The Canyon girls lead the pack off the start at the Region I-4A cross country meet in Lubbock earlier this year. The Lady Eagles will compete for a third straight Class 4A team state championship Tuesday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. [John Moore/ Press Pass Sports]
Seven teams and 34 individual qualifiers highlight the Texas Panhandle at the University Interscholastic League state cross country meet set for Monday and Tuesday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
Class 5A, 3A and 1A will run Monday, followed by 6A, 4A and 2A Tuesday.
The Amarillo-area team drawing the most attention heading into the state meet is by far the Canyon Lady Eagles. The Lady Eagles are the two-time defending Class 4A state champions, and return a strong group of runners to chase for a third.
“We feel good about are team,” Canyon girls cross country coach Ray Baca said. “We’re running really well, and we just need to keep our fingerd cross to stay out of harms way with COVID. We want to stay as safe as we can be. But we’re all excited and grateful to the UIL for letting us get to this point.”
Canyon’s lead runners Breana Stuart and Abree Winfrey are two of the best in the state, and both have the potential to be in the mix when it comes to crossing the finish line first. Stuart, a junior, has been an exceptional runner for the Lady Eagles for the past three years, claiming her third straight Region I-4A individual title two weeks ago in Lubbock.
Winfrey, a sophomore, is equally impressive taking gold in the District 4-4A meet, and finished third at the state event a year ago.
“I’ve never been in a situation as a coach as I am with Breana and Abree,” Baca said. They are both extremely talented. I’ve always had a runner going down I knew that had a chance, but I’ve never been in the situation where there are two runners that have a chance to win or place in the top 5. They are completey different runners, and that’s what makes them both great. Were fortunate.”
State notes
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- The Tascosa boys team is making their first appearance at the state cross country meet for the first time since 2011.
- The tradition-rich Randall girls are back in Round Rock after placing third at regional. The Lady Raiders have won Class 5A team state championships in 2013, 2014, 2016.
- Wellington junior Kyla Kane punched her ticket to the state meet by winning her unheralded third straight Region I-2A individual title. Kane won the Class 2A state championship as a freshman in 2018, and came in as the runner-up last year.
- The Perryton boys are making their first appearance at state since the 2015 season.
- The Nazareth Swiftettes won the Region I-1A championship team championship in Lubbock two weeks ago. The Swiftettes have won six state titles in program history.
- Shamrock’s Hayden Stroope was impressive winning the Region I-1A individual championship in Lubbock two weeks ago. Stroope is headed back to Round Rock for a fourth straight year. His best finish was 12th as a sophomore in 2018.
- The Nazareth Swiftettes won the Region I-1A championship team championship in Lubbock two weeks ago. The Swiftettes have won six state titles in program history.
- The Perryton boys are making their first appearance at state since the 2015 season.
- Wellington junior Kyla Kane punched her ticket to the state meet by winning her unheralded third straight Region I-2A individual title. Kane won the Class 2A state championship as a freshman in 2018, and came in as the runner-up last year.
- The tradition-rich Randall girls are back in Round Rock after placing third at regional. The Lady Raiders have won Class 5A team state championships in 2013, 2014, 2016.
- The Tascosa boys team is making their first appearance at the state cross country meet for the first time since 2011.
UIL state cross country meet
at Old Settlers Park, Round Rock
Monday’s schedule
Class 1A
9 a.m. girls; 9:45 a.m. boys
Class 3A
11:45 a.m. girls; 12:30 p.m. boys
Class 5A
2:30 p.m. girls; 3:15 p.m. boys
Tuesday’s schedule
Class 2A
9 a.m. girls; 9:45 a.m. boys
Class 4A
11:45 a.m. girls; 12:30 p.m. boys
Class 6A
2:30 p.m. girls; 3:15 p.m. boys
Texas Panhandle team and individual qualifiers
Class 5A
Girls
Qualifying team
Randall Lady Raiders
Ariyah Gomez, Jr.
Romie Rubio, Jr.
Lizzy Chen, So.
Ashley Norman, So
Sierra Sanchez, So.
Aubrie Garza, Fr.
