We've already had a couple of previews on boys races, well here is one on the girls district championships. There are some important district races that could affect how we see the upcoming regional races. We have some of them listed here.
The 4-4A, 27-4A, 7-5A, 4-6A , 13-6A, and 21-6A districts are just some we think will be must see races. Impactful results are eminent and they'll definitely shape the regional prognostications.
Addyson Bristow competes at the 2023 Canyon Inv.
District 4-4A
There are so many tough teams in Region 1 from the 1A classification down to 6A. The UIL District 4-4A has some of the top girls teams in the state.
The eight teams in this district are Borger, Canyon, Canyon Randall, Canyon West Plains, Dumas, Hereford, Pampa, and Perryton.
Randall, Dumas, and Canyon were all state meet qualifying teams last fall and before they can do it again, they've got to survive the district and regional rounds and avoid getting beaten.
Based on season data, Randall should come out on top. The virtual meet shows they could get as little as 18 points and run for a 12:04 average. Their one through five deviation could be as low as 0.54 seconds.
The Dumas girls look to be a close second with a possible 61 points and Canyon possibly taking the the third regional qualifying position with 78 points.
Keep in mind this virtual meet doesn't have the UIL 4A individual state champion Avery Brown factored in for Canyon.
Cadence Patterson finishes fifth at the McNeil Gold race
District 27-4A
This district isn't for the faint of heart.
The UIL 4A girls classification is the more intriguing in the state of Texas. Bandera had won four straight state titles a couple of years ago and now Fredericksburg is on a two year runner-up streak, which they are hoping to improve to that to a state title this year.
That is just the half of it, literally. Davenport is a new school with immediate intentions and the means to cause havoc and Comal Canyon Lake is another new and talented team who can have affects on the state meet.
Fredericksburg, Davenport, and Canyon Lake can all end up on the awards podium, but they won't want to overlook this weekend's importance.
The individual race will also be "big time". Cadence Patterson is having quite a season. She has rocked it both at two-miles and 5K. She has a 10:56 on record from the Patriots CC Invitational and a 18:19 from the Hoka/McNeil Invitational.
Taylor Grona, Rilyn Grona and Ann Claire Cop are top all top eleven finishers from the state meet last year. Add Eva Zabarenco from Canyon Lake, and Madeline Reagan from Davenport and that makes five girls from one district who can run sub twelve-minutes already this year.
This is an important three-week battle that will unfold before our eyes.
Colleyville Heritage girls compete at 2023 Lovejoy XC Fall Festival
District 7-5A
Over the past three years, it's been Colleyville Heritage and Grapevine running this district. That shouldn't change, but things look to get a little more cloudy.
Heritage is in a position to dominate the district with a potential 22 point earning. Even without senior and all-state runner Allie Love having competed this year, they have still been able to stay ranked all year long.
They could go 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 at the district to end the race pretty early. With freshmen and sophomores Josie Osbourne, Natali Velasquez, Olivia Sandoval, Amrita Thiru, and Akshita Thiru, this could be the future of the district taking over now.
On the other hand, Grapevine will be led by juniors and senior. Breelyn Francis, Katelyn McCown, and Alexandria Navarro are their top three runners heading into this week and will look to help the Lady Mustangs grab a regional qualifying position.
Nothing is for certain, but if the first two spots go as data says, then the third and final spot could be a nail biter.
Birdville and Argyle look to be separated by a mere five points. These two teams are closer than the front and back sides of notebook paper. Whoever steps up could be the team moving on to Lubbock.
Photo by Jan Smits
District 4-6A
This district is probably as tough as tough gets, but it's also has some of the biggest questions.
The questions are with the times and the course distances, but the answers to those don't really matter when it comes to straight up ability to run and the kids and teams in 4-6A can do that.
Carroll and Northwest Nelson are both CCCAT ranked girls teams and both could possibly make the podium in Round Rock, if they get that far.
The Keller Indians are led by Clare Boneau and Vivien Boehmer. That duo will be in the mix at the front of the race, but they have several teammates who have adequately backed them up this year and can make a push towards regionals.
Northwest Eaton is another squad who can be in Lubbock. Point wise, they could run within a point of Keller. Eaton still has state meet experience from two years ago and their race at McNeil proves these girls can run.
Keller Timber Creek also has a chance to advance. They'll be led by Megan Calhoun, Abigail Stucker, and Kendall McCullough.
The major fight will be between Carroll and Nelson.
MJ Novelli has been impressive all season long, but lately she is running like her hair is on fire. Her front running started in August and now her back-to-back sub eighteen minute runs could see her elevate herself and the entire Nelson squad.
Nelson is getting good running at the No. 2, 3, and 4 positions from Reyna Heisserer, Maggie Cuppett, and Ella Bengtsson. That trio is running within 21 seconds of one another to form a tight middle group. If the No. 5 spot comes together for Nelson, we could see them advance through these two qualifying rounds and run onto the state meet podium.
Carroll perhaps has the biggest top three in the state with Elizabeth Smits, Alexandra Walsh, and Vanessa Vezga. Smits has emerged as the top runner with Sarayu Veluri running as a solid No. 4 runner.
If Sylvia Schwedler has the type of post season streak we've seen her have in the past, this week could be the writing on the wall for a Carroll gold trophy in Round Rock.
Liliana Campos (Conroe Oak Ridge)
District 13-6A
This district is going to be a good one, but the team win should easily go through The Woodlands High. Stats show that this could be just formality with the Lady Highlanders expected to score under 25 points.
With that said, the intrigue will come for the individual race results. Several of the UIL 6A top girls are in this district and at the least three of them could medal at the state meet.
Over the last year and a half, Grand Oaks senior Staucie Lees has established herself as one of Texas' best. She is currently ranked No. 9 in the state with a 17:34 season best. Lees will have Stoya Laydevant (The Woodlands) and Liliana Campos (Oak Ridge) who have both just missed cracking the eighteen-minute barrier to compete with.
The Woodlands also has two of the best freshmen in the state in Naomi Weller and Josie Hodgson running well this year for the team.
Atascocita and Kingwood girls race towards the finish line at the 2023 Hoka McNeil Invitational
District 21-6A
I'm looking closely at this district and I feel like anyone who isn't could be overlooking two dangerous post season teams from Humble ISD - - Kingwood and Atascocita.
Kingwood has a knack for quietly going through the season and coming up big when it counts. It's kind of like a two out, full count, walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning. They're already engineering that type of season and this is the time of season when it all matters.
The Lady Mustangs have given us an outlook of how good they are at both the Hoka/McNeil Invitational and the Nike South Invitational. They ran 19:20 and 19:35 team averages at both races to finish in the top-five
Summer Call has been leading this squad for four years and she has now has back-up. They were fourth at McNeil and seventh at Nike South. Freshman Taryn Hogarth adds a front pack running element that could continue to see the Lady Eagles ascend and begin to have a ton of fun in the last month of the season.
