Six Athletes Chasing History & State Titles This Weekend

From potential record-breakers at the UIL Championships in Texas to star-studded fields in Iowa, Oregon, and Colorado, this weekend's contenders look poised to leave no doubt about who belongs among the elite.

Here's a look at six superstars ready to shine on the biggest stage of the fall.

Although she has only raced four times throughout her senior campaign, she has absolutely dominated as of late. One of the next stars of the BYU Cougars, Wingard is looking to secure the three-peat at Old Settlers Park. A year ago, she pulled away from the field with ease, ultimately stopping the clock at 17:07.9, finishing 25 seconds ahead of the rest of the talented field.

Considering she's coming off a 16:30 at Districts and a 16:54.2 winning time at her Regional meet, there's no doubt she's eyeing Brynn Brown's (Denton-Guyer) meet record of 16:25.89. She'll have to deal with Laney Barnes (Cypress Woods) and Maya Easterwood (Coppell) to pull off the feat, though she's already a crisp 2-0 this fall against the latter.

Four races. Four trips under 14:50.

The Colorado junior has been making waves since late August, dazzling spectators with a string of statement victories. His most impressive came under the lights at Desert Twilight, where he edged out Yohanes Van Meerten (Flagstaff), 14:23.9 to 14:25.7.

Horton has been untouchable throughout his junior campaign, but a few accolades have eluded him since he entered the high school ranks, including Parker Wolfe's Colorado soil record of 14:30.1.

He's clocked as fast as 14:37 in The Centennial State this fall, doing so just last week at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs.

The junior's breakout season is far from over, and the top spot in the record books would be a fitting momentum builder heading into the national postseason.

Just a few days removed from receiving a Golden Ticket for the Brooks XC Championships and announcing her commitment to the University of Oregon, Lincoln is looking to capture her first cross country state title, a win that has been within reach the last two years.

After finishing runner-up in 2023 and third in 2024, Lincoln has arguably been the best in the region and one of the most consistent runners in the nation up to this point, and there are no signs she's slowing down anytime soon.

In the eight meets she's raced this year, she's won five of them and finished runner-up in the other three. After notching a lifetime best of 16:28.5 at The Mook XC Invite at Alderbrook in September, Lincoln is currently riding a three-race win streak that began with a sub-17 performance at the 5th Annual Rose City Championship.

Only a junior, Lincoln appears due for her first state title, as she's been the most dominant runner in Oregon this fall, and her recent form suggests this is only the beginning of what's to come.

Heemeyer has quietly put together one of the best campaigns in the country up in Idaho, posting a clean 5-0 record highlighted by a big-time personal best of 16:37 at the Inland Empire Championships.

As she gears up for her final high school cross country postseason, Heemeyer is firing on all cylinders and has solidified herself as a formidable competitor.

Heading into the state championship, no one has finished within 20 seconds of Heemeyer, including her biggest threat in Idaho's 5A class, Boise Senior's Audrey Orme, who has clocked 17:08 this fall.

After finishing 12 seconds back of Orme a year ago, Heemeyer would love nothing more than to avenge last year's third-place finish with a dominant win over a worthy opponent.

As defending team champions, Heemeyer and her Rocky Mountain teammates are hoping to repeat, though Orme and Boise Senior are poised to be major factors in the team battle as well.

The future Oregon Duck picked up right where he left off after a historic track campaign, entering championship season on a seven-race winning streak that dates back to the final weekend of August.

During that stretch, Nauman has done just about everything. He's dominated marquee meets like the Heartland Classic, comfortably cruised through smaller local races, and-oh yeah-shattered the Iowa state record.

At the Jim Boughton Cross Country Invitational in Dubuque, Nauman became the first Iowan ever to break 14:40 on state soil, clocking 14:39.4 to win by 10 seconds over Keegan Decker and Jaden Merrick, the two fastest runners in state history before him.

In the month since, Nauman has kept the momentum rolling as he sets his sights on defending his state title from a year ago.

One of the gutsiest and most determined runners you'll ever read about, there's a very real possibility he decides to push the pace from the gun-and if he doesn't, it's going to take something special to keep him from the top of the podium.