Region 1-4A Girls
Seven of the top ten 4A girls finishers are back from last year season.
That includes reigning regional and state champion Addyson Bristow (Canyon).
As a freshman last year Brooke French (Randall) was second and teammate Nayomi Granados (Randall) who was also a freshman was third.
That same trio went 1, 2 ,3 at the state meet but French and Granados swapping places.
The three are the leaders heading into regionals this year, but they have another young district rival at the top with them.
Dumas freshman Emily Gross has inserted herself into the picture as she has the second fastest time of the year.
Bristow has the fastest regional time with a 10:32.
Gross is second with a 11:02.
Granados third with a 11:11 and French fourth with a 11:16.
The girls team picture is interesting, half of the top ten ranked teams in the state are in this region (No. 1 Randall, No. 2 Canyon, No. 5 Dumas, No. 6 Brownwood, No. 8 Decatur).
Advancing to the state meet last year and winning both the region and state meet was Randall. They only graduated their No. 7 runner.
Canyon was second at the regional meet and brings back everyone including a healthy and fit Avery Brown and some other additions.
Sanger who is now in Region 2 was third, with Decatur earning the fourth place qualifying position. Decatur graduated their No. 6 and No. 7 runners from last year.
Again, Randall won state last year and seem to be just as good if not better. They have the second best team average in the state with a 11:39. They were only seven points behind Canyon at district.
Their compression is what could play a major part in the next two and most important two races of the year.
Dumas is the only other team in the region with a sub 12:00 average (11:54). They've battle Canyon and Randall all season long and have a head-to-head win over Randall.
Brownwood, Decatur can both run in the mid 12s and they can run with spreads under 60 seconds.
It is going to be a good race!
Region 1-4A Boys
Canyon has won back-to-back state titles and they were pretty dominant last year sweeping through the region and carrying the momentum into Round Rock.
Even though they continue to graduate top runners year-after-year, their returning runners continue step up.
There are few things this cross country season that I feel certain about, but one thing I'll take to the bank is that Lathan Lewter (Canyon) will win the regional title. He was the runner-up last year at regionals and there is no doubt in my mind he will win this year.
Ryan Fernandez (Canyon) was third last year and he should also take a step up the rung as the only person who should beat him is his teammate.
Only Antonio Arreola (San Elizario) is a top ten returner from last year's regional who isn't a Canyon runner.
Jamison Kirton (Canyon) was sixth last year, and Noah Cooper (Canyon) was eighth.
However, this is the "Region of Doom" and things rarely go as planned.
Partly because the region is so deep and everyone is well coached. Canyon is ranked No. 1 in Texas, Dumas is No. 4, Big Spring is No. 5, San Elizario is No. 9.
Canyon is running sub 16:00 team averages (which they did at state last year), but they are able to do it with a sub 60-second gap this season.
San Elizario was runner-up last year, but they had upperclassmen and a Coach Maese's son Angel leading the way. They graduated four of last season's runners.
Dumas finished third, but they graduated three guy. However, Nefi Moreno leads this team and they have five boys running with a 30-second gap.
Andrews brings back five guys from last year's state met squad. They're still led by Gavin Ortiz who is a senior now.
Big Spring looks like a contender; they are led by Jacob Marquez and Don Diego Rios, and like Dumas, they can run within 30-seconds