Fifteen athletes from Wise County are converging on Old Settlers Park in Round Rock this Friday, November 6, to compete in the UIL state cross country meet. Representing Decatur and Slidell, these runners aim to win the state championship after finishing in the top spots at regional qualifying races on October 26 in Lubbock and Fort Worth.
Slidell’s Tactical Experience on the 2A Course
The Slidell Hounds return to the state meet with a high degree of roster continuity, fielding six runners from the 2025 squad that finished fourth overall. The Hounds secured their spot after a bronze finish at the 2A Region II meet, scoring 110 points at the Rolling Hills Soccer Complex.
Sophomore Cash Luig leads the charge for Slidell, coming off a fifth-place finish at the regional meet. His consistency remains the team’s primary benchmark; he secured a top-15 finish at state last season. Junior Carter Pierce and Joshua Beard also provide critical depth, both having finished in the top 15 at regionals with times of 17:01.70 and 17:09.60, respectively.
Cameron Brown and Slidell Boys Team Compete at State
The schedule for Slidell’s representatives is as follows:
| Athlete | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Brown | 2A Girls 2-Mile | 9:30 a.m. |
| Slidell Boys Team | 2A Boys 5K | 10:10 a.m. |
Cameron Brown, a senior, represents the individual contingent. She earned her second career state berth by finishing 13th at the regional meet with a time of 13:01.90. Brown’s progression since her 2023 debut—when she finished 60th at the state level—demonstrates the iterative improvement curve necessary to compete at the 2A level.
Decatur Lady Eagles’ Return to 4A Competition
Decatur’s girls team makes its first state appearance since 2023, having clinched the third-place berth at the 4A Region I meet in Lubbock. The team’s performance was particularly notable given the inclement weather at Mae Simmons Park, where runners faced rain and saturated trails. Scoring 91 points, the Lady Eagles finished behind regional champion Canyon and runner-up Canyon Randall.
Junior Jayden Oates will be one to watch, leading the Decatur squad with a 13th-place regional finish at 12:12.50. Beside her, senior Reagan Nicks brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the starting line. Nicks is making her fourth consecutive state appearance, having logged three prior finishes in the top 80.
Decatur Roster Prepares for the 4a Girls Race
The Slidell boys defeated fourth-place North Hopkins by only six points to secure their bid, while Decatur outscored fourth-place Brownwood by 39. These margins highlight the importance of depth; while top-tier finishes like Luig’s or Oates’ capture headlines, the team score is determined by the total output of the entire roster.
The 4A girls 2-mile run is scheduled for 10:55 a.m. The Decatur roster includes:
- Jayden Oates
- Reagan Nicks
- Skylar Sicking
- Maddyx Coffman
- Ahlani Torres
- Rainey Gokey
- Tessa Rogers
The Wise County Messenger reported that live results will be updated online as they become available throughout the day on Friday. This digital-first approach to reporting allows for real-time tracking of individual split times and final team standings as the runners cross the finish line in Round Rock.
The Technical Demands of Old Settlers Park
Unlike track races, the 5K and 2-mile cross-country courses at the state meet require runners to run through trails rather than on flat, controlled surfaces. For the Slidell and Decatur runners, the preparation has focused on translating their regional performances into an effort on the Old Settlers Park trail.
The transition from the regional courses at Rolling Hills and Mae Simmons Park to the championship course is a factor for the teams.
