Southlake Carroll Dragon XC Delivers Major Statement Win at Exclusive Southlake Elite 5K Invitational

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 5, 2026

Boys Dominate with Gutierrez Setting the Tone; Lady Dragons Battle to 4th in Loaded Multi‑State Field in Season’s First 5K Rust‑Buster

Southlake, TX – On a warm September morning at Bob Jones Park, the Southlake Carroll Dragon Cross Country program once again reminded the prep distance world why it sits atop the national conversation. In an exclusive, invite‑only elite meet featuring powerhouse programs from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, both the Dragons and Lady Dragons toed the line for their first 5K race of the season — the annual rust‑buster that traditionally reveals early‑season fitness and sets the tone for the fall. This year’s Southlake Elite 5K Invitational was restricted to invited, nationally recognized teams, creating one of the most competitive early‑season meets in the region. Programs from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas brought elite front‑runners and deep rosters, making Carroll’s performances, especially the boys’ dominant win, even more impressive.

The Dragons, the nation’s #2 ranked boys team, delivered a commanding performance, scoring a mere 36 points and showcasing a front pack already being talked about as one of the most formidable in the United States. The Senior class are showing the fruits of years of commitment and labor as they placed 5 classmates in the top 6 of the team all in the top 14 of the elite section of the 5k. Not to be outdone, after a scorched earth early lead by Claudio Auns, Junior Kai Gutierrez again took the lead and dominated the field. The Lady Dragons, facing one of the strongest early‑season fields in the South, fought with trademark grit to secure a 4th‑place finish, despite missing star senior Abigail Perez. Senior Grace McIlvain continued her streak of top tier races with an impressive 18:30.

“This was a great early-season test against an outstanding field. Our boys showed the strength of their experience and commitment, while our girls competed with tremendous toughness despite not being at full strength. We still have plenty of work ahead, but this performance showed that both teams have the potential to accomplish something special this season.” — Head Coach Justin Leonard

Boys’ Varsity Elite 5K — A National Statement in the Season’s First 5K

The Dragons’ front pack — Kai Gutierrez, Claudio Auns, Evan O’Donnell, and Jaxon Glenn — is widely regarded as one of the most elite quartets in the nation, and their 1‑6‑7‑9 finish only strengthened the case. For a first 5K rust‑buster, the performance was nothing short of exceptional.

Junior Kai Gutierrez hammered home the individual title in 14:47, while seniors Auns, O’Donnell, and Glenn formed a scoring wall that few teams in America could hope to crack. Senior Adhavan Palanivelrajan and Senior Grant Norgart closed out the scoring with 13th and 14th place finishes, giving Carroll a top‑five spread of just 37 seconds.

Several Carroll athletes delivered all‑time personal records in the full 5K — a clear sign that the summer miles, the culture, and the expectations of Dragon XC continue to produce historic results. With Junior Alban D’Souza awaiting his season debut and several young athletes starting to reap the benefits of the Carroll training and competition, we may see even more record setting performances by the team this fall.

Girls’ Varsity Elite 5K — Grit, Growth, and a Top‑Four Finish Without Their Star Senior

The Lady Dragons placed 4th with 111 points, led by senior Grace McIlvain, who finished 11th overall in 18:30. Carroll’s scoring pack — McIlvain, Dukes, Farden, Lambert, and Salstrand — delivered a tight spread and demonstrated the blend of senior leadership and emerging underclass talent that will define this group throughout the fall.

And importantly, the Lady Dragons achieved this result without star senior Abigail Perez, a  decorated middle‑distance athlete in her own right. For a first 5K rust‑buster, the team responded with toughness and maturity — a testament to the depth and competitive fire of this year’s roster. For an average team time of 19:02, the girls look to make some noise in district and the region in 6 weeks at the championship window of the season.

The Dragons return to action on Thursday September 12^th at the Braswell Invitational (Ray Braswell Invitational (Meet is Full) 2026 - Meet Information) at North Lakes Park in Denton while the top 7 athletes from each team will make the trip out to the historic Woodbridge Invitational in Irvine, CA on September 19^th (45th Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic - Meet Info - Cross Country Meet). With momentum building and depth emerging across both squads, Dragon XC looks poised for another fantastic season.

Southlake Carroll – Elite Race Individual Results

Top Boys Finishers (Elite 5K)

Top Girls Finishers (Elite 5K)