Female cross-country team on a podium with medals and a trophy at UIL State Championships, posing with coaches against a blue backdrop. — The Canyon Lady Eagles won their third straight UIL Class 4A state cross country championship Friday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. [David Erickson/ Press Pass Sports]

The Texas Panhandle absolutely dominated with showcase team and individual performances during Friday’s UIL state cross country championship at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

There was no bigger splash than the cornerstone of the Amarillo-area and that was the Canyon Lady Eagles. The powerhouse program showed zero signs of slowing down by running away with their third straight UIL Class 4A team championship with 44 points. Not only is it the Lady Eagles third straight state title, but Canyon ties Highland Park for the most state championships in Texas history with 15 overall.

“It’s awesome to win another state championship,” Canyon head cross coach Ray Baca said. “It doesn’t matter how many state championships you win, every team is different. This group is great to coach and there wasn’t any drama all year. We were also able to stay healthy and it was just a fun group to coach. We did the work all year and I felt that was the key. It started in the summer then into the fall. So, here at state, we knew we just had to go out and run like we knew how. I’m just so happy for these girls and this program.”

Canyon scored 44 points to hold off second-place Salado (74 points).

Female runner in a white and purple kit leads a road race, with a blurred group of runners behind on a gravel path. — Canyon sophomore Presli Pool won the UIL Class 4A individual state championship. [Mairyn Flores/ Press Pass Sports]

Sophomore standout Presli Pool helped the Lady Eagles soar. Coming off a District 4-4A championship, then a Region I-4A title, Pool made it a complete sweep winning the individual state title running an incredible time of 10:46.5. That was 29 seconds better that silver medalist Mccall Boyd (11:15.2) of Salado.

“This is amazing,” Pool said. “This was the goal for us all year. We wanted to go out and run like we had all year and we all did that. Winning an individual championship is a big step up for me also. I’ve come a long way and this means a ton. I’m excited to celebrate it.”

Aubrey Holloway was the other Lady Eagle to finish in the top 10 with a time of 11:26.9. Ella Martinez (11:40.9) and Emah Quicksall (11:44.1) were in the top 20 coming in 14th and 15th place.

District 4-4A was also represented by Randall. The Lady Raiders found the podium with 84 points and a bronze medal team finish. Senior Brooke French was fourth individually pacing her squad with an 11:23.6. Teammate Rebel Rea was ninth overall clocking an 11:32.5, and Maren Lefever was 10th (11:32.8).

Running as an individual, Emily Gross of Dumas took 12th overall with a time of 11:37.2.

Young male runner in a red Perryton jersey crosses the finish line, bib number 2157, at a park cross-country race with a bold'2026 CHAMPION' banner. — Perryton’s Jacob Erickson won the UIL Class 4A individual championship Friday. [David Erickson/ Press Pass Sports]

On the boys’ side, Perryton’s Jacob Erickson is a UIL Class 4A state champion. The Rangers junior outran the field for a winning time of 15:18.8. Erickson, who was making his second straight appearance at the state meet, held off Robert Vartabedian of West Plains (15:32.9) by 14 seconds for the victory. Erickson made school history in the process as the first individual to win a state title.

“It means a lot to me,” Erickson said. I’ve been working on this since eighth grade. “I had a lot of confidence and by the third my I felt like I had the race in control and was able to win. I’m more proud of this team. We’ve just grown so much the past two years and what we did was amazing.”

Behind Erickson’s effort, Perryton was able to take silver as a team with 114 points. That was only nine points behind state champion Sanger (105). That’s the Rangers first time on a state podium since 2020, and the first silver medal in school history.

“It was a historic day for us,” Perryton head cross country coach Staci Erickson said. “We’ve come so far as a program. We’ve worked from the bottom of district to winning a regional in the past few years. Now, we’re nine points away from a state title. As for Jacob, he was incredible. He had a plan, and he was confident. He made a move around the two-mile mark and the race was his. I’m so proud of him as his coach and his mother.”

Defending state champion, Canyon, got on the medal stand once again coming in third as a team with 130 points. Domenic San Miguel led the Eagles placing eighth overall (16:08.3)

On top of Vartabedian’s performance for West Plains, Noah Holland was fourth individually clocking a 15:37.2.

Group of athletes on a podium with medals and trophies after a cross‑country state championship, posing with coach on the left against a UIL backdrop. — The Gruver Lady Hounds won their the UIL Class 2A state cross country championship Friday in Round Rock. [Photo courtesy of Tessa Grotegut]

Class 2A also ran Friday.

Stealing the show in the small school was the Gruver Lady Hounds. Making their ninth straight appearance in Round Rock, the Lady Hounds tallied 63 points to win the programs sixth state championship in school history and first since 2019.

“The girls ran awesome,” Gruver cross country coach Steven Livingston said. “We knew we had to do something special to bring a team title home and we were great when it mattered. Five of these girls ran under 13 seconds. That was the first time they’ve done that this year. I’m so proud of them as a unit and it was awesome to watch. This is the ninth straight time for us to be here and the seventh time we’ve gotten on the podium. That’s a testament to this team and they are carrying on the legacy.

The Lady Hounds 64 points were 41 points better than second-place Lipan’s 104 points. Paisley Quirk, Mcrhea Cudd and Halle McLain all finished in the top 20 to pace Gruver. Quirk, the District 1-2A champion, was 15th overall (12:37.6), Cudd was 16th (12:37.7) and McLain was 17th (12:38.9).

Young female runner breaks the finish-line tape that reads'2026 Champion' as spectators cheer nearby at a cross-country race finish. — Farwell’s Alexis Wade won the UIL Class 2A individual cross country championship Friday. [David Erickson/ Press Pass Sports]

Individually, Farwell’s Alexis Wade left everything she had in Round Rock and it paid off. Making her fourth straight appearance at at the state meet, Wade’s patience paid off as the Lady Blue senior won the Class 2A individual title by running her best Old Settlers time of 11:46.5.

“Winning a state championship means so much to me,” Wade said. “This has been my goal and I was so happy to be on that medal stand with a gold medal. I didn’t have any nerves this year and I just went all out. I wanted to get out fast and have a lead. I was able to do that.”

Farwell cross country coach Joe Crabb echoed Wade’s comments.

“It was amazing to watch Alexis run and win that state championship,” Crabb said. “She works so hard and never takes a break. She has been driven to be here and accomplish this. Seeing her win wasn’t surprising.”

Farwell finished fifth overall with 181 points. Teammate Ava Jaime helped that taking fourth overall running a time of 12:10.8.