Highlander harriers assuming the favorite’s mantle once again
After securing 31st regional title, The Woodlands ready for state bid
The Woodlands boys cross country team claimed its 31st regional championship last week.
They won the Region II6A meet with five runners in the top 10 and 29 points – 54 more than second-place College Park.
“It’s always nice to be on top at the regional meet,” coach Juris Green said.
It was a little nicer this year after finishing second to the Cavaliers at the district and regional meets last season.
The Highlanders also won the District 16-6A meet two weeks ago.
“It’s certainly not the end goal but it’s a good stepping stone, just to check where we are as a group,” Green said. “Regardless of the results at the end, individually we had the efforts that we needed.”
They received those efforts all season.
The Highlanders’ win at the regional meet was their 11th team victory in12 races, including the Nike South Invitational and Region III preview.
“We’ve had a great year,” Green said. “It’s one of the better ones that we’ve had.
“Meets change each year, with teams and such, and some show up, some don’t, but we certainly went on the lookout for anyone we could find, and we certainly were not shy of facing competition.
“But cross country being what it is, it’s an individual sport. We can’t ride our schedule into the playoffs like a football team can, or some of the other team sports. None of that really matters. We have to show up at district, show up at regionals and show up at the state meet to really make some waves.”
Considering the team’s depth that shouldn’t be difficult.
The Highlanders claimed three of the top six spots and seven of the top 14 at the Region II-6A meet.
“The way they’re running and what they’re doing, from a coaching standpoint, I’m really happy and excited about the state meet,” Green said.
Green’s not surprised by what they’re doing at this point in the year.
He’s seen their steady progression and believes in their ability to take the training he’s given them and run with it.
“This time of year, from a coaching standpoint, it’s less about me and more about the guys,” Green said. “I’m probably more cranked up in August and September than I am now because the hay’s in the barn.”
Senior Michael Golden keeps improving.
He won the regional title in 14 minutes, 41.73 seconds. Only one other runner, Dallas Jesuit’s Connor O’Neill, broke 15 minutes.
“He’s been our top guy all year,” Green said.
“He’s made a great turn in his attitude and his development, so it’s not a surprise. His junior year was really good, and he was doing a lot of really good things, especially in the track season.”
Green said it’s hard to gauge how Golden’s regional time will translate to state.
The course at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie was altered because of the rain, making it different from last year’s path.
“He won with a 14:41, and it was a short course, in terms of running 5,000, but it was longer than (3,000). It was about 4,900 meters,” Green said. “So the conversion on that is good, but really what’s better is his competitiveness.
“Cross country’s not really about times. Too many people get caught up in those, and I certainly find myself looking at times more than I should, just because we get into that track mentality. But it’s his competitiveness (and) his anxiousness to get into competition that is really doing it for him.
“He loves to mix it up with people and he’s been doing it consistently all season and he’s getting better and better at it.”
The Woodlands will mix it up with the best teams in the state next week.
The UIL Cross Country State Championships are set for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
Southlake Carroll is the four-time defending Class 6A champion, but The Woodlands, winners of five straight state titles before that, may be ready to break through again and snap the Dragons’ streak.
“That’s something that we’ve talked about and that’s definitely on our minds,” Green said.