The Southlake Carroll boys’ and girls’ cross country teams each competed at the Region 1-6A cross country championships at Mae Simmons Park on Monday, Oct. 21. The boys took home their seventh consecutive regional title, while the girls placed third. Both Dragon teams qualified for the state meet.
Southlake Style
Caden Leonard wins his second straight UIL Regional Championship with a time of 14:53, nearly twenty seconds faster than his winning time last season.
The win marks the 28th consecutive year the girls have qualified for the state meet, and the 15th straight year for the boys. The boys have won five consecutive state titles.
“We are incredibly proud of our runners' performance at the regional meet,” said Head Coach Justin Leonard. “Competing in such a competitive region, they rose to the challenge and earned their spots at the state meet. Our boys are excited to defend their state title, while the girls are eager to reclaim the championship.”
Junior Caden Leonard won the individual boys’ title for the second straight year, finishing the 5000-meter run in 14:53— nearly twenty seconds faster than his championship time a year ago. Senior Griffin Cords finished 6th overall with 15:24, followed by senior Blake Bullard (9th, 15:44), freshman Kai Gutierrez (19th, 16:05) and senior Alex Severson (22nd, 16:09). Senior Michael Fuller (28th, 16:20) and sophomore Jaxon Glenn (55th, 16:54) rounded out the Dragon runners.
In the girls’ race, junior Luna Gutierrez paced the Dragons, finishing 12th overall with a time of 18:54, followed by senior Elizabeth Smits (22), with a time of 19:13. Senior Sarayu Veluri finished 27th in 19:18, followed by sophomores Abigail Perez (35th, 19:40) and Grace McIlvain (54th, 20:00). Freshman Quinn Salstrand (58th, 20:13) Senior Gabriella Tesoriero (70th, 20:26) were the Dragons’ final two finishers.
The 6A state championship meet will be held in Round Rock on Friday, Nov. 1.