Boys Regional Recap: 800m & 1600m State Qualifiers Set After Weather-Delayed Weekend
Same weekend, same weather, same stakes — and the boys brought the heat.
While Region 3 was still drying out from Friday’s downpour, the rest of the state’s distance runners got their business done. By Sunday, 96 boys had punched their tickets to Myers Stadium. Here’s the full picture on the 800m and 1600m.
The top two finishers per region earn automatic berths (marked x). The fastest third-place time across all four regions in each event earns the wild card (marked x as well). Third-place finishers who don’t claim the wild card go home.
Boys 800m — Class 5A
Region 1 | Fort Worth/West Texas Area
Braylon Kinzie of Wichita Falls Memorial ran 1:53.23 to win Region 1 — nearly three seconds under his 1:56.18 season best. Nolan Werth of Fort Worth Paschal took second in 1:55.45, and William Escobar of Lubbock-Cooper finished third in 1:55.68.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Braylon Kinzie | Wichita Falls Memorial | 1:53.23 | 1:56.18 | 1:56.18 |
| 2-x | Nolan Werth | Fort Worth Paschal | 1:55.45 | 1:57.52 | 1:57.52 |
| 3 | William Escobar | Lubbock-Cooper | 1:55.68 | 1:56.60 | 1:56.60 |
Region 2 | Dallas Area
Dylan Grzywinski of Frisco Wakeland won in 1:52.62 — under his 1:54.49 season best. He finished eighth in 2025 at the State Meet. Noah Converse of The Colony ran 1:53.10 for second. Jayden Washington of Red Oak — who owns a 1:52.99 personal best — finished third in 1:53.39 and falls just outside the wild card. He was the ninth place finisher a year ago at State.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Dylan Grzywinski | Frisco Wakeland | 1:52.62 | 1:54.49 | 1:54.49 |
| 2-x | Noah Converse | The Colony | 1:53.10 | 1:55.08 | 1:55.08 |
| 3 | Jayden Washington | Red Oak | 1:53.39 | 1:53.40 | 1:52.99 |
Region 3 | Houston Area (Weather-Delayed)
Colby Huntress of Austin Anderson — one of the most decorated 5A distance runners in the state — won Region 3 in 1:52.41, executing in a tight race with John Fowler of Beaumont West Brook (1:52.60) right behind him. Roy Ramirez of La Porte finished third in 1:53.03, which was just enough for the wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Colby Huntress | Austin Anderson | 1:52.41 | 1:52.70 | 1:51.54 |
| 2-x | John Fowler | Beaumont West Brook | 1:52.60 | 1:52.33 | 1:52.33 |
| 3-y | Roy Ramirez | La Porte | 1:53.03 | 1:50.84 | 1:50.84 |
Ramirez’s 1:53.03 is the fastest third-place time across all 5A regions and earns the wild card berth.
Region 4 | San Antonio Area
Channon Davis of San Antonio Wagner won in 1:52.64 and Michael Castillo of CC Flour Bluff — who ran a 2:00 at Area before dropping to 1:55.18 at season best — ran 1:53.45 for second. Jacksen Ahlman of McAllen finished third in 1:56.38, well off his 1:53.97 personal best.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Channon Davis | San Antonio Wagner | 1:52.64 | 1:53.28 | 1:53.28 |
| 2-x | Michael Castillo | CC Flour Bluff | 1:53.45 | 1:55.18 | 1:55.18 |
| 3 | Jacksen Ahlman | McAllen | 1:56.38 | 1:54.81 | 1:53.97 |
Boys 800m — Class 6A
Region 1 | DFW Area
Lincoln Wright of Mansfield Legacy won in 1:51.14 — a personal best and the fastest 6A regional time of the weekend. Fletcher Draper of Keller Central ran 1:51.99 for second. Claudio Auns of Carroll finished third in 1:52.43, earning the wild card as the fastest third-place time in 6A.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Lincoln Wright | Mansfield Legacy | 1:51.14 | 1:51.80 | 1:51.80 |
| 2-x | Fletcher Draper | Keller Central | 1:51.99 | 1:53.12 | 1:53.12 |
| 3-y | Claudio Auns | Carroll | 1:52.43 | 1:52.51 | 1:52.51 |
Auns’ 1:52.43 is the fastest third-place time across all 6A regions and earns the wild card berth.
Region 2 | East Texas/Woodlands Area
Fabien Acevedo of Klein Oak won Region 2 in 1:53.14, running just over his 1:52.01 season best. Zane Daniel of Magnolia West ran 1:53.36 for second. Chance Anderson of Rockwall Heath (1:53.55) — who carries a 1:52.89 personal best — lands in third and just misses the wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Fabien Acevedo | Klein Oak | 1:53.14 | 1:52.01 | 1:52.01 |
| 2-x | Zane Daniel | Magnolia West | 1:53.36 | 1:53.18 | 1:53.18 |
| 3 | Chance Anderson | Rockwall Heath | 1:53.55 | 1:52.89 | 1:52.89 |
Region 3 | Houston Area (Weather-Delayed)
Nicholas Ferguson of Houston Heights owns a 1:50.64 personal best — one of the fastest marks in the 6A field — and ran a measured 1:50.79 to win Region 3. Maddox Davis of Katy took second in 1:53.15. With no Cooper Lutkenhaus in the field, Davis is the top returner from the event a year ago. He finished sixth a year ago at the state meet. Eli Nettles of Humble Atascocita ran 1:53.29 for third, a solid time that still falls short of the wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Nicholas Ferguson | Houston Heights | 1:50.79 | 1:50.64 | 1:50.64 |
| 2-x | Maddox Davis | Katy | 1:53.15 | 1:51.89 | 1:51.89 |
| 3 | Eli Nettles | Humble Atascocita | 1:53.29 | 1:52.87 | 1:52.87 |
Region 4 | San Antonio/Austin Area
Samuel Ackerman of San Antonio Reagan won in 1:52.90 and Rory Seale Yonnone of Austin High ran 1:53.03 for second. Sean Gonzalez of Schertz Clemens finished third in 1:53.51 and will not advance.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Samuel Ackerman | San Antonio Reagan | 1:52.90 | 1:54.18 | 1:54.07 |
| 2-x | Rory Seale Yonnone | Austin High | 1:53.03 | 1:54.02 | 1:54.02 |
| 3 | Sean Gonzalez | Schertz Clemens | 1:53.51 | 1:53.57 | 1:53.57 |
Boys 1600m — Class 5A
Region 1 | Fort Worth/West Texas Area
Andrew DeYoung of Grapevine won Region 1 in 4:16.53 — a personal best and a four-second drop from his 4:21.20 Area mark. Tyler Connelly of Aledo took second in 4:18.09. Ellis Jackson of Lubbock Coronado ran 4:18.76 for third, a big improvement from his 4:30.39 Area time that likely falls short of the wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Andrew DeYoung | Grapevine | 4:16.53 | 4:17.84 | 4:17.84 |
| 2-x | Tyler Connelly | Aledo | 4:18.09 | 4:22.06 | 4:22.06 |
| 3 | Ellis Jackson | Lubbock Coronado | 4:18.76 | 4:29.65 | 4:29.65 |
Region 2 | Dallas Area
Andrew Malan of Frisco Lebanon Trail entered regionals with a 4:12.01 personal best and ran a dominant 4:15.97 to win Region 2. Joshua Loera of North Mesquite took second in 4:17.26. Jaxson Hart of Prosper Walnut Grove ran 4:18.32 for third — a time that is right on the bubble for the wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Andrew Malan | Frisco Lebanon Trail | 4:15.97 | 4:12.01 | 4:12.01 |
| 2-x | Joshua Loera | North Mesquite | 4:17.26 | 4:17.62 | 4:17.62 |
| 3 | Jaxson Hart | Prosper Walnut Grove | 4:18.32 | 4:18.45 | 4:18.45 |
Region 3 | Houston Area (Weather-Delayed)
The best 5A 1600m regional by a wide margin. Colby Huntress doubled back from the 800m and won in 4:12.45 — well under his 4:18.69 Area mark and consistent with his 4:10.69 season best. John Fowler of Beaumont West Brook also doubled, running 4:12.91 for second. Then there’s Jaxon Asbill of Dayton, who finished third in 4:13.74 and earns the wild card going away — his time is the fastest third-place mark across all 5A regions and it isn’t close. Asbill, who carried a 4:11.84 personal best in and ran near it under pressure, is very much a podium threat in Austin.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Colby Huntress | Austin Anderson | 4:12.45 | 4:10.69 | 4:10.69 |
| 2-x | John Fowler | Beaumont West Brook | 4:12.91 | 4:19.19 | 4:19.19 |
| 3-y | Jaxon Asbill | Dayton | 4:13.74 | 4:11.84 | 4:11.84 |
Asbill’s 4:13.74 is the fastest third-place time across all 5A regions and earns the wild card berth.
Region 4 | San Antonio Area
A tight regional at the top. Nathan Salinas of Sharyland won in 4:17.38, just over his 4:17.29 Area mark. Adrian Rangel of Seguin — who ran 4:36.20 at Area before dropping to a 4:28.33 season best — ran 4:17.45 for second in a big breakthrough. Samuel Olivares of McAllen ran 4:17.75 for third, a time that just misses the wild card given Asbill’s dominant third-place finish in Region 3.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Nathan Salinas | Sharyland | 4:17.38 | 4:17.29 | 4:17.29 |
| 2-x | Adrian Rangel | Seguin | 4:17.45 | 4:28.33 | 4:28.33 |
| 3 | Samuel Olivares | McAllen | 4:17.75 | 4:21.11 | 4:21.11 |
Boys 1600m — Class 6A
Region 1 | DFW Area
Caden Leonard of Carroll ran 4:05.04 to win Region 1. That’s a controlled effort from a runner whose 3:59.54 season best already places him in rarefied air for Texas high school distance. He is the clear favorite to win the 6A 1600m title in Austin and may have something very special left for the state final. Anthony Abeyta of Keller ran 4:08.72 for second. Rhett Austin of Lake Highlands — who holds a 4:16.20 personal best — ran 4:10.31 for blazing fast third and the wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Caden Leonard | Carroll | 4:05.04 | 3:59.54 | 3:59.54 |
| 2-x | Anthony Abeyta | Keller | 4:08.72 | 4:11.47 | 4:11.47 |
| 3-y | Rhett Austin | Lake Highlands | 4:10.31 | 4:24.69 | 4:16.20 |
Austin’s 4:10.31 is the fastest third-place time across all 6A regions and earns the wild card berth.
Region 2 | East Texas/Woodlands Area
Camden Gibson of Conroe Woodlands College Park won in 4:08.10, just over his 4:05.72 season best but well-controlled. He was third at the 2025 State Meet in this event behind Leonard and Benjamin Montgomery. Elton Martin of The Woodlands ran 4:09.29 for second. Griffen Saacke of Bridgeland — brother of Bridgeland’s Rowan Saacke, who swept the girls 6A 3200/1600m — ran 4:18.14 for third and will not advance. He will go to State in the 3200m.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Camden Gibson | Conroe Woodlands College Park | 4:08.10 | 4:05.72 | 4:05.72 |
| 2-x | Elton Martin | The Woodlands | 4:09.29 | 4:09.57 | 4:09.57 |
| 3 | Griffen Saacke | Bridgeland | 4:18.14 | 4:20.99 | 4:13.21 |
Region 3 | Houston Area (Weather-Delayed)
Matteo Pascucci of LC Clear Springs won Region 3 in 4:18.53 and Carter Maloy of Katy Tompkins ran 4:18.97 for second. Jed Mazingo of Humble Kingwood finished third in 4:20.62 in what was a very tactical race, leaving no chance at a wild card.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Matteo Pascucci | LC Clear Springs | 4:18.53 | 4:21.93 | 4:21.93 |
| 2-x | Carter Maloy | Katy Tompkins | 4:18.97 | 4:18.38 | 4:18.38 |
| 3 | Jed Mazingo | Humble Kingwood | 4:20.62 | 4:23.39 | 4:22.36 |
Region 4 | San Antonio/Austin Area
Round Rock put two runners in the top two — Andrew Esparza won in 4:14.61 and Leo Brasil ran 4:16.17 for second — giving the Dragons a strong presence heading to state. Nicholas Maldonado of San Antonio Madison ran 4:16.79 for third.
| Place | Athlete | School | Regional | SB | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-x | Andrew Esparza | Round Rock | 4:14.61 | 4:13.00 | 4:13.00 |
| 2-x | Leo Brasil | Round Rock | 4:16.17 | 4:11.95 | 4:11.95 |
| 3 | Nicholas Maldonado | San Antonio Madison | 4:16.79 | 4:21.64 | 4:21.36 |
Names to Watch in Austin
Caden Leonard (Carroll, 6A 1600m) — A 3:59.54 season best. Ran 4:05 at regionals. He’s saving something for Myers Stadium, and the question isn’t whether he wins — it’s by how much.
