It seems like it was just yesterday, when I was in McKinney, Texas for the UIL 6A - District 5/6 Area Championship where I witnessed a group of girls who in the fall had just won their second straight UIL 6A cross country team state championship.
At the time, they were in progress of doing something phenomenal. It was in fact historical.... something so unheard of, that at the time, it had never been done and it will probably never be done again.
That feat was winning the UIL 6A Track and Field State Championships over sprint relay loaded programs. They won with only four distance runners and a high jumper who would go on to score team points in just four of the 17 events competed at the state meet.
Back to that spring day in McKinney, the group of distance runners had just swept the Area Championships in both the 1,600m and 3,200m events as well as qualified a runner in the 800m onward to the Region 1-6A Championships.
As the girls were cooling down, conversing, and interviewing with me, they addressed one another using their nicknames which when shortened just-so-happened to all be boys names... Nat (Natalie Cook), Nick (Nicole Humphries, Sam (Samantha Humphries), and Alex (Alexandra Fox).
Alexandra Fox (2601) placed third at the 2022 UIL State Cross Country Championships; Flower Mound finished 1, 2, 3
Photo Credit:Jan Smits
That legendary group of runners are in part responsible to bringing five UIL 6A state titles to the Flower Mound Jaguars program. However, all of those young ladies except for one are now competing on the NCAA Division 1 level.
The lone holdout is Alexandra Fox who was just a freshman on that day four years ago in McKinney.
Now, Fox is a senior and has probably accomplished as much as or seen as high a level of running as any girl in Texas who will compete this fall.
She placed third in the 3,200m at the state track meet in her freshman season and then was again third at the cross country state meet the following fall in Round Rock.
She has competed at the NXN and RunningLane national cross country meets and hasn't lost a team cross country title in her high school years.
Texas Returning Rankings For 2024 XC/2025 T&F
| Event | 2023/2024 SB | State Ranking / 6A Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1,600m | 4:47.74 | 3rd / 1st |
| 3,200m | 10:19.48 | 3rd / 2nd |
| 5,000m | 17:22 | 3rd / 2nd |
* Ranks behind Elizabeth Leachman and Macy Wingard in 3,200m and 5,000m
* Ranks behind Leachman and Sophia Bendet in 1,600m
To add to her resume, Fox also attributed to running a national record in the indoor 4 x mile relay.
Thanks to attrition, the graduation of Fox' past teammates has resulted in a promotion. This year is now her time to lead Flower Mound into the 2024 cross country season.
It is unquestionable that she is one of the top girls in the state. I doubt many girls or boys would dare to line up one-on-one with the new leader of the Jaguars in any event.
Why is that?
Alexandra Fox (397) lines up for the 2024 Texas Distance Festival Elite Girls 1,600m, she finished second in 4:47.74
Photo Credit: Jessie McCabe
Well, Fox can do it all.
She has a 5K PR of 17:22 on grass and a third place UIL 6A state meet medal. She also has a 10:18 PR and another UIL 6A state meet third place medal in the 3,200m. Speed wise ... Fox has the turnover in her arsenal as well. Her resume boasts a 4:47 1,600m PR and a 2:15 in the 800m.
There is only one caveat to Fox' 2024 success.....health.
The last time we saw her was in Austin at the state track meet. That is where she dropped out of the 3,200m and was carried off the track.
However, it's possible that by the time she even runs her first meet of the season, it could possibly be three or even four months from the time of her injury.
With ample time to get healthy and fit enough to compete in the championship season, expect for Fox to push for a UIL 6A state title.