Decatur sophomore Reagan Nicks placed 79th (12:47.10) in the 4A girls 2-mile run Friday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER
Nicks’ second consecutive appearance at the state cross country championships provided the Decatur sophomore a unique advantage. Her familiarity with the challenging course at Old Settlers Park allowed her to strategize effectively as she linked experience to performance.
Clocking in at 12:47.10, Nicks secured an impressive 79th place among her peers in the competitive 4A girls 2-mile race, which took place on Friday.
“I felt like I could have ran better,” Nicks reflected. “I went out pretty fast because my first mile was like at 5:20 — I didn’t know I was running that fast until I saw the clock. I think it was weird not running with my team here because I feel like I run better when my teammates are in the race, too.” Having experienced a combination of personal challenges and the unique dynamics of competition without her team, she acknowledged the impact it had on her performance.
Last season, Nicks was an integral part of the Lady Eagles’ successful state-qualifying team. As a freshman, she finished in 50th place with a time of 12:27.40, demonstrating her potential early in her high school career.
Nicks also excelled at the 2024 District 7-4A championships, where she earned the runner-up position with a time of 12:31.50. She showcased consistent improvement, placing 27th at the 4A Region I meet with a time of 12:54.90, further establishing herself as a competitive force.
“Reagan was just typical Reagan today,” said Decatur coach David Park. “She went out there and ran her race. One thing you could tell was that she was more prepared and calm than she was last year. There was excitement about coming back to state, but there wasn’t the nervousness of the unknown. She knew what she had to do. Her mental maturity really showed, and it’s going to keep getting stronger and better every year.”
Nicks has set her sights on leading the Decatur team back to the state meet during her final two seasons. “I do want us to make it back as a team,” she expressed. “I would like to PR at state and just keep doing my best. We run in a tough region, so we need to keep staying tight and really develop more of a bond as a team. We’re supposed to get some really good girls that are coming up next year, so I’m excited about that.”
Decatur junior Giselle Martinez races against Fredericksburg teammates Ava Stuewe (1966) and Valeria Ramirez (1965) down the stretch in the 4A girls 2-mile race Friday at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. Martinez placed 106th in 13:09.80. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER
Decatur junior Giselle Martinez also competed fiercely in the 4A girls 2-mile, finishing 106th in 13:09.80, marking her third straight appearance at the state level. She demonstrated resilience and determination, pushing through despite not feeling her best before the race.
“The weather was nice, and the competition was really good,” Martinez noted. “I wasn’t feeling my best before the race, but I just had to push through it. But I’m really happy for Reagan. She really finished strong.”
Reflecting on her progress, Martinez ran 13:18.60 for 89th place as a freshman in 2022. She made a remarkable leap in her sophomore year, jumping 57 spots and cutting her time down by over a minute to finish 32nd in 12:13.80.
“I’m a senior next year, and I really hope we can make it state again,” she stated confidently. “My goal is to get down to the 11s eventually. I know my time this year is really far from that, but that’s one of my top goals. I just have to get better from here.”
Claiming the district title this season with a time of 12:30.10, Martinez clocked 12:47.90 to seal a 23rd place finish at regionals, showcasing her competitive spirit and dedication to improvement.
Coach Park expressed pride in Martinez’s effort, acknowledging the challenges she faced during the race. “Giselle’s performance certainly wasn’t because of lack of effort,” he affirmed. “If you’re just a tick off in our sport physically, it’s going to magnify itself. It’s like the old saying — some days you’re the windshield, and some days you’re the bug. I feel bad for it, but I think she’ll be coming back next year.”
Canyon’s Addyson Bristow claimed the individual state title in a stunning time of 10:43.30, shattering the 4A girls state record by a staggering 24 seconds. Her teammates, Nayomi Granados (11:07.90) and Brooke French (11:12.50), secured silver and bronze, respectively, contributing to Canyon’s impressive performance.
Canyon scored an impressive 45 points to capture the team state championship, beating runner-up Canyon Randall (74) by a remarkable 29 points. Salado finished in third with a collective score of 95, rounding out a highly competitive event.
UIL Region 4 Cross Country Results
**Interview with Decatur’s Reagan Nicks on Her Recent Performance at the UIL Region I-4A Cross Country Meet**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Reagan! First off, congratulations on your performance at the state championships. You finished 79th in a very competitive field. How do you feel about your race and time?
**Reagan Nicks:** Thank you! I appreciate it. I felt like I could have run better, honestly. I started out pretty fast, but I didn’t realize it until I saw the clock. My first mile was around 5:20, which was surprising. I think running without my team affected my performance. I’ve usually done better when we compete together.
**Editor:** That must have been challenging. Can you share how your experience from last year’s state meet helped you this time around?
**Reagan Nicks:** Definitely! Having that previous experience really helped. I was familiar with the Old Settlers Park course and had a better understanding of what to expect. I felt more prepared and less nervous this time, which was a good improvement.
**Editor:** That’s a great insight, Reagan. Your coach, David Park, mentioned that your mental maturity showed during the race. Can you elaborate on how you feel you’ve grown as an athlete since last year?
**Reagan Nicks:** I think I’ve become more focused and calm when I compete. It’s important to stay mentally strong, especially in a tough race. Knowing what I need to do made all the difference this year. I really want to keep improving and leading my team to state again in the next couple of years.
**Editor:** Speaking of your team, you mentioned wanting to bring them back to the state competition. What are your goals moving forward?
**Reagan Nicks:** My main goal is to help our team qualify for state again. I’d love to achieve a personal record while I’m at it. We’ve got some promising new girls coming in, and I think it’s important for us to build a strong bond as a team. I’m excited about what the future holds!
**Editor:** It sounds like you have a solid plan in place. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with us today, Reagan. Best of luck in the upcoming season!
**Reagan Nicks:** Thank you! I appreciate the support and look forward to what’s next.
