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.
The
UIL 1A boys title in 2025 was decided by a mere four points as Clyde Eula edged
out Tilden McMullen County. Clyde Eula had the first two finishers, but TMC
made it close when their fifth runner crossed the line before Clyde Eula's
fourth runner. Tilden McMullen County had a 0:51 1-5 spread which was almost
matched by Clyde Eula's 1:14 spread. In 2026, it looks like Tilden McMullen
County and Garner will enter as co-favorites with four or five other teams with
legitimate shots at winning a State title. The individual title should be up
for grabs too with 10 or more runners entering the season with a real shot at
the title.
Top Teams
Comstock - They bring back
five runners from last year's sixth-place finish. No superstar in the lineup,
but their top four runners posted a 22-second split on the State meet course.
Cumby Miller Grove - Jager Worrell
leads a strong group that finished third last year and will be looking for even
more this year. One good newcomer could have a massive influence on this team.
Garner - Finished fourth
last year and is the only team to bring back all seven runners from the 2025
State meet. They will be difficult to knock off and have the most depth of any
team.
Tilden McMullen County - A
runner-up finish in 2025 paves the way for another run at a State title. Graysen
Serrata should be in the mix for an individual title as a sophomore. Their top-4
runners are unmatched heading into the season.
Zephyr - Another team that
returns six runners from last season. They have a strong top-3 and will need
some improvement from their next two finishers to really make a run at the
podium.
Best of the Rest
Booker - Gael Alvarez gives them
a potential top-10 finisher and they return six from last year.
Clyde Eula - The reigning
State champions graduated four runners, but still have a quality top-3.
Eden - Need one more runner
to really compete at the top level.
Jayton - A potential
dark-horse that finished seventh last year and has six runners coming back.
O'Donnell - They have a
really nice first two runners and some solid experience on their side.
Top Returning Seniors
Gael Alvarez, Booker, 2x State
qualifier, 23rd in 2025, 96th in 2024
Colton Bilyeu, Bronte, 3x State
qualifier, 10th in 2025, 22nd in 2024, 91st in
2023
Skylar Garcia, Nordheim, 3x State
qualifier, 32nd in 2025, 80th in 2024, 55th in
2023
Kaden Lees, Marathon, 2x State qualifier,
6th in 2025, 20th in 2024
Camden Lummus, Roby, 3x State
qualifier, 14th in 2025, 17th in 2024, 46th in
2023
Brayden Martinez, Garner, 2x State qualifier,
34th in 2025, 47th in 2024
Ty McComack, Bryson, 2x State
qualifier, 24th in 2025, 33rd in 2024
David Pantoja, Wilson, 2x State qualifier, 27th in 2025, 65th in 2024
Hagan Pontremoli, Garner, 2x State qualifier,
19th in 2025, 38th in 2024
Cameron Renteria, O'Donnell, 3x State
qualifier, 17th in 2025, 40th in 2024, 75th in
2023
Top Returning Juniors
David Gutierrez, Dime Box, 2x State
qualifier, 29th in 2025, 39th in 2024
Micah Ferrel, Turkey Valley, 9th
in 2025
Chase Fritcher, Boys Ranch, 2x
State qualifier, 26th in 2025, 75th in 2024
Skyler Richter, Tilden McMullen
County, 2x State qualifier, 36th in 2025, 64th in 2024
Alex Valdes, Blanket, 2x State
qualifier, 5th in 2025, 61st in 2024
Top Returning Sophomores
Parker Kramer, Mertzon Irion County,
3rd in 2025
Jorge Mendez, Eden, 30th
in 2025
Graysen Serrata, Tilden McMullen
Country, 14th in 2025
Jacob Valenzuela, Marathon, 12th
in 2025
Jager Worrell, Cumby Miller Grove,
10th in 2025