The UIL cross country state championships concluded Saturday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, and several Fort Worth-area athletes shined.
Class 6A: Carroll’s Caden Leonard makes history
In the Class 6A boys race, Southlake Carroll’s Caden Leonard made history, winning his third consecutive state championship in 14 minutes, 42 seconds — seven seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Leonard is the first UIL athlete to three-peat in the largest classification.
Leonard’s performance powered the Dragons to a first-place team finish and a seventh consecutive state championship. Kai Gutierrez also shined, finishing in fourth place (14:56.50).
If the Dragons win next season, they’ll tie the record for the most consecutive championships in any UIL classification. Led by head coach Justin Leonard, Carroll cross country is the first to win seven straight in the UIL’s largest class, cementing the program as a historic dynasty.
Keller’s Boston Bowcutt had a strong individual performance, finishing ninth (15:19.10) to lead the Indians to a fourth-place team finish.
In the Class 6A girls race, the top Fort Worth-area athlete was Carroll’s Luna Gutierrez, who placed 17th (18:15.20). Weatherford’s Remington Boone followed very closely behind, finishing one-fifth of a second after Gutierrez.
Southlake Carroll’s squad took fifth place, while Byron Nelson came in sixth.
Class 5A: Grapevine, Aledo thrive
In the 5A boys race, Grapevine won the team state championship, the Mustangs’ fourth in six years.
They were led by Andrew DeYoung, who finished eighth with a 15:39.80 mark. His teammate, Juan Gallegos, followed him in 10th with a 15:42.20 mark.
The top Fort Worth-area performer was Aledo’s Tyler Connelly, who seized third place (15:10.80) to lead the Bearcats to a fourth-place team finish.
In the 5A girls race, Aledo’s Molly Garrison finished second (17:53.50), leading the Bearcats to a third-place team finish. Grapevine was fourth.
Azle’s Jazmin Neri and White Settlement Brewer’s Madison Carroll also performed well, with 12th- and 16th-place finishes, respectively.