Region 2-4A
Girls Team Race Preview:
Surprise, the ranked teams in Region 2-4A are No. 3 Celina and No. 9 Kaufman. Actually, that is to be expected as much as anything in Texas cross country. The Celina girls are the back-to-back reigning defending state champions.
As for Kaufman, well, Coach Stone's program is never not one of the best.
Kaufman has the best two mile team average on the season with their 12:44. That is without their number one runner Kathryn Tucker who has a 12:08 SB in the 3200m. Celina won the district 11-4A meet with a 12:48 average.
Making the regional race even tougher will be additional squads with sub thirteen-minute averages. Godley has a 12:47, Fort Worth Benbrook has a 12:54 team average, and Hillsboro has a 12:50.
Also, not to be omitted from consideration are the Canton and Sulphur Springs squads. They both qualified to state last year and only graduated one from their lineups.
Favorites: Celina, Kaufman, Godley, FW Benbrook, Hillsboro
Sleepers: Canton, Sulphur Springs, Lindale, Alvarado
Girls Individual Race Preview:
The previously mentioned Kathryn Tucker is the top returner from last year's state meet. She finished ninth with a 11:55.
Trista Etheridge (Mabank) has the top two mile time of the season with a 11:32. Stephanie Favela (Godley) has a 12:06, Ava Samuel (Celina) has a 12:09, and Edith Martinez (Sulphur Springs) is the other runner under 12:20 this season.
Favorites: Kathryn Tucker, Trista Etheridge, Stephanie Favela
Sleepers: Ava Samuel, Edith Martinez, Graycee Wilson, Aubrey Varner
Boys Team Race Preview:
Last year's regional champ Kaufman and runner-ups Aubrey graduated some of their 2022 squads. That will change the power structure of this year's race.
The third place team from the 2022 regional, Anna, still has the majority of their squad and foruth place Alvarado does as well. Anna comes in with a 16:41 team average, which is one of the best in 4A. Alvarado - 17:24, Hillsboro - 17:25, and Kaufman - 17:30 are all hovering in the same average are that sets up an intriguing match.
Waxahachie Life has a No. 9 ranking in 4A by the CCCAT. However, we'll see how legit they are. Some of their top times come from short courses, but they do appear to be legit possible state meet qualifiers.
Favorites: Anna, Alvarado, Kaufman, Hillsboro
Sleepers: Waxahachie Life, Pittsburg, Aubrey
Boys Individual Race Preview:
Angel Sanchez (Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis) wasn't just the best 4A runner in the state last season, but he proved he was a national level talent.
Sanchez has had a tough go this season that is one of patience, but he appears to be on the mend from an injury that caused him to sit out and hampered consistent training.
He has a 15:33 SB from earlier in the season to go along with three sub sixteen-minute runs this season. His district race was a 18:48 result, which may raise some eye brows, but next week will tell us if he can repeat as the state champ.
The Anna duo of Bryce Denton and Kenny Bibb have been on fire this year and will be in the mix at the front of this race.
Canton senior Miguel Arce has a 16:04 season best run and is the ninth place finisher from last year's state meet and Abel Solorio (Cumberland Academy) was tenth.
Favorites: Angel Sanchez, Bryce Denton, Kenny Bibb, Miguel Arce, Abel Solorio
Sleepers: Xander Owen, Isaiah Colorado, Korban Murphy, Isiah Colorado