Region 4-6A Girls
All-state runners San Juanita Leal and Maddison Surita both graduated last year. That leaves the top spots open and there are a several quality girls in the running.
Of the many, it's Emma Wade (Vista Ridge) was the third place finisher, Tibbie Mustacchia (Austin Vandegrift) who was fourth, Miah McAulay (Austin Bowie) was fifth, Ava Linnell (Austin Akins) was seventh, Savanah Moya (New Braunfels) was ninth, and Caila Lyons (San Antonio Brennan) was tenth.
Meredith Wolfe (Round Rock) has the top time of the region with a 17:51. Three other girls join her with sub 18-minute runs.
New Braunfels sophomore Moya has a 17:55, Sophia Lopez (Round Rock Stony Point) has a 17:55, and Mustachia has ran 17:58.
I also think Kailyn Brunson (San Antonio Brennan), Eleanor Smith (San Marcos), Olivia Laudicina (Austin Lake Travis), and Wade who got off to a late start will all be in this race.
The Vandegrift girls are the only squad in the region that is ranked at No. 7. There is a lot of talk about the Vandegrift boys team, but the girls team might have had the better developmental road.
They graduated four girls off of last year's regional championship team. Yet, they still have the best team average in the region.
The Round Rock girls only had one senior on their team last year and they come back as one of the top teams. That helps them enter with a sub 19-minute average at 18:47.
Dripping Springs was second last year and they graduated three runners. Third place finisher Austin Lake Travis graduated their No. 7 runner last year and Austin Bowie graduated two runners.
Region 4-6A Boys
Hudson Haley (Austin Vandegrift), Gavin Chapa (San Antonio Reagan), and Zachary Miller (San Antonio Brennan) are the only returning top ten finishers from last year.
I'll be very surprised to not see those three guys in the top ten again.
I believe everyone in the state know Haley and Chapa are the real deal. They have state meet medals credentials and elite performances, like sub 15-minute runs.
Miller on the other hand just might be the best less-known runner in the state.
He had a couple of high 15:50 races last year. I think that state meet race was an impactful experience. He had a great track season and this fall, he has been as good as anyone could have expected. He has gone 15-low to mid all year long and I think the best is yet to come.
Back to the sub 15-minute runners, Vandegrift has another one. Kai McCullough (Austin Vandegrift) has a 14:53 PR and he is a legitimate threat to with an individual state title this year.
The Vipers are absolutely loaded and having Collin Goodwin with a 15:03 PR, Christian Cruz-Castro at 15:08, they have four boys who could be the No. 1 runners on more teams than not.
Sophomore Andrew Esparza (Round Rock) is legit and he should be in the front pack, Luke Bone (Austin) and Zachary Lamar (Harlingen) should also be present.
Hands down, No. 2 ranked Vandegrift is one of the best teams in the state. We called out four of their boys who will be in the mix for the regional title, but if I can be honest, their five, six, and seven runners should be there. It it's not early in the race, which it very well could not be, it could happen by mile two.
They have an eye-popping 15:04 team average and they're spread is tight. They're running with a near 40-second gap at that quick of a pace.
No. 8 ranked Round Rock is very good as well. With the exception of 2024, this Dragon team would be in the mix every other year in Texas HS cross country history. They are running at a clip of 15:40 team average and with a 40-second gap.
Outside of the first two positions, the final two qualifiers are up for grabs.