The Southlake Carroll Invitational is annually one of the most competitive early-season cross-country meets in Texas, and this year's edition might be one of the deepest yet. With 46 boys under 16:00 and 9 girls under 18:00 on the entry list, this meet is a true clash of state champions, rising stars, and nationally relevant programs. With Texas's distance-rich Dallas-Fort Worth area hosting, along with elite visitors from Arkansas and Oklahoma, the races will set an early benchmark for the UIL and South Region seasons.
Boys' Preview: The Individual Race
The boys' race promises fireworks. Ruel Newberry (Denton Guyer, 14:39) enters as the favorite after running a lifetime best at last week's Marcus Coach T Invitational. Last fall, he was runner-up here in 14:44, and this season he looks even sharper, using patient racing and late acceleration to control the field.
The top challenger is Noah Strohman (Holliday, 15:05), the three-time UIL 3A state champion who has shown he can trade blows with any classification. Strohman thrives in fast races, and the Southlake course may give him his best chance yet to push Newberry into the red.
Kai Gutierrez (Southlake Carroll, 15:12) is next in line and carries the home-course edge. With Carroll looking to send a message in their season opener, Gutierrez could be the one who keeps the Dragon tradition alive near the front. Behind him, Riley McCain (Mansfield Legacy, 14:56) and Cooper Grady (Waxahachie, 14:56) are strong podium threats, each proven over fast 5Ks. Tyler Connelly (Aledo, 15:09), Benjamin Macias (Flower Mound, 15:22), and Lucas Whitt (Waxahachie, 15:13) also have legitimate top-10 potential.
From out of state, Dean Pickett (Bentonville, AR, 15:52), Brian Burns (Bentonville 15:54), and Logan Hurley (15:57) bring Arkansas firepower, while Micah John (Deer Creek, OK, 15:44) adds another sub-15:50 seed. El Paso Franklin's Sebastian Mendez (15:45) and Michael Villa (15:48) should be factors inside the top 15 if they race aggressively.
Projected Top-10 Boys
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Ruel Newberry (Denton Guyer)
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Noah Strohman (Holliday)
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Kai Gutierrez (Southlake Carroll)
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Brian Burns (Bentonville, AR)
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Riley McCain (Mansfield Legacy)
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Cooper Grady (Waxahachie)
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Tyler Connelly (Aledo)
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Benjamin Macias (Flower Mound)
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Lucas Whitt (Waxahachie)
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Dean Pickett (Bentonville, AR)
Sleepers: Jaxon Glenn (Carroll), Michael Fuller (Carroll), Sean Burns (Bentonville, AR), Jonathan Marsh (Waxahachie), Logan Hurley (Bentonville), Sebastian Mendez (Franklin), Micah John (Deer Creek)
Boys Team Outlook
The Southlake Carroll Dragons are chasing their seventh consecutive UIL 6A state title, and this meet will serve as their opener. Even without two of their top seven (including back-to-back state champion Caden Leonard), their depth remains unmatched. Gutierrez, Glenn, Fuller, and Norgart form a lethal pack, and if Carroll keeps their 1-5 gap under 35 seconds, they will be very difficult to topple.
Right behind them is Bentonville (AR), one of the most decorated programs in the South. The Tigers have won nine straight Arkansas 6A state championships and qualified for NXN in 2023. This year's team is led by Pickett, the Burns brothers, and Hurley, but their real strength is in the depth of their 5-7 runners. Bentonville trains with a pack-first mentality, and if they drop a 15:55-16:15 average with a sub-30-second spread, they will put serious pressure on Carroll.
The Tigers had one race this season; it was a two-mile run at the Bentonville Tiger 2 Mile Festival, where they placed 14 boys 10 minutes and under. Their top seven dropped a 9:42 team average with a 0:04-second gap (not a typo), and that was without Brian Burns. Bentonville graduated two all-American runners in Owen Kelly (now at Mississippi) and Matthew Shelley (at Iowa State), but they just might have one of the program's best teams this year.
Flower Mound enters off a 15:55 average at Coach T. Macias is their spearhead, but the Shemi-Iacomini-Hicks-Cano pack gives them a complete scoring unit. They ran above their CCCAT No. 9 ranking last week. If their fifth runner holds firm under 16:15, they will continue to run well.
Waxahachie (CCCAT No. 6 UIL 6A) has one of the state's best top-3 trios in Grady, Whitt, and Morales. If their fifth position (~16:20) improves, this team could really make noise. Look for that to happen this weekend, and if so, it could be the difference between third and fourth place at this meet.
Grapevine (CCCAT No. 1 UIL 5A) is a proven program with Juan Gallegos and Andrew DeYoung up front. They ran 15:58 average at Coach T and can easily crack the top five. Deer Creek (OK) will push that bubble with Micah John and Colson Robertson providing front scoring.
Boys Team Projections (Top 5)
| Rank | Team | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southlake Carroll | Seven-deep, defending UIL 6A dynasty |
| 2 | Bentonville (AR) | Nine straight Arkansas titles, NXN-level pack |
| 3 | Flower Mound | Strong depth, podium lock if #5 steps up |
| 4 | Waxahachie | Elite top-3, but back end still developing |
| 5 | Grapevine | State #1 in 5A, proven tight pack |
Bubble: Deer Creek (OK), El Paso Franklin, McKinney North.
