Road to Texas UIL state meet starts for El Paso HS cross country teams

The 2026 postseason is here for El Paso high schoolcross country runners. All runners and teams are hopeful of qualifying for the regional and state meets. First up is the district meet for Classes 4A, 5A and 6A on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Horizon Golf Course. The regional meet is scheduled for Oc

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2026 postseason is here for El Paso high schoolcross country runners.

All runners and teams are hopeful of qualifying for the regional and state meets.

First up is the district meet for Classes 4A, 5A and 6A on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Horizon Golf Course. The regional meet is scheduled for Oct. 26-27 in Lubbock and the state meet is Nov. 6-7 in Round Rock.

Schedule for the El Paso district meets

District 1-5A girls, 8:40 a.m.
District 1-5A boys, 9:15 a.m.
District 2-5A girls, 9:45 a.m.
District 2-5A boys, 10:20 a.m.
District 1-6A girls, 10:50 a.m.
District 1-6A boys, 11:20 a.m.
District 1-4A girls, 11:50 a.m.
District 2-4A girls, 12:20 p.m.
District 1-4A boys, 12:50 p.m.
District 2-4boys, 1:20 p.m.

Boys teams to watch at El Paso district meets

Eastwood. The Troopers are ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 6A by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas.
San Elizario. The Eagles are a perennial power in El Paso and look to return to the state meet.
El Paso High. The Tigers are the defending District 1-5A champions.

Girls teams to watch at El Paso district meets

Eastwood. The Troopers are ranked No. 7 in the state in Class 6A by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas.
Franklin. The Cougars have a well established program and could qualify for regionals.
Hanks. The Knights look to defend their 2025 title.

Eastwood cross country coach Michael McLain cheers for Noah Garcia, who finished third in the Class 1-6A boys race during the district meet at Horizon Golf Course on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.

El Paso boys runners to watch at El Paso district meet

Noah Garcia, Eastwood. A leader for the Troopers, who won the prestigious Desert Twilight Meet in Mesa, Arizona, this season.
Daniel Maese, San Elizario. Maese has run a team best 16:00 in the 5K this season.
Mateo Diaz, Hanks. Had a top 10 finish at the Lubbock meet on Oct. 3.
Richard Mendoza, Franklin. Mendoza has the team's top time in the 5K with 15:28.
Andrew Truax, El Paso High. Truax is a consistent performer and is the defending individual champ in District 1-5A.

Fabens' Alexia Martinez finishes first in the 2-4A girls race at the Horizon Golf Course on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

El Paso girls runners to watch at El Paso district meet

Kylie Vega, Eastwood. Vega was the second-place finisher in District 1-6A last season and went on to finish 8th at state.
Sayuri Ulloa, Burges. Has been one of the top runners in Class 5A and is a serious contender to win district.
Sophia Barraza, Franklin. Barraza has run a personal best in the 5K this season with a time of 18:17.
Ivanna Romero, Americas. Romero has had a solid season for the Trailblazers with a 5K time of 20:02.0.
Alexia Martinez, Fabens. One of the top runners in Class 4A, she has qualified for both the cross country and track and field state meets in her career.

Felix F. Chavez can be reached@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Road to Texas UIL state meet starts for El Paso HS cross country teams