USA

THE LAST TRAIL: Previewing the 2024 UIL State Cross Country Meet

In what feels like the blink of an eye, the final cross country meet of the year is already upon us.

Given the superfluous number of runners who stood out in their respective Regional races, it is a likely possibility that H-Town could take gold in the coming days.

On the boys' side, both Katy and Bridgeland feature several individuals -- such as Ryder Darcey (Katy) and Benjamin Montgomery (Bridgeland) -- who could potentially wind up on the winner's podium.

Humble ISD is representing as well, with Atascocita, Summer Creek, Kingwood, and Kingwood Park sending multiple competitors to State.

Additionally, Caroline Barrow (Katy Taylor), Jamie Klander (Mayde Creek), Bissinatt Abdelasis (Alief Elsik), Lily Fawcett (Bridgeland), Addison Scott (Houston Memorial), Brooke Marshall (Lake Creek), and Rowan Saacke (Bridgeland) are just a few names to headline the girls' entrants.

As teams around the state prepare to travel to Old Settler's Park in Round Rock, TX, here are the Houston-area contestants we expect to shine in the ensuing UIL State Cross Country Meet this week.

...

Top Contenders out of Houston

*Numbering is based on how runners finished at Regionals (5K)

UIL-6A Region III (Boys)

1. Benjamin Pearce - Stratford (15:08.32)

2. Ryder Darcey - Katy (15:23.96)

3. Eli Mugambi - Atascocita (15:26.66)

4. Chris Creedon - Clear Creek (15:27.96)

5. Mathias Pitzel - Tompkins (15:29. 86)

6. Da'Juan Allison - Summer Creek (15:41.71)

7. Evan Couture - Katy (15:41.80)

8. Shepherd Steen - Fulshear (15:44.44)

9. Zachariah Morin -- Fort Bend Elkins (15:46.54)

10. Alex Hahn Vadstein - Cinco Ranch (15:49.79)

11. Emilio Garza - Kingwood (15:50.09)

12. Michael Klahn - Katy Taylor (15:51.30)

13. Joshua Perez - Katy (15:52.90)

14. Elijah Emerson - Paetow (15:53.40)

15. Zach Madsen - Clear Lake (15:59.11)

...

UIL-6A Region III (Girls)

1. Caroline Barrow - Katy Taylor (17:35.21)

2. Jamie Klander - Mayde Creek (17:42.00)

3. Addison Scott - Houston Memorial (18:04.63)

4. Eliana Contreras - Kingwood (18:12.07)

5. Sophie Peterson - Houston Memorial (18:35.71)

6. Victoria Guerrero - Katy (18:36.05)

7. Katherine Valentine - Clear Falls (18:39.23)

8. Bissinatt Abdelasis - Alief Elsik (18:44.69)

9. Lauren Acopa - Katy (18:44.85)

10. Clara Dye - Kingwood (18:48.55)

11. Claudia Klander - Mayde Creek (18:53.83)

12. Casey Scherpereel - Katy Taylor (18:57.04)

13. Sophia Hamdani - Bellaire (18:58.65)

14. Vienna Fish - Katy (19:09.89)

15. Jimena Cavazos - Deer Park (19:12.41)

...

UIL-6A Region II (Boys)

1. Benjamin Montgomery - Bridgeland (14:56.81)*

2. Griffen Saacke - Bridgeland (15:16.57)

3. Elton Martin - The Woodlands (15:19.74)

4. Camden Gibson - College Park (15:30.43)

8. Yannick Broos - College Park (15:45.47)

9. Kyle Pawlak - Bridgeland (15:45.73)

10. Tyler Weston - Bridgeland (15:46.03)

12. Tyler Hedgepeth - The Woodlands

13. Maddox McCallister - Bridgeland (15:47.26)

15. Dylan Yarbrough - Klein Collins (15:51.83)

...

UIL-6A Region II (Girls)

1. Lily Fawcett - Bridgeland (17:32.28)*

2. Rowan Saacke - Bridgeland (17:51.12)

3. Lydia Butler - Klein Oak (18:08.17)

4. Sophia Phillip - Magnolia (18:11.45)

5. Susana Rawls - Bridgeland (18:13.64)

7. Alexis Garza - Tomball Memorial (18:15.52)

8. Marian Mann - Klein (18:27.09)

9. Stoya Laydevant - The Woodlands (18:30.29)

10. Keara Zver - Grand Oaks (18:32.93)

11. Naomi Weller - The Woodlands (18:34.20)

12. Sophia Goerlich - Klein (18:42.04)

14. Haley Hill - Bridgeland (18:43.90)

15. Brynlee Weston - Bridgeland (18:44.81)

...

UIL-5A Region III (Boys)

1. Aiden Fitzgerald - Friendswood (15:19.73)

2. Matthew Binkley - Montgomery (15:39.60)

3. Amisadai Yanez - Texas City (15:40.96)

4. Jaxon Asbill - Dayton (15:48.82)

5. Elijah Merino - Kingwood Park (15:51.00)

7. Carson Brown - Kingwood Park (15:58.74)

11. Alex Hillier - Friendswood (16:14.99)

15. Aiden Lowery - Friendswood (16:27.62)

...

UIL-5A Region III (Girls)

5. Lauren Semeniuk - Montgomery (19:09.91)

6. Brooke Marshall - Lake Creek (19:15.25)

12. Charlie Tran - Friendswood (19:35.38)