We are currently less than 24 hours out from the start of the 2025 UIL State Cross Country Championships, and from what is sure to be some of the most exciting races of the year. The 5A division has proven itself over the past few months to be extremely competitive even amongst powerhouse schools from the 6A division. From defending champs to underdogs, the 5A state races will be a chance for every athlete to show off what they've accomplished over this remarkable season.
The 5A girls' championship race is continuing to look like a close battle between the defending champions of Smithson Valley and the highly competitive team from Lovejoy. Both teams won their regional championships by 40 points or more in competitive races, further cementing their status as the best 5A teams in the state. Both teams are full of UIL State veterans, and they'll know what they need to do to make it back on the top of the podium. However, there are plenty of other strong teams that will be looking for their spot on the podium as well.
The varsity girls of Aledo and Grapevine had a close battle at the Region 1A championships, and both teams have individuals who could put them in a position for the podium. And while the Lovejoy varsity girls had a big win in Region 2, the ladies of Highland Park and Wakeland had a close race for the 2nd and 3rd spots and will definitely be looking to claim a spot on the podium at state. The varsity girls from Georgetown and A&M Consolidated will also be in play for a podium spot and will utilize their great pack running and team spreads to make this race even more competitive.
The race for the individual spots on the podium will be even more competitive, and there is no shortage of individuals who are fast enough to claim the overall title. Senior Molly Garrison of Aledo claimed another regional title with a dominant 18:07 at Region 1 and will be looking to improve that to a state title. The talented freshmen competitors Amelia Anderson from Lubbock and Jazmin Neri of Azle also scored big at Region 1, and will be in the mix on Friday. In Region 2, Freshmen Emily Armstrong and Senior Camryn Benson from Lovejoy claimed the top spots and both have a chance to claim individual titles as well as a team championship.
If the blazing fast times from Region 3 are an indicator of how the state race will play out, make sure you keep an eye on senior Eva Cragnolino from Austin LASA, junior Morgan Nelsen from Hendrickson, freshmen Haylee Hughes from Lake Creek, and junior Rowan Skinner from A&M Consolidated. Sophomore Audrey Pozzi from Smithson Valley won a convincing race in Region 4 and will be looking for both a team and individual title tomorrow. Juniors Savannah Moya of New Braunfels and Elaina Lucido of Corpus Christi Carroll were not far behind and should be in position to find a podium spot or individual title.
On the boy's side, the team battle for the podium will be fierce, but even harder will be the attempt to win it all. The Grapevine boys have looked elite all season, and their dominant performance at Region 1 proved that they will be very hard to beat in the championship race tomorrow. However, the Region 1 second place team of Aledo is still a very competitive group that will be looking for a spot on the podium with the state's best. The Region 2 squads of Wilson, Lovejoy, and Wakeland all ran close races to punch their ticket to the state meet, with the Lovejoy boys getting a faster average time than the Region 2 champions of Wilson.
These teams will be met with even more close competition from Region 3, and all four team qualifiers are going to be in the mix for a podium spot. While the Georgetown East varsity boys were able to pull off the win, the teams from Austin LASA, Friendswood, and Georgetown will all be able to find the podium. The top teams from Region 4 will also look to shake up the state race, and are certainly competitive enough to both find spots on the podium. The Weslaco East varsity boys pulled an upset against the McAllen boys to claim the Region 4 title, so be sure to expect another close race between the two in the race for the podium.
The battle for the individual spots on the podium will be just as competitive, and there are plenty of individuals who are ready for the opportunity. Aledo junior and Region 1 champion Tyler Connelly led his team strong against an elite Grapevine roster at and will be in the mix for the podium. Junior Juan Gallegos and senior Andrew DeYoung of Grapevine finished close behind the Region 1 champ and have what it takes to make a play for an individual title. Senior Andrew Malan of Lebanon Trail won Region 2 in a tight race alongside the Lovejoy duo Tristan Arceneau and Joseph Reid. All three finished within 4 seconds of each other, and it wouldn't be shocking to see another close battle between them for a chance on the podium.
However, the returning 5A state runner up Aiden Fitzgerald from Friendswood and the boys of Region 3 have made a convincing statement that they'll be runners to look out for on Friday. Fitzgerald will be looking to close out his senior season with the individual title, but the race for 1st will not be easy. Seniors Colby Huntress from Anderson and Jaxson Asbill from Dayton were only 5 seconds off Fitzgerald at the regional championships and will also be looking to close out their seasons with the overall title. There is no shortage of podium level runners from Region 3, make sure to keep an eye out for the names Matthew Morales, Aiden Lowery, Zachary Mangum, John Fowler, Jonah Harris, James Ellison, and Brayden Lazenby as well. Region 4 will also be bringing some athletes to compete for the podium, and Region 4 champion Nathan Salinas will be at the top of that list. The senior from Mission Sharyland won a convincing race in Corpus, but make sure to keep a lookout on Weslaco East senior Aaron Nava and sophomore Alexander Nava for a big race on Friday.
The state course at Old Settlers has only become more challenging with new obstacles and routes to teams to face. However, the athletes in this year's 5A championships are ready for the challenge, so look forward to watching some incredibly competitive races tomorrow.