Chances To Win Individual Title

We all know, there will be a new UIL 1A state champion for the first time in four years. Taytum Goodman in now at Texas Tech after reigning over the classification.

That led to Makayla Chaney (White Deer) becoming the new Region 1-1A champion with her 12:45 win. Hope McLain (Kress) was second with a time of 12:50, and Melody Rampley (Silverton) was third in 12:53.

Jace Chisum (Jayton) won the Region 2 title in 11:56 to top Danni Ruiz (Menard) who ran her 12:02. Both girls were top ten runners last year. Hailie Cauthen (Clyde Eula) is another top ten finisher. She was third in 12:07 at Region 2 and her teammate Camryn Gray (Clyde Eula) was third with a time of 12.19.

The Region 3 champion Mattie Broussard (Bellevue) ran 12:36, Joslyn Whitfill (Bryson) went 12:55 or runner-up, and Mattie Dollar (Newcastle) finished third with at time of 12:59.

I'll intimate this a couple of times throughout the complete article. The Region 4 two-mile course was a little over distance. Rylie Eckert (Richland Springs) got the win in 13:03 with the Tilden McMullen County trio of London Yanity - 13:06, Isabella Billingsley - 13:20, and Ella David - 13:43.

Chisum was second at last year's state meet and Ruiz was eighth. Expect them to be in the front of this race with Cauthen and Broussard to be in the mix.

The Region 4 girls should also be in the thick of things in this race. Billingsley was 11th overall in 2023 and Eckert was 14th. Yanity is a tough runner and she doesn't seem to be shy of front running.

Chances To Win Team Title

Tilden McMullen County was third last year and they had the most returners for 2024  of the podium teams. That is the reason they are the top ranked team in 1A this year.

They have a strong top three runners at the top of their line up.

Clyde Eula is ranked No. 2 and this will be a good battle of the top two ranked teams. 

However, Texline is strong and Lenorah Grady and Lazbuddie have spreads in the 40-second range that will keep them in the race.