Canyon, Gruver claim team titles at UIL state cross country meet

Multiple teams and athletes from the Texas Panhandle took home state titles at the UIL cross country championships Friday, Nov. 6 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. The Canyon girls team won its third consecutive Class 4A state title with 44 points while Salado (74 points) and Randall (80) rounded out the top three. The Lady Eagles were led by a first-place finish from Presli Pool, who finished the two-mile course in 10 minutes, 46.5 seconds, and aided by each of the team's top five runners placing within the top 20. Brooke French, the Lady Raiders' top finisher, was clocked at 11 minutes, 23.6 seconds, to earn fourth place. Perryton claimed second place in the Class 4A boys standings with 114 points, headlined by a first-place finish from Jacob Erickson, who completed the 5K race in 15 minutes, 18.8 seconds. Sanger took home the team championship with 104 points. Individually, West Plains' Robert Vartabedian earned second place (15:32.9), while Wolves' teammate Noah Holland placed fourth (15:37.2). Canyon rounded out the top three in the Class 4A boys team standings with 130 points as defending state champion Domenic San Miguel (16:08.3) finished eighth. Alexis Wade's Class 2A girls individual state