Region 2-3A Girls
Cara Sims (Elysian Fields) is the top returner from last year's regional championships. The Elysian Fields junior was runner-up last year and ended things with a ninth place finish at the state meet.
This year, she will be in Region 3-3A, which with her move to Region 3 and the graduation of other runners, it makes the top three spots pretty much open season for anyone else.
Last year, another junior, Aubrey Beam out of Whitesboro was fourth at regionals and added an all-state finish with her 10th place in Round Rock.
Behind Sims and Beam, Braleigh Wood (Quitman) finished fifth, Daniella Baeza (Mount Pleasant) was sixth, Anna Holt (Boyd) was eight, Madison Gentry (Paradise) was ninth, and Katie De Gorostiza (Quitman) was tenth at last years regional championships.
Baeza was a freshman, and the rest were sophomores and juniors. Since they're all back, those are the girls we're looking at as the top contenders once again.
De Gorostiza ran a 11:37 PR at the Region Preview race along with a 11:26 3,200m PR this year. Eustace freshman Kezia Henderson ran 11:56 at the same park at the Ken Gaston meet.
At the District 15-3A race (3,200m), Henderson's Eustace teammates Carley Pitman ran 11:38, and Makayla Truitt went 11:55
In the district round, Olivia Hughes (Mineola) added a 11:46 as did Beam, Ava Smith (Pilot Point) went 11:56, and McKenna Wood (Quitman), who only had a 13:08 PR before entering the season went 11:59 at her district.
Last year's team champions Pilot Point graduated two runners including a crucial piece to their puzzle in Addison Hite. However, with five back, that makes a good cornerstone along with Smith's high level running to give it another try for a return trip to Round Rock.
Runner-ups Atlanta graduated their top runner as well in Aurelia Giesler, but the other six return.
Whitesboro went through big graduation hits the previous years and was fairly young last year. They only graduated their No. 7 runner.
Mineola is the only top four team who wasn't affected by graduation. Their entire top seven runners are back.
With Eustace moving over from Region 3, that will make things a little tricky because they will be crashing the party.
They were 14th at the state meet last year only five points and one place behind Atlanta and ahead of both Whitesboro and Mineola.
De Kalb is another team to be on the lookout for. They are led by Jorja Mooneyhan who has a 13:16: SB, but her girls aren't far behind. From No. 1 runner through No. 5, they can run within 35-seconds of one another and with a near 13:30 average, they'll be in the mix.
Region 2-3A Boys
There are a lot of talented boys in this region who are back after sold top 20 finishes from last year. Then add in the Eustace boys who are always one of Texas' top 3A distance programs.
I must say, there are some fast and talented boys in Region 2-3A. Despite that, most didn't have the type of race they wanted at last year's state meet.
That might be the motivation behind the many extremely fast times that are already on record from the boys in this region. Some of the course distances are questionable, but still they guys have solid times on legitimate 5K courses.
Commerce senior Chase Gossett is the top returner from last year's regional championships based on his runner-up finish. Miguel Cedillo (Winona) is the top returning finisher from the state meet.
Here are the top stats entering Tuesday's races.
Kason Miles (Winona) - 15:27, 16:00 and 16:32 at McNeil
Hayden long (Ponder) - 15:32, 16:34 at Ken Gaston
Miguel Cedillo (Winona) - 15:37 and 16:00 Ken Gastona 16:14 at McNeil
Ethan Johnston (Pottsboro) - 15:39 at district, 16:00 at Celina and 16:14 Braswell Little D
Victor Cantellano (Tatum) - 15:42, 16:56 at district
Ostan Hernandez (Boyd) - 15:42 - 16:44 Boyd
Brendon Greenlee (Eustace) - 15:50 and 16:05 at Ken Gaston and 16:26 at Lovejoy
Chase Gossett (Commerce) - 15:52 at Ken gaston, 16:11 McKinney Boyd, and 16:12 at Lovejoy
Of the four teams that qualified to state from this region last year only the third place team Ponder did not graduate anyone. They were only able to manage a 15th place finish at the state meet, but they bring back everyone.
The defending regional champions Atlanta graduated two runners. They are very solid and tight from 1-4, and even the five spot is fairly tight, but after that they could have problems if someone struggles.
The 2023 runner-up team Valley View is in a good position; they only graduated their No. 5 runner from last year. they have a really good 1, 2, 3 punch up front, but they are a bit back at the No. 4. and no. 5 spots.
While Commerce only graduated one runner after grabbing the fourth and final qualifying spot, the one runner was the individual regional champ. That is a huge loss. Nevertheless, Gossett is still running at a high level and the other scorers are less than a minute within one another.
Eustace comes over after a third place finish at state last year. However, they graduated three runners including their No. 1 all-state runner. Greenlee has filled the top running duties very well and the No. 2 , 3, 4 runners are looking good. The fifth spot is what makes them susceptible to being beaten.
Teams to keep an eye on are Tatum, Boyd, and Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill.