Wylie East High School’s cross‑country program is building on last year’s historic state appearance. Coach Luke Scribner, now in his third season, guided the Lady Raiders to a fourth‑place finish at the Region II‑6A meet, edging Klein Oak by three points and clinching the final automatic team berth for the Class 6A state championship in Round Rock.
Team outlook and returning leaders
Three members of the previous state‑qualifying squad return: juniors Evangeline Williams, Isabelle Price and Amiya Runsewe. Williams, who placed seventh at last year’s state meet, overcame a lower‑body injury to finish fourth at regionals, positioning herself for another podium push. Price and Runsewe gained valuable experience in Round Rock last season, finishing 131st (20:13) and 135th (20:24) respectively.
Emerging talent adds depth
Freshman Olivia Jeffcoats impressed Scribner with a 31st‑place regional finish, quickly establishing herself among the team’s top runners. Juniors Reagan Tolar and Renata Saucedo have shown marked improvement, while freshman Arsema Haimanot stepped into the No. 7 spot after a season with the junior varsity squad.
Scribner believes the combination of last year’s state experience and the team’s preparation will allow the Lady Raiders to improve on their 14th‑place finish in 2025. “Going to state last year has motivated them a lot,” he said. “If we can put it together at state, we can finish in the top 10.”
Individual qualifiers
Senior Michael Price earned his first individual state berth by placing 21st at regionals with a time of 15:44.9, securing the final individual spot for runners from non‑qualifying teams. “It was a ‘I did it’ moment and a turning point for his confidence and maturity,” Scribner noted.
On the girls’ side, freshman Eliana Williams captured the Region II‑6A championship in 17:49.3, posting the ninth‑fastest time in Class 6A according to the team’s rankings. Head coach Colton Reynolds praised her composure, recalling how she asked for a pace increase at the 500‑meter mark and then surged ahead to win.
Looking ahead to Round Rock
Both the Lady Raiders and the boys’ individual qualifier will head to Round Rock with high expectations. The team’s 11‑day break between regionals and state provides a valuable window for recovery and focused training, especially for Williams as she aims to return to the podium.
Wylie East’s cross‑country program continues to demonstrate the values of hard work, perseverance, and community support—principles that resonate with families and faith‑centered neighborhoods across the Dallas‑Fort Worth metroplex.
Original reporting: Wylie News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
