Southlake Carroll Dragon XC Wins First‑Ever Woodbridge Sweepstakes Title; Kai Gutierrez Takes Historic 2nd Overall Finish with Fastest Carroll Mark Ever

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 19, 2026

Boys Capture First‑Ever Woodbridge Sweepstakes Title; Girls Place 23rd With 531 Points Against Elite National Field

Irvine, CA – On a cool California evening under the lights at the historic Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, the Southlake Carroll Dragons delivered one of the strongest national statements of the 2026 season. Racing in the prestigious Sweepstakes Division, the Dragons, ranked #2 in the nation, stormed to the team title, defeating several nationally ranked programs including Herriman, San Clemente, Coeur d’Alene, and Crater, four of the most respected distance programs in the country. The overall team time and strategic race implemented cemented the win for the boys.

This marks the first time in school history that Southlake Carroll has won the Woodbridge Invitational Sweepstakes race, placing the Dragons’ place among nation’s all time elite squads. Carroll XC is considered one of the most storied and successful programs in the nation, yet this may be one of the most talented teams Coach Leonard has ever assembled. With this momentum, the boys now turn their focus toward seeking an unprecedented eighth straight Texas UIL 6A state championship, a streak unmatched in state history. The girls, meanwhile, aim to return to the national stage in Portland after a two‑year hiatus, a goal that has fueled their training and unified their mission throughout the season. Three Lady Dragons broke the 18 minute barrier yet they hope to shore up their depth when championship season comes.

Coach Leanard stated “This was a special night for our program and an incredible accomplishment for our boys. Winning our first Woodbridge Sweepstakes title against a field of this caliber speaks to their talent, preparation, and belief in one another. They competed fearlessly, stayed committed to our race plan, and ran for something bigger than themselves. I am also proud of the way our girls put themselves in the race and competed against one of the strongest fields in the nation. We learned a great deal from this experience, and both teams understand that there is still a lot of work ahead as we prepare for the championship portion of our season.”

Boys’ Sweepstakes 5K — A National Statement

The Dragons wasted no time asserting themselves on the national stage. Senior Claudio Auns surged to the front immediately, leading the entire field through the first half mile and setting a blistering tone for the race. The Carroll front pack rocketed through that opening mile below  4:40, lighting the course on fire with top tier competition in tow. Behind Auns, Kai Gutierrez and Jaxon Glenn locked into the lead group, giving Carroll three athletes in the front pack as the race settled into rhythm. At mile one, four Dragons were in the top 30.

Gutierrez’s move after the mile marker was decisive. He pressed the pace and broke away from the chase pack, ultimately finishing 2nd overall in 13:40 with an even 4:33 mile pace securing the highest individual finish ever recorded by a Dragon at the Woodbridge Sweepstakes race. Jaxon Glenn, United States Military Academy commit, delivered a breakthrough performance, placing 43rd overall in 14:22 to finish 2nd on the team, marking a major step forward for the senior. Senior Grant Norgart followed in 45th with a composed 14:24, while senior Claudio Auns stormed to a 54^th place in 14:29. Senior Adhavan Palanivelrajan delivered a strong 14:32 to secure the fifth scoring position with a 61st‑place finish, and senior Evan O’Donnell added a 14:41 for 80th. Rounding out the team, Sophomore Cameron Perez ended in a 124th‑place finish.

With Gutierrez (2nd), Glenn (43rd), Norgart (45th), Auns (54th), and Palanivelrajan (61st), the Dragons produced a 41‑second team spread and a combined 1–5 time that ranks as the third‑fastest ever recorded on this course in the 45‑year history of the meet. Their cohesion, combined with aggressive early positioning, powered Southlake Carroll to 140 points, securing the first‑ever Woodbridge Sweepstakes team title in school history and defeating one of the deepest national fields of the season.

Girls’ Sweepstakes 5K — 23rd Place Against Elite National Field

The Lady Dragons approached the Woodbridge stage with equal determination, delivering one of their strongest collective efforts of the season. Senior Abigail Perez opened her season with a major breakthrough, placing 61st overall in 17:06 and providing a much‑awaited season debut that immediately boosted the team’s scoring strength. Her performance set the tone for a strong Carroll showing. They put it all on the line sitting in 11^th place at the mile mark yet the depth of the field then began to take shape.

Senior Grace McIlvain followed closely, placing 88th overall in 17:26. Senior Landry Lambert added a 140th‑place finish in 17:54, while sophomore Nora Farden delivered an 18:10 performance for 158th. Junior KC Dukes closed out the scoring five with an 18:23 finish for 175th, helping secure a 23rd‑place team finish with 531 points against one of the strongest national fields of the season.

The Lady Dragons’ blend of senior leadership and rising underclass talent continues to define their 2026 campaign and strengthens their push to return to the national championship course in Portland.

Next Up

The Dragons return home to prepare for the Byron Nelson Invitational on Saturday, September 26th, where both junior varsity squads will continue sharpening race rhythm and building toward the championship phase of the season. The varsity teams are back in action at another national caliber meet, the Arkansas Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville on October 3^rd.

Southlake Carroll – Woodbridge Invitational Sweepstakes Results

Top Boys Finishers (Sweepstakes 5K)

Top Girls Finishers (Sweepstakes 5K)