Courtesy Dragon XC
The Carroll cross country teams have turned winning into an art form. And at the 2025 UIL Class 6A State Championships last weekend, the powerhouse program once again proved why it’s the standard in Texas distance running.
Behind a record-setting performance from senior Caden Leonard, the Dragon boys claimed their seventh consecutive state title, while the girls added another milestone with a fifth-place team finish in one of the deepest championship fields ever assembled.
Leonard, already one of the most decorated runners in school history, became the first athlete in the UIL’s largest classification to capture three straight individual titles, crossing the line in 14 minutes, 42 seconds — seven seconds clear of the next finisher.
“It’s special because every one of these titles came with a different challenge,” said Head Coach Justin Leonard, who has guided both programs to national prominence. “The guys and girls both showed what makes Carroll unique — selfless work, relentless preparation and belief in each other.”
Sophomore Kai Gutierrez added another highlight with a fourth-place finish (14:57), becoming one of the few underclassmen in school history to break 15 minutes at Old Settlers Park. Behind him, juniors Jaxon Glenn (24th, 15:39) and Claudio Auns (36th, 15:47), along with Grant Norgart (49th, 15:54), Michael Fuller (56th, 15:52), and Evan O’Donnell (68th, 16:06), combined for a team average of 15:23 — one of the fastest in program history.
The Lady Dragons mirrored that excellence on their side of the course. Senior Luna Gutierrez capped her standout career with a 17th-place finish (18:15), setting the pace for Megan Bergman (37th, 18:36), Grace McIlvain (47th, 18:45), Abigail Perez (52nd, 18:50), and Quinn Salstrand (83rd, 19:18). The performance marked Carroll’s 28th consecutive state appearance, a streak few programs in the country can match.
Saturday’s results extended a postseason run that had already been historic. Just two weeks earlier, the Dragons dominated the Region 1-6A Championships in Lubbock, where the boys secured their eighth straight regional crown and the girls finished second to nationally ranked Flower Mound. Leonard won his third consecutive regional title (15:03), with Gutierrez taking third in 15:13 — fueling one of the fastest team averages ever recorded at Mae Simmons Park.
Both squads also swept through the District 4-6A Championships at Bob Jones Park.
The team also captured the NXR South Regional Championship in College Station with a dominant performance by its runners. Senior Caden Leonard led the charge, finishing first overall in 14:37.40, followed closely by sophomore Kai Gutierrez in fifth (14:54.00). Junior Jaxon Glenn placed 36th, while senior Michael Fuller ran a strong 41st and junior Claudio Auns crossed in 43rd, rounding out the team’s scoring five. Carroll’s depth and consistency across all its scoring runners proved decisive in claiming the team title against a competitive field at the Watts Cross Country Course.
Other Dragons who contributed to the team’s success included junior Grant Norgart (52nd), junior Evan O’Donnell (68th), senior Liam Bengtsson (42nd) and junior Augustin Juneau.