NXN South Regional (TX)
Ashton Endsley, Reed Brown Win Mud Battles
A Muddy Redemption For Ashton Endsley
If Texans thought their state meet was muddy, well... conditions at The Woodlands for the NXN South Regional were wet to say the least as Ashton Endsley outlasted Abby Gray after both collapsed in a mud pit in the final mile.
Gray, the Class 5A state champion, ran shoulder to shoulder with Endsley the entire race as the Abilene Christian senior looked for redemption after finihsing just 11th in the Class 6A state meet two weeks ago. Endsley, who spent much of the season undefeated and ranked within the top 25 nationally, adjusted just a bit better to the unfavorable conditions to snag the win and qualify for her first NXN.
Filling out the top five were Abby Guidry of Kingwood, Madie Boreman of Leander Rouse and Anna Elkin of Hebron. All will advance to NXN.
Snagging the auto berths to NXN on the team side were Southlake Carroll in first and Kingwood in second.
Reed Brown Wins; Runner-up Devyn Keith First-Ever Louisiana Qualifier
The Boys Championship competitors took to the course for the final race of the day, making their 5K the sloppiest of all. In a battle deemed "NXN Texas," it was Reed Brown from Southlake Carroll who came away with the individual win.
The junior placed just fifth at the Texas Class 6A state meet in similar conditions, but was able to power through the mud for the biggest win of his career to date.
Unheralded Devyn Keith of John Curtis High School took runner-up honors and is the first NXN qualifier from the state of Louisiana. Keith was only three days removed from winning the Class 5A state title, as the Louisiana state meet was pushed to Wednesday due to poor weather conditions.
Texas Class 6A state champion Daniel Golden of The Woodlands placed third to lead what is likely a team sweep, though official results are still forthcoming.
