The Preseason MileSplit50 Top 25 Boys Team Rankings

No. 8: The Woodlands (TX)

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Analysis: Five returners are back for the UIL Class 6A runner-ups from 2021, including the team's top two seniors, Ben Reyes and Pablo Lesarri, who finished 35th and 15th, respectively, at the state championships. Like usual, it's crowded at the top of Texas, with the likes of Southlake Carroll and Atascocita also trying to prove themselves. 

But already, The Woodlands is fending off competition. In its first meet of the season, on Aug. 26 at its Bear Branch Park course, The Woodlands' boys held off Atascocita at Friday Night Lights, winning by seven points. Senior Straton Miller, who was the team's third-best returner heading into the season, was the program's top finisher, while the first five members of its lineup all finished in the top 25. 

Depth will be a strength for head coach Juris Green in 2022. If someone can develop into a top 10 finisher at state, The Woodlands could fare even better. 

Biggest Question: Finding the right strategy to take down Southlake Carroll.

The Woodlands lost to the Dragons by 31 points at the state championships in 2021. But interestingly enough, the Highlanders scored two before Southlake even got one. But Carroll's pack was 15 seconds strong and that intense depth won the meet on the day. Can The Woodlands put together a similar strategy in 2022? 

Schedule: 

Friday Night Lights, August

Region Championships, October

State Championships, November

Nationals, December

X Factor: Straton Miller.

The team's preseason No. 3 is already off to a fast start. He finished sixth at the Friday Night Lights meet, covering the 4K course in 12:42.00.

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