The UIL State Cross Country Championships take place November 4-5.

All eyes are on Austin Vandegrift in the 6A division headed into next weekend’s (November 4-5) UIL State Cross Country Championships in Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock. Both the Vandegrift boys and the girls teams won the 6A Region 4 Championship in Corpus Christi last weekend. Senior Kevin Sanchez, who has been ducking under 15 minutes for the 5,000 meters posted a 15:47 to place first overall while junior Caitlin Garrett helped secure a state berth for the Vandegrift girls, posting 19:00 for fifth place. Other 6A notables headed for state include Round Rock senior Luke Hein with a fourth-place finish in 16:02.

Overall Central Texas 6A girls teams fared well, with Round Rock, Dripping Springs and Cedar Park all joining Vandegrift at the state meet. On the boys side, Round Rock and Westwood will also be going to state in 6A.

In 5A, the Georgetown boy’s team will  be running with junior Joseph Wienen expected to lead the way. Cedar Park junior Isabel Conde de Frankenberg won the Region 4 Championship 17:47 and will be competing as an individual at state as will Leander junior Jaya Coats, who came in fourth, running 18:45. Leander Rouse junior Edwin Rotich, who posted a 15:56 for fourth place at the Region 4 Championship meet will compete as an individual at state. Marble Falls boys made the cut in the 4A division.

The top four teams and the top 10 individuals (who are not already on an advancing team) all qualify from their respective regional meet to the state meet. This year, rather than holding the entire UIL meet on one day, it’s divided into two days (November 4-5) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. On Friday, November 4, divisions 4A, 2A and 6A will compete. On Saturday, November 5, divisions 3A, 5A and 1A will compete.

Upcoming Races: Saturday, November 5 at 7:30 a.m., the Bulldog Dash 5K in downtown Buda. Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 a.m. the Jameson 5K at Southwestern University in Georgetown. Sunday, November 6 at 7:00 a.m., the Run for the Water 10 Miler in downtown Austin.