UIL State Meet Preview

William Grundy

UIL 2A Girls

Chances To Win Individual Title

The Farwell duo of Isabella Jaime and Alexis Wade are the top two returners from last year's state meet.

They are the top two qualifiers out of Region 1 this year. Jaime won with her 12:07 run over Wade and her 12:18 run. Victoria Guerrero (Coleman) was third place in that Region 1-2A race at 12:25.

Anna Pearcy (Hamilton) returns after a fifth place finish last year at state. She placed third at the Region 2-2A race. Pearcy ran 12:05 and was only behind region champ 2- Presley Long - 11.49 and runner-up Chaska Downs - 11.54.

Those two girls just happen to be her Hamilton teammates as were the fourth place finishers Kaitlyn Walton (Hamilton) and Kate Lengefeld (Hamilton) who both ran 12:14.

Coming out of Region 3 is Cara Sims (Elysian Field) - 11:23 who placed ninth at the UIL 3A state meet last year. Sims was second on the track at 3,200m and fourth in the 1,600m at 3A state meet.

Also coming out of Region 3 is Yarida De Leon (Chilton)  who ran 12.31 and placed second.

The Region 4 two-mile course seemed to be a little long, so fitting those times in are a little skewed. Kaycei Salazar (La Villa) at  12.47 was the region champ and Payten McGee (Goldthwaite) was runner-up with a time of 12:55. Salazar has a 12:20 PR this year at 3,200m and McGee ran a 12:34 SB on another long course at McNeil.

Sims looks to be the fastest 2A girl of the season so far. She should be in the right headspace to win a state meet based on last year's gained experiences, which she'll need to hold off all of the talented returners.

The Farwell duo, the Hamilton gang, and Guerrero could all be clipping at Sims' heels.

Chances To Win Team Title

While just mentioning the over distanced Region 4 course, it will be something to see how the teams race at Old Settlers Park.

Coming out of Region 2-1A, No. 7 Gruver ran a 13:10 team average with an impressive 55-second spread that led them to the win. That beat No. 5 Farwell who actually ran faster with a 12:58 team average, but a 1:34 spread left the door open for Gruver to get a three point win. The No. 3 ranked Sundown team was third with a 13:28 average and a great 44-second spread. Christoval, who is ranked No. 4 ran a  - 13.36 average and a 1:19 spread to fourth place.

Defending state champions and No. 1 ranked Hamilton blitzed a 12:03 average for a perfect 15 point score and only a 25-second spread.

Hico was second with a 13:25 average and a 1:07 spread, Crawford ran 13:30 with a 1:10 spread, and Santo went for a 13:29 average and a 1:57 spread.

Region 3 qualifiers are Hawkins who ran a 13:32 and a 1:13 spread, Douglass with a 13:32 and 1:05 spread, Centerville who ran a 13:39 average and a 58-second gap, and  Union Grove went 14:10 with a 2:46 spread.

The fourth ranked Goldthwaite girls were runner-ups behind Hamilton last year at state. They won Region 4 with a 13:52 average and a 1:39 spread. Mason ran a 14:42 average and a 1:18 spread, Mumford went 14:39 with a 1:42 spread, and Weimar ran 14:50 and a 1:12 spread.

Hamilton is the favorite to win again this weekend. They're not only tough and fast, but they run tight and that could be too much for any team to overcome.

With that said, I don't expect Goldthwaite, Sundown, Gruver, Farwell, and Christoval to just lay down and make it easy for Hamilton.