Dragon XC Defends the Tradition, Boys and Girls XC

Podium at Regional Meet and Qualify for State Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2026

Gutierrez Leads Dragons to 2^nd Place While Perez

Paces Lady Dragons to 3^rd Place at Mae Simmons Park

LUBBOCK, Texas – The road to Round Rock for the 2026 XC State Championships became official Monday morning as Southlake Carroll added another chapter to one of Texas cross country's most successful traditions. Facing one of the deepest and most competitive regional championships in the state, the Dragons placed a close second the UIL Region I Championship at Mae Simmons Park. The Lady Dragons battled through one of the strongest girls' fields in Texas, placing third and continuing a breakthrough season that has steadily elevated the program into the state's upper tier.

Just eleven days after District 4-6A produced two individual champions, the team added regional individual top ten performances from Kai Gutierrez and Claudio Auns with a strong 16^th place finish on the girls side from Abigail Perez. The Dragons 2^nd place and Lady Dragons  3^rd place podium performances reflected months of work that began long before the postseason arrived. Since late May, the Dragons and Lady Dragons have gathered before sunrise, balancing Texas heat, fatigue, and the demands of a rigorous academic schedule. Region I provided another opportunity to showcase the results of those investments.

Head Coach Justin Leonard said, “Our goal coming into Regionals was to advance both teams and put ourselves in position to compete at our best at State. We accomplished that, but we know there are things we need to improve before Round Rock. Every runner and every point will matter. Our focus now is on sharpening our preparation, executing our race plans, and getting our best team performances of the season when it matters most.”

Boys’ Varsity 5K — Dragons Defend the Tradition

The Region I qualifier was especially significant because of the quality and depth of the field. The boys race featured one of the deepest championship fields assembled in Texas this season, including nationally ranked programs such as Keller and El Paso Eastwood and also a meet and course record by a DFW competitor. The boys 2^nd place missed the crown by a mere 5 points. The individual race was equally impressive. Featuring four nationally ranked athletes, the lead pack remained tightly contested deep into the race. Kai Gutierrez ran an impressive 14:50 against some potential All Americans.

Senior Claudio Auns placed a robust 8^th in 15:28 and Senior USMA commit Jaxon Glenn in 13^th (15:38).  Grant Norgart (15:42) and Troy University commit Evan O'Donnell (15:53), rounded out the top 5 scoring spots for the boys team.

For Gutierrez, the performance represented another step in a breakthrough season. Following his first District championship, he added a Region I podium finish and continues to establish himself among the state's elite postseason performers. The boys will face the regional champion Eastwood High and their district rival Keller again at state in two weeks.

Girls’ Varsity 5K — Lady Dragons Continue Breakthrough Season

The Lady Dragons continued one of the most encouraging seasons in recent program history against a regional field stacked with many of Texas' premier programs. Abigail Perez once again led Carroll, crossing in 18:32, while Grace McIlvain followed just 21 seconds later in 18:53. Megan Bergman and Nora Fardan delivered critical scoring performances in 18:57 and 19:05, while Quinn Salstrand completed the scoring five in 18:57.

Perez continued the outstanding senior campaign that began the post season with the dramatic District championship.  Grace McIlvain and Abigail Perez have emerged as leaders of the program, helping establish the culture and accountability that have fueled the Lady Dragons' rise throughout the season. Perez's success this fall has attracted significant attention from top-tier NCAA Division I programs, and that recruiting interest has grown alongside the emergence of the Lady Dragons as one of Texas' most improved teams.

The connection between individual success and team growth has been one of the defining storylines of Carroll's season. From a podium finish at the Chile Pepper Festival to a three-point deficit at District and a State-qualifying performance at Regionals, the Lady Dragons have steadily built momentum, with Perez's rise and the team's breakthrough season advancing hand in hand.

State Championship Bound

With Region I complete, both varsity teams now turn their attention to the UIL State Cross Country Championships, which will be contested on November 6, 2026, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas: [tx.milesplit.com]

For the Dragons, the objective remains unchanged. Carroll will pursue an eighth consecutive UIL state championship while continuing a tradition that has made the program one of the most respected in the nation. A victory in Round Rock would secure the program's eighth straight state championship and the 12th boys cross country state championship in school history, further extending one of the most remarkable championship runs in Texas high school athletics.

Beyond the state meet, the Dragons remain focused on qualifying for December's Nike Cross Nationals, the premier high school cross country championship in the United States. Reaching Portland is never guaranteed. Texas remains one of the strongest cross-country states in the nation, and the NXR South Regional Championships consistently feature nationally ranked programs from across the South. The level of competition required simply to qualify often rivals that found at State Championship meets across the country.

The Lady Dragons enter State following a breakthrough season that has steadily elevated the program into the upper tier of Texas distance running. Led by District champion Abigail Perez and supported by a veteran lineup featuring five seniors, Carroll has consistently risen to every challenge this season. From a podium finish at Chile Pepper to a three-point defeat at District and a strong performance at Regionals, the Lady Dragons have continued to build momentum and confidence.

The championship season now reaches its final stage. Check it out on TXMileSplit: [tx.milesplit.com]

Southlake Carroll – Region I Individual Results

Carroll Varsity Boys (5K)

Carroll Varsity Girls (5K)