Hailey Roberson, Fr.
Alex Bettag, Jr. (alternate)
Individuals
Catalina Purcell, Amarillo High, Sr.
Alexis Escobedo, Amarillo High, Sr.
Jewel Baer, Amarillo High, Sr.
Brooke Latham, Amarillo High, Jr.
Emma Milsow, Amarillo High, Fr.
Boys
Qualifying team
Tascosa Rebels
DJ Guerrero, Sr.
Kaden Navarrete, Sr.
Xander Bailey, Sr.
Gabe Henriquez, Jr.
Mason Haskins, Jr.
Emilio Salas, So.
Lane Kenney, Fr.
Individuals
Isaac McGill, Amarillo High, Jr.
Miles Cox, Amarillo High, Jr.
Class 4A
Girls
Canyon Lady Eagles
Breanna Stuart, Jr.
Ellie Brown, Jr.
Abree Winfrey, So.
Rebekah Huddleston, So.
Tia Glynn, So.
Kinley Cornelsen, So.
Hannah Stuart, Fr.
Steelie Hudson, Sr. (alternate)
Gracee May, So. (alternate)
Thalia Solis, Fr. (alternate)
Individual qualifiers
Sarai Chavez, Dumas, So.
Lexi Maul, Pampa, Jr.
Class 4A
Boys
Perryton Rangers
Adrián Ceniceros, Jr.
Julián Rivero, Jr.
Jonathan Alaniz, Jr.
Jorge Palma, Jr.
Eduardo Castillo, Jr.
Javier Ledezma, So.
Alejandro Uribe, So.
Individual qualifiers
Samuel Ashley, Canyon, Sr.
Austin Deberry, Canyon, Sr.
Class 3A Girls
Team
Spearman Lynxettes
Mia Pipkin, Sr.
Maggie Davis, Sr.
Braylen Lusby, Fr.
Vanelli Delgado, Fr.
Destinee Perez, Fr.
Lily Scroggs, Fr.
Jarely Munoz, Fr.
Landrie Black, Fr. (alternate)
Individual qualfiers
Yvonne Legaretta, Friona, Fr.
Clarissa Gamboa, Childress, Fr.
Boys
Individual qualifiers
Adrian Legaretta, Friona, Sr.
Crawford Kiser, River Road, Sr.
Rylun Clark, Canadian, Sr.
Ethan Ramos, Spearman, Jr.
Jordan Garcia, Dimmitt, Jr.
Class 2A
Girls
Qualifying team
Gruver Lady Hounds
Dylaney Weaver, Sr.
Abigail Salgado Sr.
Yerelin Garcia, Jr.
Callie Conyers, Jr.
Kyndal Seagler, Jr.
Brenna Butler, So.
Presley East, Fr.
Bailey Glass, Sr. (alternate)
Bailey Maupin, Jr. (alternate)
Ella Babbs, So. (alternate)
Gracee Grotegut, Fr. (alternate)
Individuals qualifiers
Kyla Kane, Wellington, Jr.
Katelyn Hernandez, Sunray, Sr.
Kadey Urbantke, Farwell, Fr.
Annmarie Counts, Boys Ranch, So.
Ireydi Vela, Bovina, Sr.
Lula Nolen, West Texas High, Jr.
Boys
Individual qualifiers
Hayden Stroope, Shamrock, Sr.
Levi McGill, Panhandle, Jr.
Clint Maurer, Panhandle, Sr.
Zahir Loya, Sunray, Fr.
Class 1A
Girls
Qualifying team
Nazareth Swiftettes
Emma Kleman, Sr.
Kyanne Dunn, Sr.
Bliss Betzen, Jr.
Presley Wheeler, Fr.
Riley Ramaekers, Fr.
Chloe Birkenfeld, Fr.
Clementine Myrick, Fr.
Individual qualifiers
Aubrie Brannon, Claude, Sr.
Renee Fouquet, Claude, So.
Boys
Individual qualifiers
Stratton Potter, Texline, So.
Alex Acevedo, Silverton, Fr.
Caleb Homfeld, Miami, Jr.
Daniel Quevedo, Hartley, Fr.