Flower Mound Marcus sophomore Taryn Elmer
Whether it you categorize it as running or racing, the August and September runs are good and give insight into how the season could potentially go. However, we all know that the real meaningful running begins in October.
Teams and individuals want to be on the ball with district, regionals, zones, and championship races come about. Beyond that, the qualifying races for national championships become the focus.
However, there are some guys and girls who already started to ramp things up for this stage of the season. See who we've outlined to be runners you'll want to watch down the stretch of the season.
Girls
Meagan Meyers (Lake Ridge)
Mansfield Lake Ridge senior Meyers is having a great 2024 cross country season. She has season best runs of 18:17, 18:29, and 18:32.
She gears up for another run for the UIL State Championships. She finished 45th last season with a then 18:42 personal best.
Presley Collins (Eaton)
Collins, another senior has put together a very impressive season. She has season best runs of 18:30, 18:35, and 18:40.
The Eaton senior is looking for a return trip to the UIL State Championships where she was 16th lat year with a 18:06 run.
Mia Perez (Smithson Valley)
The Smithson Valley senior ran late into the 2024 track season. It didn't end for her until mid June, where she ran a 2:08 PR in the 800m.
It took awhile for her to get the 2024 cross country season started as rested and healed some aches and pains. Without much practice at all, she ran her first meet at the McNeil Invitational, which was a 19:06 result. A week later at the Jesuit XC Classic, Perez improved to 18:26.
Brynleigh McFarlin (Keene)
McFarlin is in the hunt for a UIL 3A state title. After finishing ninth at the 2023 state cross country meet, the Keene junior is on a good trajectory.
With two-mile bests of 11:19, 11:49, and 11:53, McFarlin has several impressive 5,000m runs under her belt including a 18:46 PR from Texas A&M Invitation.
Olivia Kiefer (Houston Episcopal)
The Houston Episcopal sophomore led the way for the SPC powerhouse team at the Nike South Invitational. Her 18:42 was huger personal best jump from the season opening 19:09 from the Brenham Hillacious.
Lydia Butler (Klein Oak)
Klein Oak senior Butler is having a career season. She ran a 11:13 3,200m, 14:25 4K, and a 17:48 5K PR.
At 5,000m she added a 18:38 first 5K of the season and last weekend was eighth at the Chile Pepper XC Festival with a 18:08.
Alexis Garza (Tomball Memorial)
Tomball Memorial freshman Garza is taking care of business so far through her first high school cross country season.
She has a 18:00 personal best from the Klein ISD XC Invitational. After that, she has 18:31 and 18:47 bests on the season. Finished eighth at Nike South.
Argyle Liberty Christian senior Holland just ran a 18:28 PR at the The Reunion Run. That follows other top season runs of 18:39, 18:52, and 18:57.
She was fifth at last year's TAPPS 5A state meet with a 12:57 run. She should blow that out of the water when she finally runs a two-mile race.
Naomi Weller (The Woodlands)
The Woodlands sophomore is a crucial piece to the Highlanders team goals. She is the No. 2 runner on the team and the better she runs, the better for the team score.
In her fourth straight meet, she ran a personal best 18:33 this past weekend at the Nike South Invitational. Previously, she ran two 18:51s and a 16:59 three-mile at Woodbridge.
Elmer is another sophomore on this list. The Marcus lead runner is having an excellent season with top runs all over the best DFW area races.
She has best of 18:11, 18:12, and a 18:33 this past weekend at the Nike South Invitational.
Boys
Tyler Hamblin (Marble Falls)
Marble Falls senior Hamblin has been pretty consistent all year. He only had two races in 2023 when he ran sub 16-minutes; this year, it's only been the first two meets this year when he didn't.
Hamblin has dropped a 15:38 PR followed by 15:40 and 15:59 consecutive runs. He finished 15th at last year's 4A state meet.
Evan Herrera (Rockwall Heath)
Herrera, the Rockwall Heath senior has continued his hot streak running from the track season into the 2024 cross season.
He has season best runs of 15:14 and 15:36 and has been competitive in the very big races and has won the rest of them. He looks for his first state meet qualification.
Hudson Joseph (Richardson Pearce)
The Richardson JJ Pearce senior has been running loose all season long. He opened the year with a 15:41 and hasn't looked back.
He has been a very good runner his entire career, but whatever has gotten into him has him looking dangerous with the championship season coming up. With 15:23 and 15:29 runs on the year, I can definitely see him and his shades in Round Rock this November.
Ryder Darcey (Katy)
Katy junior Darcey is the undisputed leader of the Tigers this season and he is leading by example.
The coach's son blazed on the track in 2023 and his cross running has been the same. He ran 14:54for three miles early in the season and three sub 16-minute runs this season.
Darcey capped September off with a 15:34 PR at Nike South Invitational.
Ethan Carranza (Killeen Ellison)
Carranza is enjoying a fantastic season. Since he was tabbed the top runner for Killeen Ellison last season.
He hasn't been a let either. He finished fifth at last year's Region 2-5A meet to qualify for the state meet and he was 36th overall. This year, he opened with a 15:21 PR at the Waxahachie Woodhouse Invitational and has dropped 15:41, 15:45, and 15:58 as his next best three runs.
He can produce a top ten race this year.
Josh McCartney (Frisco Heritage)
With a 15:08 PR from the Marcus Coach T XC Invitational, you'd think McCartney is a state meet favorite. In most years, that would be the case, but this is 2024 and things are crazy fast.
However, McCartney is still in the hunt to get back to the state meet and I think he is a dangerous runner for the championship season.
He has big times and runs with his 15:40, 15:47, and 15:55 performances from the rest of the year. He was 48th at last year's state meet.
Joshua Odums (Mansfield Legacy)
Odums, the Mansfield Legacy senior took the mantle from former Legacy teammate Toby Eaton. He is following suit by leading the program into being one of South Dallas' best distance programs.
He started the season off with a 15:22 PR and then rattled off 15:23, 15:28, and 15:51 as other top runs on the year.
He finished 122nd at last year's state meet and could easily exceed that by 100 places at the least this year.
Zachary Lamar (Harlingen)
The Harlingen senior will end his career as the RGV Meet of Champion winner. That is a brag itself, but there is more left for Lamar to accomplish.
I honestly believe, he can grab a lot more before the season ends. His 15:28 PR win this past weekend goes along with his three other sub 16-minute races this season.
Eli Mugambi (Atascocita)
Mugambi is one of the youngest runners on this list. We've included him because of his possibility to make it to the state meet. Once he's there, well the sky is the limit.
Atascocita sophomore has already run 15:36 on the Region III course with a 16:08 on the state meet course a week later. This past weekend, he went 15:58 at Nike South.
Zachary Miller (San Antonio Brennan)
Last year, Miller had his best time of the season at the state meet when he ran 15:57. If he PRs again at state this season, I'm pretty sure he'll take it.
He has already run 15:13 this year and his only defeat came at the McNeil Invitational, which was on the state meet course. That is his second best time of the year, so far.
Miller could very well be an all-state performer this year.