Top Storylines Heading Into The UIL Texas State Championship

Nov 03, 2022

* Macy Wingard (left), Madison Peters (center) and Nicole Humphries all enter the 6A girls state championships as legitimate title favorites.

Photo Credit: Roderick Pernetter/MileSplit Texas

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6A Girls Race Is Anyone's For The Taking

Twelve girls under 17:30. Four athletes recognized on the MileSplit50 list. All looking to capture their first-ever individual state title.

Talk about a stacked field in the girls 6A championships.

Who will come out on top? Frankly, there's no clear favorite, and it could very well be anyone's title to win.

Southlake Carroll's Ava Bushaw enters with the best 5k time in the field of 16:43.50 set at the 6A District 4 meet on Oct. 13 and is the only girl whose gone under 17 minutes this season in 6A.

But not far behind her is the athlete whose had perhaps the best comeback season of anyone in the country -- Madison Peters of Pearland. The junior has openly battled challenges with diabetes but has put together a breakout fall season, with feats including a 17:00.76 5k PR and eight-straight wins to remain undefeated thus far.

Behind Bushaw and Peters sit a slew of athletes all more than capable of stealing the title. Flower Mound twins Nicole and Samantha Humphries sit at TX No. 8 and No. 9 with 5k bests of 17:09.60 and 17:11.10, respectively, and Samantha enters the championships coming off the first regional win of her career.

Now leading the Flower Mound helm with 2021 state champion Natalie Cook now at Oklahoma State, one of the Humphries could certainly find themselves atop the 6A podium, and their finishes will also play a crucial role in the Lady Jaguars' team title chase.

But don't forget to watch out for the youngest talent in the field -- Denton Braswell's Macy Wingard. The freshman clocked 17:15.30 at the Marcus Coach T Invitational in September and set the current school record for 5k. In fact, all of Wingard's performances this season have surpassed the previous Denton Braswell all-time mark of 20:28.00 set in 2016.

Rounding out the top 10 athletes in the mix include San Juanita Leal (Edinburgh North), Shewaye Johnson (Prosper), Alexandra Walsh (Southlake Carroll), Audrey Dunn (Southlake Carroll) and Haley Harper (Plano West), all with 5k season bests under 17:23.