Side-by-Side Boys Comparison
| Position | Carroll Projected | Bentonville Projected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kai Gutierrez (3rd) | Sean Burns (4th) |
| #2 | Jaxon Glenn (11th) | Dean Pickett (10th) |
| #3 | Michael Fuller (12th) | Sean Burns (13th) |
| #4 | Grant Norgart (16th) | Logan Hurley (15th) |
| #5 | Adhavan Palanivelrajan (19th) | Miles Rush (20th) |
| 1-5 Spread | ~27 seconds | ~28 seconds |
| Team Score | ~61 | ~62 |
Takeaway: A key matchup of programs with current extended state championship-winning streaks. Carroll and their six-year title run still holds a very slim edge up front, but Bentonville's nine-year dynasty and tight pack give them real upset potential.
Key Takeaways
Boys: Newberry is the favorite, but Strohman and Gutierrez both have win potential. Carroll holds the team edge, yet Bentonville's nine-year dynasty and tight scoring pack make them the most serious threat. Grapevine slots ahead of Deer Creek in the 5th spot, with Franklin lurking.
Girls Preview: The Individual Race
The girls' field is every bit as compelling, headlined by a national-level matchup between Macy Wingard (Denton Braswell, 16:44) and Lilly Beshears (Rogers, AR, 16:40). Wingard is the two-time UIL 6A champion, known for her closing speed and championship composure. Beshears, the NXR South champion and Arkansas 6A state champion, brings a fearless front-running style that could turn this into a sub-17:00 chase.
Adding even more intrigue is Emily Orr (El Paso Franklin, 17:46), last year's Southlake champion. She thrives on even pacing and has already run 17:49 this fall, showing she's fit enough to hang near the leaders. Adeline Bennett (Flower Mound, 17:19) and Abigail Perez (Southlake Carroll, 17:41) give the DFW area strong contenders for the top five, while Liana Cluley-Garza (Flower Mound, 17:43) and Reese Bartos (Waxahachie, 17:46) could sneak into the mix. Rounding out the sub-18 group are Kenedy Card (Rockwall, 17:59) and Kayla Eggers (Rogers, 17:59).
This front pack of 8-10 athletes could string out by 3K, but the final 400m could decide the order - particularly between Wingard's finishing kick and Beshears' ability to grind from the front.
Projected Top-10 Girls
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Lilly Beshears (Rogers, AR)
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Macy Wingard (Denton Braswell)
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Emily Orr (El Paso Franklin)
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Adeline Bennett (Flower Mound)
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Abigail Perez (Southlake Carroll)
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Liana Cluley-Garza (Flower Mound)
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Reese Bartos (Waxahachie)
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Kayla Eggers (Rogers, AR)
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Kenedy Card (Rockwall)
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Keira Primer (Flower Mound)
Sleepers: Grace McIlvain (Carroll), Eliana Rivera (Flower Mound), Samantha Schmersahl (Rogers).
Girls Team Outlook
The Flower Mound girls enter as the five-time defending UIL 6A champions, and their consistency is unmatched. Bennett and Cluley-Garza form a lethal 1-2 punch, while Primer, Rivera, and Kohutek provide scoring security. If they close their 1-5 gap, they will be the team to beat.
The biggest threat comes from Rogers (AR), the reigning Arkansas 6A champions. With Beshears and Eggers leading and the Scudder trio (Katherine, Elizabeth, Anna) and Schmersahl providing depth, Rogers has the firepower to match Flower Mound's scoring. They are not only favorites for the Arkansas state title but also strong NXN qualifiers, and this meet could be their proving ground against Texas's best.
Southlake Carroll (CCCAT No. 4 UIL 6A) brings Abigail Perez as a low stick. With Grace McIlvain and Luna Gutierrez, the Dragons could push Rogers and Flower Mound if their #4-5 close the gap. Marcus (CCCAT No. 9 UIL 6A) will be improved with Taryn Elmer returning as she was unable to contribute at Coach T, while Bentonville (AR) adds another out-of-state challenge after finishing second in Arkansas last fall.
Girls Team Projections (Top 5)
| Rank | Team | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flower Mound | Five-time defending champs, balanced and proven |
| 2 | Rogers (AR) | Beshears-led front + NXN-caliber depth |
| 3 | Southlake Carroll | Perez up front, experience through lineup |
| 4 | Marcus | With Elmer, podium ceiling rises |
| 5 | Bentonville (AR) | Strong regional program, solid pack |
Bubble: Waxahachie, Aledo, Grapevine.
Side-by-Side Girls Comparison
| Position | Flower Mound Projected | Rogers Projected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Adeline Bennett (4th) | Lilly Beshears (1st) |
| #2 | Liana Cluley-Garza (6th) | Kayla Eggers (8th) |
| #3 | Keira Primer (10th) | Samantha Schmersahl (13th) |
| #4 | Eliana Rivera (15th) | Katherine Scudder (16th) |
| #5 | McKayla Kohutek (18th) | Elizabeth Scudder (19th) |
| 1-5 Spread | ~1:05 | ~45 seconds |
| Team Score | ~53 | ~57 |
Takeaway: Flower Mound has the star power, but Rogers' balance could tilt the scales.
Key Takeaways
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Girls: Beshears vs. Wingard is the duel to watch, with Orr, Bennett, and Perez chasing. Flower Mound has dynasty pedigree, but Rogers could match them head-to-head. Carroll and Marcus are strong podium contenders, with Bentonville adding out-of-state intrigue.