The Randall girls team finished second at the Region I-5A cross country meet in Lubbock to advance to state. [Provided photo]
Class 5A
Randall Lady Raiders
Team: Harley Albert, Sr.; Hanna Moreno, Sr.; Audrey Carrillo, Jr.; Ariyah Gomez, So.; Romie Rubio, So.; Janessa Torres, So.; Sierra Sanchez, Fr.; Lizzy Chen, Fr.
Regional finish: 2nd
About Randall: The Lady Raiders have a rich tradition at the UIL state meet. Randall won the Class 5A state team titles in 2013, 2014, 2016, and finished as runner up in 20015 and 2017.
What coach Rebekah James: “I always love taking a team down to state. We do everything as a team, and we practice that way. It’s going to be tough at state but we ran really well and surprised people at regional. Our expectation is to always get on the podium. We’re going to have to work but anything can happen.”
The Amarillo High girls team finished fourth at the Region I-5A cross country meet in Lubbock to advance to state. [Provided photo]
Amarillo High Lady Sandies
Team: Cammie Mitchell, Sr.; Courtney Latham, Sr.; Jewel Baer, Jr.; Brooke Latham, So.; Erika Couch, So.; Tristyn Bentley, So.; Ava Timmons, Sr.
Regional place: 4th
About AHS: The Lady Sandies make their second straight trip to the UIL Class 5A state meet. At last years meet, AHS finished fifth overall.
What coach Kevin Ufford says:“It’s always a huge accomplishment to make it to state. This group has very high expectations after finishing fifth last year. We didn’t have our teams best day at regionals, and you can’t do that against quality competition. But the girls have refocused and trained well since then. Our goal has been to get on the podium, and while there are some really good teams, that remains the same.”
Class 4A
The Canyon Lady Eagles won the Region I-4A championship for a second straight year. Canyon won the UIL Class 4A state title last season. [Provided photo]
Canyon Lady Eagles
Team: Gabi Davis, Jr.; Citori Harris, Jr.; Steelie Hudson, Jr.; Breanna Stuart, So.; Ellie Brown, So.; Camryn Melton, So.; Taylor Thomas, So.; Whitney Willeford, So.; Kinley Cornelsen, Fr.; Abree Winfrey, Fr.
Regional place: 1st.
About Canyon:The Lady Eagles are back to defend their Class 4A state championship they won last season. Leading Canyon on a stacked team is sophomore Breanna Stuart, who won the Region I-4A individual title.
What coach Ray Baca says: “We are excited to get back down to state. Our team has worked extremely hard for this. Our expectations is to run our best race of the season. If we do that, we will be happy.”
Class 3A
Bushland senior Tatum Fish has qualified for the UIL state meet all four years. [Provided photo]
Tatum Fish, Bushland
Year: Senior
Regional place: 8th (12:36.10)
About Fish: The senior never missed a UIL state meet, qualifying all four years. Fish’s best performance at state was a fifth place finish as a sophomore.
What Fish says: “It’s amazing to go all four years. It’s something I imagined and something I’ve worked toward. I’m definitely not nervous anymore being a senior, I’m just working my hardest to prepare. I have no real expectations going down there, I just want to go out and give if my all and have no regrets.”
Class 2A
Wellington sophomore Kyla Kane won her second straight Region I-2A championship this year, and is the defending UIL Class 2A individual champion. [Provided photo]
Kyla Kane, Wellington
Year: Sophomore
Regional place: 1st (12:02)
About Kane: The defending Class 2A state individual champion is back to defend her crown. Kane has had a fantastic season so, defending her Region I-2A in Lubbock this year. Not only will Kane try for a repeat but her Lady Skyrocket team also makes a return trip to state, hoping to get back on the medal stand after earning a bronze medal last year.
What Kane says:“I’m excited about the opportunity to be going back. It’s very fun to have the team with me. They make me run so much better and push me. Winning state last year set a big goal for me this year. I’d love to go down and win it again, and I’d like my team to get on the medal stand.”
Class 1A
The Happy Cowgirls are the defending Class 1A state champions. [Provided photo]
Happy Cowgirls
Team: Daisy Berry, Jr.; Kenli Johnson, Jr.; Emily Berry, So.; Ashlyn White, So.; Bailee Baggerman, So.; Brittany Gibson, Fr.; Halee Johnson, Fr.; Gracie Irlbeck, Fr.
Regional place: 3rd.
About Happy:Despite some key losses off last years Class 1A state championship team, the Cowgirls had a strong showing by claiming third at the Region I-1A meet, giving themselves a chance at a repeat for a team state title Saturday.
What coach Ryan Daughtery says: “It’s unique to get back and give ourselves a chance. We have strong runners and the core of our team is back. We’ve had some freshman step up for us. I think we have a group to do go down and compete, and try and repeat.”
UIL state cross country meet
Where: Old Settlers Park, Round Rock
When: Class 1A starts meet at 8:30 a.m.
Texas Panhandle girls team and individual qualifiers
Class 5A
Team qualifiers: Randall, Amarillo High.
Class 4A
Team qualifier: Canyon, Hereford.
Individual qualifier: Gisselle Hernandez, Perryton; Lexi Maul, Pampa.
Class 3A
Individual qualifiers: Alexis Trammell; Tatum Fish, Bushland.
Class 2A
Team qualifiers: Gruver; Wellington.
Individial qualifiers: Macy Higginbotham and Lula Nolen, West Texas High; Brayleigh McGill, Panhandle; Katelyn Hernandez, Sunray.
Class 1A
Team qualifiers: Happy, Nazareth.
Individual qualifiers: Lana Belmares and Jessica Solis, Valley; Alyssa Higgins, Claude.