MileSplit TX Preseason 5A Boys Top Teams
The third team in our UIL 5A boys Preseason Preview is Frisco Wakeland. Last year, they were the Region 2-5A runner-ups behind Lovejoy and they placed fourth at the state meet behind right behind Boerne Champion. Those two teams are already our No. 1 and No. 2 teams to enter this season.
In 2023, Wakeland was one of the most consistent teams all season long. They ran under a 17-minute average all season long with 16:58 in their first meet being their slowest. Their slowest split of the year was 1:07; from districts through the state meet is when they were at their best. Wakeland averaged 16:33 as a team and a 38 second split going 16:34 and 21 at state.
That team graduated two runners from their top seven including their top runner Aiden Maricle from the state meet and third runner Lukas Vetkoetter.
Despite big losses in Maricle and Vetkoetter, the Wolverines return the majority of that state meet squad including impactful pieces in Dylan Grzywinski, Dax Ritchie, Grayson Sursa, and John Lensmeyer.
That quartet will be the cornerstone of this group. They all ran personal bests under 16:40 last season.
Incoming junior Grzywinski ran 15:46 at the Braswell Little D Invitational, Ritchie had a SB 16:21, Sursa 16:32, and Lensmeyer 16:37 giving that group a about 15 seconds between them.
The development of the supporting runners to round out the scoring five and Wakeland's six and seven runners will be the key to the season. Adam Lane was just a freshman last season, but he was able to run in the top seven. A 17:17 PR will make him the incumbent fifth runner this 2024 season. Junior Michael Boyle and senior Trenton Hunter ran in the 17:40s last year and look to be the sixth and seventh runners coming into the season.
Every season is unique and brings different standards. What Wakeland has coming in from last season is a good start and the data shows they are one of the top teams based on returning numbers. However, this season figures to be faster on the 5A level than it was last year.
Coming back, they have a 16:31 team average and a 1:31 split. Wakeland's focus should definitely be getting tighter and bringing their five through seven runners up to the rest of the pack. However, if they want to get on the podium, they'll also have to rely on the number one through four runners to get faster with the two, three, and four staying packed up.
Aside from two teams we have the rest of the state ranked behind them, but it will be close amongst several squads. We feel Wakeland has the edge to get our No. 3 ranking in our 5A Boys Preseson Preview.