Region 2-3A
Girls Team Race Preview:
The current teams from the region ranked are No. 3 Pilot Point, No. 6 Quitman, No. 8 Whitesboro. Whitesboro is always in the mix in Region 2, and Quitman and Pilot Point have been experiencing a couple of great seasons recently.
At the state meet, it was Whitesboro following through with their regional title to capture the state title in Round Rock. Can they do it again? They only graduated their six and seven runners from the state meet roster, but most of the rest of last year's roster doesn't appear to be in tact for this year.
Can it be Pilot Point to win the region and state meets? Well, if you take the season best runs of each girl, their overall team average is faster than last year's state race by Whitesboro and the 2-5 split would be better.
Favorites: Pilot Point, Quitman, Whiteboro, Paradise
Sleepers: Mineola, Bells, Atlanta
Girls Individual Race Preview:
Not only were last year's team state champions from this region, but so was the individual state champ. Addison Hite has looked untouchable all season long and her 11:17 SB is proof that she is ready for a title defense.
Braleigh Wood (Quitman) was runner-up last year at the regionals and went on to finish 15th at state and Cara Sims (Elysian Fields) was third at regionals and went on to place fifth at state. Wood has a 12:00 two mile SB as does Daniela Baeza (Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill).
There are two additional girls along with Hite who have run sub twelve minute in the 3200m; Macie Morales (Commerce) - 11:27 and Tehya Lang (Callisburg) - 11:54.
Boys Team Race Preview:
Only No. 7 Commerce is the only 3A boys team in the region that is ranked in the lattest CCCAT top-10 poll.
Commerce has a 17:55 team average for this season. However, Atlanta (17:37) and Valley View (17:41) both have better team averages heading into regionals. Quitman at 17:55 also checks in ahead of Commerce, but this will all be settled on the course . . . one that will hopefully be in better conditions than last year's race.
Favorites: Commerce, Atlanta, Valley View, Quitman
Sleepers: Bonham, Leonard, Pottsboro, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill
Boys Individual Race Preview:
The top four runners from last year's regional championship all graduated leaving this year's race void of a front runner.
Try telling that to Kason Miles (Winona). Miles probably feels like this is his regional championship to win. He has a 15:50 season's best this season followed by Ethan Johnston (Pottsboro), and Dakota Jimenez (Quitman) who both have sub 16:20 runs.
Favorites: Kason Miles, Ethan Johnston, Dakota Jimenez, Miguel Cedillo, Brandon Dunavant
Sleepers: Oliver Roberts, Chase Gossett, Zane Reynolds, Ostan Hernandez, Victor Bravo