The
2025 season saw Holliday's Noah Strohman and Ryder Strohman go 1-2 and it was Noah's
fourth consecutive state title. In the team race, Lytle picked up their third
title in four years. Then freshman Jacob Cantu led the team with a time of
16:00.70 while brothers Diego Reyna and Adrian Reyna gave the team three
runners scoring less than 10 points. They finished with 68 points total and
were well ahead of both Cole and Holliday who grabbed the other podium spots. It
looks like Lytle will be the favorites again in 2026, but they will have their
work cut out for them.
Top Teams
Cole - Led by Levi and Caden
Kitson they return five runners from last year's Runner-Up finish. If the back
end of their lineup can improve a little bit they can compete for a State
title.
Crane - They boast an
excellent top four runners who had a 42-second 1-4 split at the State meet. If
they can find a strong #5 runner they will compete with Cole and Lytle for the championship.
Eustace - First team on the
list that does not return at least five runners from last year's State meet. Brendon
Greenlee can match up with nearly anyone around and it appears the team has
reinforcements ready to go.
Holliday - It is obvious
that there are some big shoes to fill, but the cupboard is not bare. They have
five others returning from last year's third-place squad. RC Albert should be
the top runner on the team and it is likely he has the best kick of anyone
after running 21.98 in the 200m last track season.
Lytle - There is little to
suggest that the Pirates won't win a third straight title with five of their
top six returning from a year ago. Jacob Cantu should be in heavy
consideration as an individual State title winner after his outstanding
freshman season.
Best of the Rest
Clifton - A quality team
with five solid returners. They should be able to match or exceed last year's 10th
place finish.
Commerce - Returns six
runners from last season's State meet but needs one or two to step up to really
be a contender.
IDEA Pharr - A strong fifth
runner would vault them into a State medalist contender.
Jim Ned - Kenny Pritchard is
a State title favorite who needs a little help from the rest of the lineup to
make some noise.
Presidio - The only program
to return all seven runners from last year's State meet. They could be a
sleeping giant with improvement from the bottom half of their lineup.
Top Returning Seniors
Cole Bettger, Peaster, 5th
in 2025
Benjamin Caro, McGregor, 2x State
qualifier, 32nd in 2025, 61st in 2024
Joseph Dominguez, Canadian, 2x State
qualifier, 3rd in 2025, 28th in 2024
Brendon Greenlee, Eustace, 3x State
qualifier, 9th in 2025, 13th in 2024, 32nd in
2023
Steven Lozano, Crane, 2x State
qualifier, 35th in 2025, 54th in 2024
Kainan Meeks, Keene, 2x State
qualifier, 24th in 2025, 96th in 2024
Kenny Pritchard, Jim Ned, 3x State
qualifier, 4th in 2025, 5th in 2024, 6th in
2023
Aidan Samaniego, Presidio, 2x State
qualifier, 22nd in 2025, 134th in 2023
Martin Villarreal, Progreso, 2x
State qualifier, 30th in 2025, 36th in 2024
Cooper Warrick, Stockdale, 3x State
qualifier, 11th in 2025, 18th in 2024, 13th in
2023
Top Returning Juniors
Jonathan Fuller, Rockdale, 2x State
qualifier, 20th in 2025, 70th in 2024
Caden Kitson, Cole, 16th
in 2025
John Kuzmich, Fairfield, 2x State
qualifier, 29th in 2025, 59th in 2024
Adrian Reyna, Lytle, 2x State
qualifier, 14th in 2025, 50th in 2024
Brayden Willett, Bowie, 17th
in 2025
Top Returning Sophomores
Jacob Cantu, Lytle, 6th
in 2025
Cesar Delval, Valley View, 73rd
in 2025
Brenden Holster, Central, 62nd
in 2025
Levi Kitson, Cole, 34th
in 2025
Pablo Garcia, Cotulla, 18th in 2025