The Randall girls claimed their unprecedented fourth UIL state championship, Canyon sophomore Addyson Bristow won the individual championship, and the Canyon boys made it back-to-back UIL Class 4A state titles.
Randall scored 50 points to hold off Fredericksburg (61) by 11 points to claim a fourth title for Rebekah James in her 21st season as head coach. It was a pair of freshmen that led the Lady Raiders. Nayomi Granados brought home a silver medal clocking a time of 11:17.6, which was fractions of a seconds ahead of teammate and freshman Brooke French who came in third for a bronze medal with an 11:17.6.
But where Randall won this race was their back-end runners. Sophomore Aspen Turman had a top 10 finish coming in ninth (11:52), Rebel Rea was 15th running a 12:00.6 and Yareli Ramos came in 21st (12:13.4).
“From where we started in June, I knew we had some really good athletes,” James said. “We worked hard all summer. We went to Oklahoma State and got fourth against some nationally ranked teams and we ran at difficult meets all year to get better against the best. I knew we had a shot because of are three, four and five runners. Our top two runners, Nayomi Granados and Brooke French, did an amazing job and ran when they had to run. This is just so exciting. You know I started out a basketball coach and head track coach when Randall opened. Then when cross country job came open, I got it and now we have four state championships. It’s incredible but it couldn’t have been done by every young lady that comes through this program.”
Over James’ illustrious career, Randall has made 15 straight trips to the UIL state meet with four team championships, two runner-up finishes one third place finish and has two individual champions.
Bristow, the district and Region I champion, never trailed in this meet running the first mile in 5:24.3, then pulling away to win by nine seconds.
“It is awesome,” Bristow said. “I never thought I’d win this. Last year I was 51st and now to win it is really fun. This has been an amazing season. The first half of race was close, but the pace got pushed and I pushed back.”
Canyon head coach Ray Baca echoed Bristow’s comment.
“It was awesome,” Baca said. “Usually you get to this part of season where you are planning strategy. But she has just done what she has done all year and she just wanted it. It was really close at the mile turn but at the mile and a half mark she pulled away. I’m just so proud of her. She’s started had some problems with her knee, so she hasn’t run a lot lately. We did some training stuff and stayed active. She just believed in herself.”
The Eagles, who dominated all season, scored 56 points to beat runner-up La Feria (105) by 49 points.
Senior leader Alex Niemiec was superb as usual finding the medal stand individually with a silver medal by clocking a 15:18.17 just missing a gold by nine seconds to individual state champion Angel Sanchez of Fort Worth Hills-Jarvis (15:09.9). Canyon teammate Lathan Lewter was fourth overall by running to a time of 15:25, Ryan Fernandez came in sixth (15:40), Jamison Kirton tallied a 17th place time of 16:34.2, and Noah Cooper earned a 29th place finish (16:49.2).
“This just shows the work these guys have put in all year,” Canyon head coach Wes Kirton said. “I’m just so proud of this team and to see a dream come true two years in a row. This was our goal. We never lost that hunger, we wanted this and it’s awesome to see these guys get it.”
Dumas’ Brian Corona competed well leading the Demons as he came in 21st pacing a 16:41.5.
Class 2AÂ
Farwell’s Isabella Jaime took the momentum from her Region I individual championship and took it to Round Rock to find herself on the medal stand once again.
The Lady Blue junior ran a remarkable race in her biggest moment to earn a silver medal with a time of 11:47.3, 17 seconds behind state champion Emily Pharris of Shelbyville (11:30.8). Because of Jaime, and teammate Alexis Wade coming in an impressive fourth place clocking a 12:04.5, Farwell led all Texas Panhandle teams placing fifth overall with 150 points.
Panhandle followed Farwell in sixth place as a team with 159 points. Freshman Riley Segura led the Ettes by earning 24th overall with a time of 12:49.3. The Gruver Lady Hounds came in ninth with a 212. Jordan Schenk paced the Lady Hounds in 27th (12:54).
Booker’s Adrian Rosales also had a strong showing by popping his name in the top 30 in 22nd place (17:05) and Ryder Robinson of Memphis rounded out the top 30 with a 17:12.5.
 Class 1AÂ
Springlake-Earth’s Taytum Goodman put herself in rare air on Friday during the UIL Class 1A state cross country meet.
The sensational Goodman won her fourth straight 1A individual state championship by racing to a time of 11:20.1 leaving the field in the dust by almost 40 seconds. Goodman stamps her career as one of the best runners in state history and is just the third competitor to win four straight state championships, the last being 30 years ago.
Texline’s Jada Clay made a name for herself coming in sixth overall with a time of 12:22.27 and Claude’s Shealee Brannon was just outside the top 10 thanks to a 12:37.5.
The Nazareth Swiftettes placed sixth overall after a runner-up finish at the Region I meet. Sophomore Madison Brockman led Nazareth placing 11th overall with a 12:57.3.
Class 3AÂ
The Dalhart Lady Wolves fell just short of the medal stand but still made quite the showing at the UIL Class 3A state cross country meet.
Dalhart came in fourth as a team with 162 points missing the medal stand by one point to Lytle (161). Victoria Terrazas led the way with a 16th place finish (12:25.7). Teammate Circe Johnson was 23rd (12:321.9).
Friona’s Yvonne Legarreta ended a stellar career making her fourth straight appearance at the UIL state meet. After a bronze medal last year, Legarreta placed fifth this senior season with a time of 11:45.1. Canadian’s Konnar McClendon was also a highlight coming in 12th pacing a 12:15.3.
Class 5A
Amarillo ISD was represented with two runners on Friday during the UIL Class 5A state meet.
Palo Duro’s Abdirisak Saidgurhan, the District 3-5A champion, placed 28th overall clocking a 16:05.8, and Amarillo High’s Parker Maybin came in 62nd with a 16.34.5.
Ascension boys and girls find medal stand at TAPPS state cross country meet
The Ascension Academy boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams both found the medal stand earning bronze during the TAPPS Class 2A state cross country meet last week in Waco.
The boys team scored 94 points to finish behind Southcrest (54) Christian and state champion Providence Classical (28). Owen Chow did his best work for Ascension by finishing 11th overall to lead the team with a time of 18:16.98.
The Ascension girls’ team scored 70 points just eight points behind second place St. Paul (62). Providence Classical also won the girls side with an eye-popping 23 points.
Kathleen Bartley led the Lady Cardinals placing 10th overall clocking a 13:58.50. That top 10 finish gave Bartley All-State honors.
In Class 3A, San Jacinto Christian Academy’s Hudson Cunningham took fourth to earn All-State honors with an impressive time of 17:48.4.
In Class 1A, Rylee Detten-Ramos placed ninth for Holy Cross with a time of 18:50.76.