* Madison Peters (left) and Benjamin Montgomery should factor as key runners heading into the Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday in College Station
Photo Credit: MileSplit
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This weekend in College Station, an array of Texas high school cross country programs will square off.
With over 40 girls teams and 40 boys teams scheduled to compete at the Texas A&M Invitational, we're sure to see some top-notch efforts at the Watts Cross Country Course at Hildebrand Equine Complex.
Last year's girls champion, Madison Peters, should be back, while a handful of promising stars will fill the flanks. Who are the athletes to watch?
Here are three boys and three girls to keep your eyes on.
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Boys Athletes To Watch
1. Benjamin Montgomery, Bridgeland (TX)
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Class of 2025
PR: 15:22.80
As the only underclassman to finish in the top 10 last year, Montgomery should know this course well and could return with eyes on winning.
Last fall, he placed ninth at the Nike South Invitational in 15:22.80, his career PR, and placed second at the District 6A-16 meet in 16:02.
Additionally, the Bridgeland junior clocked a 5K PR of 14:53 this past March at the Texas Distance Festival and was fifth at the Texas Class 5A championships in the 3,200m in 9:00.71.
Opening up his season last weekend with a time of 15:56, Montgomery already shook off the rust. He could be one of the favorites on Friday.
The Bridgeland boys, meanwhile, should be ready to defend their title from last year.
2. Zachary Madsen, Clear Lake High School
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Class of 2025
PR:
At the HOKA/McNeil Invitational last year, Madsen placed 16th with a personal best of 16:02 for 3-miles. Additionally, he ran 17:27 at the Nike South Invitational and ended his season at districts when he ran 16:20.
This summer, he placed fourth in the 1,500m at the AAU Region 17 Qualifier with a PR of 4:18.
Another promising junior out of Houston, Madsen has started off his season with a personal best in both the 4,000m -- clocking a time of 13:01 --- and in the 5,000m, where he posted a time of 16:02 for 5K.
This weekend, Madsen should have his sights on another PR.
3. Roehl Rodriguez, McAllen Memorial (Class of 2025)
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Class of 2025
PR: 16:03.91
Kicking off his junior season in August, Rodriguez took sixth in the 5K at the 35th Annual Yellow Jacket Invitational with a 16:46 and then followed with three straight top 10 performances over his next three meets, his most recent being a PR of 16:03.91 at the McAllen Memorial Tony Trejo Mustang Stampede -- 14 seconds faster than his season best last year.
Rodriguez ran 4:33.83 for 1,600m and 9:51.98 for 3,200m this past outdoor season.
Girls Athletes To Watch
1. Madison Peters, Pearland (TX)
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Class of 2024
PR: 16:45.50
Peters certainly has experience. She's coming off a season where she finished inside the top 10 at the Texas UIL Class 6A Championships. That same year, she ran a PR of 17:00.76 for 5K.
She won eight times over cross country last year and added nine more wins outdoors, ultimately solidifying herself as one of the best distance runners in the Houston area -- not to mention Texas.
Peters opened her fall season on Aug. 26 at the Southlake XC Invitational with a time of 16:45 for 5K, earning a 145 speed rating. She's the race favorite on Friday.
2. Maddison Surita, Edinburg Economedes (TX)
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Class of 2024
PR: 18:32.20
Last year Surita clocked a 18:30 PR for three miles at the HOKA/McNeil Invitational and would later add a season best of 18:52.50 for 5K at the Meet of Champions.
Outdoors, she PRs of 5:26.02 and 11:35.49 for 1,600m and 3,200m, respectively.
So far this fall, she was second at the McAllen Bulldogs Invitational for three miles and second at the RGV Cross Country Classic, posting a time of 18:32 in the latter event -- against Edinburg North star San Juanita Leal, who won two state titles in the 1,600m and 3,200m this past spring.
With these times, Surita seems to be in good shape for the weekend.
3. Taylor Grona, Fredericksburg (TX)
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Class of 2024
PR: 18:21.20
Last fall, Grona collected an early season win at the Hoka/McNeil Invitational, clocking a time of 11:14 in the 2-mile.
She later scored a first-place finish at her UIL District Class 4A-27 meet in 11:11.70, which was a personal best, and then took home a podium finish in the Class 4A State Championship final with a time of 11:38.30.
Her outdoor season saw her produce marks of 2:15.62 in the 800m and 11:35.00 in the 3,200m.
This past weekend, she ran 11:38 for two miles and previously was third at the Westlake Chaparral Invitational in 18:57.
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