Still nearly nine months from her 16th birthday, Huffman-Hargrave sophomore Emmy Nolte has established herself as the de facto runner to beat in Region 3-4A.
With Fairfield runners Madison Smith and Morgan Coleman off to college, Nolte now enters a likely top three competition for the Region 3 title with Lufkin Hudson's sophomore Kayleigh Wagnon and Fairfield junior Jarahle Daniels. Wagnon returns as the defending champ with a two mile time of 12:19.50, just seconds ahead of Nolte.
Nolte would go on to place 38th at the 4A state meet last November.
"My goals for this year is to win district again, progress my times to get lower, and to get a top 2 at regionals," said Nolte.
"I also want to help my team place every time and to have a top 15 finish at state."
Nolte came out of the gate in 2018 as a legitimate force in the two mile as she took a 14th place at the Region 3 Preview meet in early September, her second ever varsity race. She would go on to take 5th place at the Ennis Lions Den Invitational and the district title two weeks later.
Her confidence was peaking as she would run her best ever time of 12:27.95 at the Region 3 meet. She was ready for state.
"I was very nervous going into that race," said Nolte.
"Not only because it was a state meet but there was a lot of competition on our team to see who was going to have the top finish. In the end I was happy with my finish."
Nolte will begin her 2019 season this weekend as the Lady Falcons travel to Huntsville to compete in the "Region 3 Preview" meet.