Region 1-6A
Girls Team Race Preview
Two Region 1-6A girls teams made the podium at last year's state meet with Flower Mound and Southlake Carroll both going 1-2. In fact, the two teams were only separated by one point in last year's regional race.
The race between the two should be equally as exciting as the two perhaps swap places. Carroll ran without one of their top runners in 2022 and this time around, it's Flower Mound finding themselves in that position.
Both teams should still find themselves making reservations in Round Rock following the meet.
El Paso Franklin qualified last season and looks to be in good shape again. They're ranked No. 7 in the state and are fresh off their district win.
Northwest Nelson has been solid all season and they appear to be clicking at the right time. They were runner-up behind Carroll at the District 4-6A meet where they ran a 18:28 average with a 0.54 second compression.
The one point margin was a tough pill for Highland Park last year. They were fifth in the team standing, narrowly missing out on the fourth state meet qualifying position. They're back in contention this year and could rectify last year's finish. The taste they left with last year was a tough pill to swallow, but the lesson learned could be an advantage in this year's race. They won District 7-6A with a 19:59 average and they're currently ranked No. 9 in the state.
Favorites: Flower Mound, Carroll, El Paso Franklin, NW Nelson, Highland Park
Sleepers: NW Eaton, Keller, Prosper, Marcus, Richardson Pearce
Girls Individual Race Preview:
Flower Mound senior Samantha Humphries was the regional champ last year and ended up the runner-up at the state meet. Her 16:52 last week is one of only two sub seventeen-minute runs by a Texan this year.
Macy Wingard, Alexandra Walsh, and MJ Novelli have all been big race top-10 finishers over the last month of the season.
Wingard has a 17:02 and Walsh's 17:40 at district was one of the top performances in the state last week. MJ Novelli has a couple of sub eighteen-minute runs this season including her 17:52 last week.
Not to be overlooked is Alexandra Fox. The Flower Mound junior was third last year at the state meet and just last week went 17:22 to get things ramped up for the championship season.
Favorites: Samantha Humphries, Macy Wingard, Alexandra Walsh, MJ Novelli, Elizabeth Smits, Clare Boneau, Presley Collins
Sleepers: Adelynn Rodriguez, Emily Orr, Megan Calhoun, Vanessa Vezga, Charlotte Martin
Boys Team Race Preview
As of now, there are five regional teams in the top-10; No. 1 Southlake Carroll, No. 4 McKinney Boyd, No. 6 El Paso Franklin, NO. 9 Coppell, and No. 10 Northwest Nelson.
With the last four consecutive UIL 6A state trophies in their trophy case, Carroll is again on a hot streak after winning District 4-6A. They posted a 15:12 team average and only a 0.44 second deviation. In that same race, it was NW Nelson also posting a noteworthy race with a 15:56 team average and a 0/58 second split.
McKinney Boyd is another squad who has been impressive all year long. Despite their No. 4 ranking, I believe it is still too low. The regional meet is their chance to prove how good they are. The Broncos won District 5-6A by only going 16:08 with a 0.57 split. Prosper Rock Hill was second with a 16:38 team average and a 0:58 split.
At the District 6-6A meet, it was last year's third place finishers Coppell winning the district crown. They ran a 16:05 team average and were right at a minute for the team compression. Flower Mound was runner-up at 6-6A. Their 16:18 average and 0.57 second compression is a good place to be heading into next week.
Two teams not to overlook are Dallas Highland Park and the Arlington Houston boys. Highland Park won District 7-6A with a 16:41 team average and a 0.45 second split. Arlington Houston won District 8-6A with a 16:26 team average and only a 0:46 second split. If these two teams run race like that at regionals with solid averages and sub 60-second compressions, that could keep them in contention for the fourth qualifying spot.
Favorites: Carroll, McKinney Boyd, Coppell, NW Nelson, El Paso Franklin
Sleepers: Arlington Houston Prosper Rock Hill, Flower Mound
Boys Individual Race Preview
Aleksandr Acuna (Denton Braswell) has been very impressive this season. He has two sub fifteen-minute runs this year and won District 5-6A with a 15:04 where hee got the win over a strong cast of individuals.
McKinney Boyd's duo of Caleb Millard and Joaquin De La Cruz were close behind Acuna at district and they should be front runners in Lubbock.
Caden Leonard (Southlake Carroll) is another one of Texas' fastest on the season. He is having a stellar sophomore year and with fellow Dragon teammate Jude Alvarez running step-for-step with him in practice the best could be yet to come. They pair both went sub fifteen-minutes at district with their 14:56 and 14:59 runs.
Favorites: Aleksandr Acuna, Caden Leonard, Henry Henze, Ellis Eserman, Caleb Millard, Joaquin De La Cruz, Blake Bullard, Matthew Engle, Aidan Danny Torres
Sleepers: Jason Wade, Bridger Bowcutt, Colby Lange, Elijiah Rivera-Campos, Max Miller, Luis Andrade, Henry Beckman