are four boys who ran under 22.0 in the regional round. Only two ran that fast at the state meet last year. That means the race will be very exciting. Campbell, Moore, and Drake will be a few to watch once again.

- Girls Throws

Brylee Stewart (Junction) was third last year and leads this years group heading into Austin from regionals. Her 122-08 is the only throw over 120.

Kiana Roberson (Albany) is the top regional entrant with her 40-6.25 toss. She was third overall last year and will be tough to beat this weekend. Only Mia Gray (Sunray) joins Roberson over 39 feet in the regional round.

- Boys Throws

Bryce Braden (Stratford) was third last year as a freshman, but returns to Austin as the favorite. He threw 178-11 at regionals and has a chance to break Zach Courtney's (Post) 186--06 state record from last year. Clayton Lackey (Coleman) will give Braden a challenge. He went 176-08 at regionals and they were the only boys over 170 feet.

Praiyer Jones (Marlin) is back and could win the boys shot put once again. He threw 60-5.50 at regionals for the top throw. Considering he only threw 56-8 last year for the win, it's going to take a great day from someone else to top him.

Mason Wright (Post) is just a freshman, but he has the second best throw entering with a 51-0.25 and Kobe Burton (Flatonia) who was sixth last year has the third best throw at 50-3.

- Girls Jumps

Meredith Magliolo (Schulenburg) jumped 5-5 as did Jaz Martinez (Vega) for the top performance in regionals. Magliolo was runner-up in 2022 with a 5-3 clearance and could be jumping for gold this weekend.

Logan Prater (Eldorado) is the defending champion and Jatoryia Barnes (San Augustine) went 1 - 2 last year and are back to do it again. However, Whitley Carter (Evadale) who finished fourth and didn't make the podium last year could rectify that. She has a 19-4 jump from regionals that is nearly five feet over the second best regional jump.

Barnes and Prater will square off again in the triple jump. This time it'll be Barnes trying to defend her title from last year and Prater looking to move up from the runner-up position.

- Boys Jumps

Weston Griffin (Era) won the high jump last year as a sophomore. He should be the favorite heading into Saturday with last year's third place finisher Isaac Johnson (Dawson).

Four boys have regional jumps over 23 feet from the regional rounds. Vosky Howard (Timpson) went 24-9.25 to lead everyone coming in. Dalton Brooks (Shiner) is the top returner from last year's competition and has the second best regional jump at 23-8.75.

Jaden White (Cisco) at 46-5.50 has the top regional jump. The sophomore was at state last year when he finished fifth with a 44-6 jump. Terry Busey (Timpson) was the runner-up last year when he jumped 45-10 for the silver medal. He comes in with that same mark from regionals.

- Girls and Boys Pole Vault

Last year Ella Strickland (Junction) jumped a UIL state record at 13-9.25 in the 2A pole vault pit. This year, Avery Koonce (Thrall) and Kaylee Hunt (Hico) come in the the best height of 11-0 from regionals. Cadance Holland (Gruver) went 11-3 last year to finish fourth and could challenge Strickland and Hunt.

Pratt McLain (Gruver) who third and Jaxson Bray (Bosqueville) who finished fourth last year are the top qualifiers from 2022. Bray at 16-1 is the top qualifier and McLain at 15-0 is the second best along with Maximus Garvin (Garrison).