With fall camp wrapped up and racing underway across much of the state, the competitive picture across Texas is starting to take shape. The defending dynasty at the top of the state's highest division returns to the top of the table hunting for their record-setting seventh title in a row.
The runner-up returns with one of the most exciting freshmen-turned-sophomores in the national distance field. A five-time state meet program carries a 30-second 1-5 split and a ninth-place individual finisher back into the conversation.
Below are our preseason top ten heading into the 2026 season.
No. 1 Southlake Carroll (2025: 1st in 6A)
Seven consecutive UIL State Championships, and Carroll's argument for an eighth begins with the same answer they gave when everyone expected them to be vulnerable: depth. At last year's state meet, they posted a team average of 15:11.18 with a 1-5 split of 58.10 seconds - a team total of 1:15:55.90 that held off a deep field and brought home another title without Caden Leonard, the individual who had defined the program's identity for years. The runner now at the front is Kai Gutierrez (Jr.), who finished fourth individually at state with a 14:37.20 and has since posted 4:15.21 in the 1600m and 8:56.48 in the 3200m. Behind him, four returning seniors - Claudio Auns (4:14.94/1600m, 1:52.43/800m, 15:11.50 at state), Jaxon Glenn (4:18.00/1600m, 9:23.01/3200m, 3-Mile PR 14:41.80), Grant Norgart (4:23.36/1600m, 9:29.45/3200m), and Evan O'Donnell (4:24.93/1600m, 9:35.89/3200m after running 10:20 a year ago) - all improved significantly on the track this spring. A defending champion returning a junior state top-five finisher surrounded by four seniors whose track marks all point up is a difficult combination to argue against.
No. 2 El Paso Eastwood (2025: 6th in 6A)
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