The 2026 Texas High School Cross
Country season promises to be another great one. Over the next few days, I will
be previewing each of the six UIL classifications with an eye on the State
championship. Each article will feature the top returning teams and individuals
from the 2025 season that we should all be watching.
Canyon
rolled to another State title with only 48 points. Big Spring and La Feria
fought it out for second place with Big Spring topping La Feria. It looks like
2026 could be a year with a change at the top. Burnet, Devine and Sanger all
return seven runners from their State meet lineup and 10 teams return at least
five runners.
Top Teams
Perryton - Led by Jacob Erickson at
the top while Alex Grajeda and Ethan Ruelas give them a strong top-3. If they
can solidify the rest of their lineup it is possible to earn a spot on the
podium at the end of the year.
Prosper Richland - They return a solid
1-5 that posted a 56-second split at the State meet. Overall, they have six
returners from last year and that experience should serve them well.
Salado - Once again will have a
medal-contending squad. They are very strong through their first four runners.
If they can find a fifth, they will be able to really challenge for a State title.
Sanger - They are the deepest
returning team, plus they have top-level talent. Their top four returners all ran 16:46 or
faster on the State meet course last year.
Sealy - They should be in the mix
at the top of the standings after returning six runners from last year. They
are solid throughout the lineup and Aaron Munoz is close to moving into the top
echelon of runners.
Best of the Rest
Big Spring - A strong foursome
returns, but they will need more to truly compete.
Burnet - They return all seven
runners from last year's State qualifying squad
Canyon - Defending champs will try
to reload after graduating five of their top seven.
Floresville - Kaden Cypert is a
great starting point for any program and he brings along three others with State
meet experience.
San Elizario - They have a young top-3
that could be primed to make a big jump this year.
Top Returning Seniors
Top Returning Seniors
Peyton Chandler, Canton, 23rd
in 2025
Saul Hernandez, Levelland, 2x State
qualifier, 19th in 2025, 42nd in 2024
Noah Holland, West Plains, 2x State
qualifier, 14th in 2025, 66th in 2024
Jacob Noe, Sulphur Springs, 25th
in 2025
Domenic San Miguel, Canyon, 2x
State qualifier, 1st in 2025, 18th in 2024
Grady Simmons, Canyon, 13th
in 2025
Luke Smiley, Andrews, 2x State
qualifier, 27th in 2025, 106th in 2023
Miler Stewart, Hudson, 3x State
qualifier, 11th in 2025, 61st in 2024, 70th in
2023
Jacoby Tooley, Stephenville, 3x
State qualifier, 10th in 2025, 36th in 2024, 65th
in 2023
Top Returning Juniors
Kaden Cypert, Floresville, 2x State
qualifier, 7th in 2025, 19th in 2024
Jacob Erickson, Perryton, 4th
in 2025
CJ Gonzales, Big Spring, 18th
in 2025
Hayden Graves, Monahans, 21st
in 2025
Robert Vartabedian, West Plains, 2x
State qualifier, 16th in 2025, 136th in 2024
Top Returning Sophomores
Alex Grajeda, Perryton, 48th
in 2025
Lane Johnson, Salado, 80th
in 2025
Bryden Meade, Sanger, 44th
in 2025
Arnaldo Perez, Kemp, 76th
in 2025
Johnny Tapia, San Elizario, 70th
in 2025