Southern Denton County once again proved why it is a hotbed of high‑school distance‑running talent. On Friday, the Flower Mound Lady Jags stormed to a decisive victory in the 6A girls state championship, securing the program’s sixth title in the past seven seasons. Across the finish line, Denton Guyer junior Ruel Newberry claimed the 6A boys crown, adding another chapter to the county’s storied cross‑country legacy.
Lady Jags repeat as state champions
The Flower Mound girls team refused to be stopped, out‑pacing a strong field that included Bridgeland—who had bested them in 2025—as well as perennial powerhouses The Woodlands and Southlake Carroll. Senior leaders Liana Cluley‑Garza (3rd overall), Aditya Bennett (6th), and Eliana Rivera (10th) anchored the squad, delivering a combined score of third, fourth and fifth place for the team. Juniors Allie Driscoll (45th) and Jewel Barnes (49th) added valuable points, finishing with 27 and 29 respectively. The Jags’ depth was evident as senior Megan Schmidt (78th) and junior Saina Awalegaonkar (136th) filled out the scoring roster.
Byron Nelson girls finish strong
Byron Nelson’s Lady Bobcats earned a respectable seventh‑place finish. Senior Elena Sather led the team with a 28th‑place finish (15 points), while sophomore Lyla Calaway (44th, 26 points) and freshman Cheryl Bor (52nd, 32 points) contributed solidly. Junior Audrey Pavlicek (82nd) and senior Talia Ramirez (83rd) rounded out the scoring group, each adding over 50 points.
Individual standouts from the county
Beyond the team results, Southern Denton County athletes shone individually. Denton Guyer sophomore Anneliese Hull placed 74th overall, and Northwest High School’s Zoe Banis finished 86th.
5A girls competition
In the 5A division, Argyle High School secured a 12th‑place finish, propelled by freshmen Annee Binning (32nd, 16 points) and Presley Skaggs (46th, 27 points). The Lady Eagles will retain a full varsity roster next season, giving them a chance to build chemistry and improve their standing.
Ruel Newberry repeats as state champion
On the boys side, Denton Guyer junior Ruel Newberry reclaimed the top spot on the podium, posting a winning time of 14:36.3 over the 5,000‑meter course. Newberry had finished second to Southlake Carroll’s Caden Leonard in 2025, but this year he surged ahead by seven seconds to secure first place.
Other boys results
Freshman Greyson Potter of Marcus High School placed 109th overall. Flower Mound’s boys squad finished eighth as a team, driven by seniors Joshua Shemi (45th, 29 points), Elliott Carrier (50th, 31 points), Damien Hicks (68th, 45 points), Eric Cano (71st, 47 points) and Hayes Iacomini (78th, 52 points). Junior placeholders Owen Dunham (83rd) and Carter Cole (119th) rounded out the Jags’ scoring roster.
5A boys representation
Argyle High School sent a pair of runners to the 5A boys meet: junior Stiles Deneault (26th) and sophomore Jaxen Siqueiros (31st). Their performances add to the county’s depth across classifications.
Looking ahead
With state titles secured, many teams will now turn their focus to the upcoming Nike Cross Regional meet in College Station, a competition that draws schools from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Successful regional results will pave the way to the national championship meet. In addition, athletes will begin transitioning to the spring track season, where they hope to carry their cross‑country momentum into new events.
The continued success of Flower Mound, Guyer and other Southern Denton County programs highlights the region’s commitment to youth athletics, strong coaching, and supportive families—key ingredients that keep our community thriving.
Original reporting: Cross Timbers Gazette — read the source article.