Colby Huntress (Austin Anderson, 5A 800m/1600m) — Doubled in both events at regionals and won both. He is the top returner in both events from a year ago, having finished second in the 800m and fourth in the 1600m and is the current 5A XC champion. His 4:10.69 personal best leads the 5A field.
Jaxon Asbill (Dayton, 5A 1600m) — Wild card earner and one of the most compelling stories in 5A. After his runner-up finish at the UIL State Cross Country Championships last fall, he’s been building toward exactly this kind of championship run. A 4:11.84 personal best and 4:13.74 at regionals says he belongs.
Nicholas Ferguson (Houston Heights, 6A 800m) — His 1:50.64 personal best is the fastest in the 6A field. He ran 1:50.79 at regionals with more in reserve. If he runs his race in Austin, he’s a gold medal contender.
Ray Ramirez (La Porte, 5A 800m) — Fastest PR of the qualifiers (1:50.84) but needed the wild card to squeak into the State Meet.
Round Rock (6A 1600m) — Esparza and Brasil both advance and both carry sub-4:14 season bests. The Dragons could put two runners in the 6A 1600m final and make some noise.
The UIL 5A and 6A State Meet takes place May 15-16 at Myers Stadium in Austin.
State Qualifiers at a Glance
Boys 800m — 5A
| Athlete | School | Regional Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colby Huntress ✓ | Austin Anderson | 1:52.41 |
| John Fowler ✓ | Beaumont West Brook | 1:52.60 |
| Dylan Grzywinski ✓ | Frisco Wakeland | 1:52.62 |
| Channon Davis ✓ | San Antonio Wagner | 1:52.64 |
| Roy Ramirez ★ | La Porte | 1:53.03 |
| Noah Converse ✓ | The Colony | 1:53.10 |
| Braylon Kinzie ✓ | Wichita Falls Memorial | 1:53.23 |
| Michael Castillo ✓ | CC Flour Bluff | 1:53.45 |
| Nolan Werth ✓ | Fort Worth Paschal | 1:55.45 |
✓ Auto qualifier · ★ Wild card
Boys 800m — 6A
| Athlete | School | Regional Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Ferguson ✓ | Houston Heights | 1:50.79 |
| Lincoln Wright ✓ | Mansfield Legacy | 1:51.14 |
| Fletcher Draper ✓ | Keller Central | 1:51.99 |
| Claudio Auns ★ | Carroll | 1:52.43 |
| Samuel Ackerman ✓ | San Antonio Reagan | 1:52.90 |
| Rory Seale Yonnone ✓ | Austin High | 1:53.03 |
| Fabien Acevedo ✓ | Klein Oak | 1:53.14 |
| Maddox Davis ✓ | Katy | 1:53.15 |
| Zane Daniel ✓ | Magnolia West | 1:53.36 |
✓ Auto qualifier · ★ Wild card
Boys 1600m — 5A
| Athlete | School | Regional Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colby Huntress ✓ | Austin Anderson | 4:12.45 |
| John Fowler ✓ | Beaumont West Brook | 4:12.91 |
| Jaxon Asbill ★ | Dayton | 4:13.74 |
| Andrew Malan ✓ | Frisco Lebanon Trail | 4:15.97 |
| Andrew DeYoung ✓ | Grapevine | 4:16.53 |
| Joshua Loera ✓ | North Mesquite | 4:17.26 |
| Nathan Salinas ✓ | Sharyland | 4:17.38 |
| Adrian Rangel ✓ | Seguin | 4:17.45 |
| Tyler Connelly ✓ | Aledo | 4:18.09 |
✓ Auto qualifier · ★ Wild card
Boys 1600m — 6A
| Athlete | School | Regional Time |
|---|---|---|
| Caden Leonard ✓ | Carroll | 4:05.04 |
| Anthony Abeyta ✓ | Keller | 4:08.72 |
| Camden Gibson ✓ | Conroe Woodlands College Park | 4:08.10 |
| Elton Martin ✓ | The Woodlands | 4:09.29 |
| Rhett Austin ★ | Lake Highlands | 4:10.31 |
| Andrew Esparza ✓ | Round Rock | 4:14.61 |
| Leo Brasil ✓ | Round Rock | 4:16.17 |
| Matteo Pascucci ✓ | LC Clear Springs | 4:18.53 |
| Carter Maloy ✓ | Katy Tompkins | 4:18.97 |
✓ Auto qualifier · ★ Wild card