Region 4-6A
Girls Team Race Preview:
CCCAT Ranked Teams: No. 8 Vandegrift
The Lady Vipers have been the best 6A team in the region for several years and the No. 8 team looks to flex once again in Corpus Christi next week.
They sport a low nineteen-minute average and with number one runner Tibbie Mustacchia becoming a legit low stick, look for them to keep the pressure on the field.
Lake Travis and Round Rock look like they have a good shot at the state meet. Round Rock looks to earn the right to compete again in their home town at the state meet.
Speaking of getting back to the state meet, Dripping Springs is in their second year at the 6A level and they have a knack for qualifying for state. They did it in their first 6A season and have a good shot at returning.
If we have to consider Dripping Springs and Lake Travis, we have to keep Austin Bowie in mind as well. Bowie beat them both at the District 26-6A meet by six points with their 19:38 team average.
Favorites: Vandegrift, Lake Travis Round Rock, Dripping Springs, Austin Bowie
Sleeper Teams: Harlingen, Edinburg Economedes, San Antonio Reagan, New Braunfels
Girls Individual Race Preview:
San Juanita Leal (Edinburg North) is the favorite by far. The all-state start distance runner ran away with this race last year and can do it again this weekend.
Behind Leal should be a group of sub eighteen-minute runners Maddison Surita (Edinburg Economedes) and Tibbie Mustacchia (Vandegrift) who blazed a 17:51 last seek.
Micah Mizell (Round Rock Stony Point), Miah McAulay (Austin Bowie), and Ava Linnell (Austin Akins) have all run under 18:20 this year.
Favorites: San Juanita Leal, Maddison Surita, Tibbie Mustacchia, Micah Mizell, Miah McAulay
Runners to Watch: Ava Linnell, Meredith Wolfe, Yazmin Guerra, Annie Burton
Boys Team Race Preview:
Austin Vandegrift heads to Corpus Christi ranked No. 2 in the state. They just might be the best team in Texas. They'll be one step closer to getting to prove that this weekend.
They have seven boys who have run sub sixteen-minutes this year and at district they went for a 15:28 average with a 0.38 split. That might have just been a warm up.
Behind them in the rankings and at district is the No. 4 ranked Round Rock boys. Round Rock has competed against some of the state's best and went for a 16:03 average at district and with a 0.43 split.
If the District 26-6A meet is an indication, then Austin Bowie, Westlake, and Lake Tavis will be tough to deal with. Bowie won the meet with a 16:19 average and with a 0.49 split. Lake Travis also ran 16:19 and Westlake was runner-up with a 16:24 average, but a better compression to top LT by one point.
Favorites: Vandegrift, Round Rock, Bowie, Westlake, Lake Travis
Teams To Watch: Edinburg Economedes, SA Reagan, Harlingen, SA Johnson
Boys Individual Race Preview:
Hudson Haley (Austin Vandegrift) might be a state champ before it's all said and done. He has a 15:06 SB from district and he's had a couple of big time runs at big meets.
Ben Wright (Austin Lake Travis) is just really getting things going this year. His 15:18 run at district is proof he is clicking at the right time of the year.
Favorites: Dylan Schieffelin, Alexis Rodriguez, Kebede Kerlin, James Butler, Gavin Chapa, and Colby Huntress.
Runners To Watch: Drew Campbell, Christian Mathurin, Hayden Scott brandeis, Arlo Gonzales, Taylor Flowers