Article by Greg Jaklewicz
Wylie Advances to Region I-5A Cross Country Meet
Wylie finished third in both the boys and girls division to advance to the Region I-5A cross country meet, which will be held Monday morning in Lubbock.
The girls run at 10:30 a.m., with the boys to follow. The course again is at Mae Simmons Park, a challenging course that is not all flat and, to some contestants, runs long.
District Meet Recap
Wylie was third behind Cooper and Abilene High in the District 2-5A meet at Wichita Falls. The same two schools, only flipped, finished ahead of the Bulldogs in the boys race.
Anthony Montoya of Wichita Falls Legacy won the boys’ race, dipping below 16 minutes at 15:36.91. He was a good half-minute ahead of the field.
Wylie freshman Tucker Balliew was fourth in 16:47.97, just a step behind Cooper’s Jafari Mananganji.
“That was great as a freshman. We have some good runners at the top in our district,” Wylie coach Jody Harvey said. “Tucker broke 17 for the first time this year.
Chance finished one place out of the medals but ran his best race of the year.”
Chance Robinson, another freshman, was next in for Wylie, taking 16th place (17:55.13).
Girls’ Division Highlights
On the girls’ side, Aubrey Duran of Abilene High cleared the 3-mile course in 18:07.79.
Freshman Amari Dudley of Wylie was eighth in 19:57.84. Next was her sister, senior Marisa, in 19:59.46 and in 10th place, with Mya Fiero (20:47.63) taking 12th.
Fiero was a medalist and regional qualifier in 2024.
Seven of the top 20 runners in the girls’ race were freshmen, with Wylie’s Ruby Rumsey 20th overall.
In the boys’ top 20, Wylie freshmen Gray Schilz (18:17.61) and Landon Hicks (18:22.07) were 18th and 19th, respectively.
Joining them for the road trip to Lubbock will be:
Girls: Emma Henao, Isabelle Hayashi, and Julie Brouse — all freshmen.
Boys: Elijah Davis, Luke Cardenas, Lucas Farr, and Landon Hicks.
Solid Season for the Bulldogs
Harvey was upbeat about Wylie’s showing.
“Almost everyone finished with a PR. It’s a fast course. We ran good times,” Harvey said. “The most I can ask of them is to finish the best they can. They performed how I expected them to perform.”
Wylie likely won’t challenge for state berths in Lubbock but there is a lot to gain, Harvey said.
“Especially with as many young kids I have, an experience kind of thing,” he said. “That’s a very difficult course they are fixing to run. The girls have 230 entrants in one race, so it’s going to be hectic and chaotic.
Having a lot of young kids, boys and girls, understanding what it’s all about and moving forward in the next couple of years, putting ourselves in position to advance from that level to the state competition.”
Runners start in a wide open area but funnel quickly into an uphill climb. And that’s just the start of the course.
Harvey is building a program. A trip to Lubbock is icing on the cake.
“Very good season. From my older kids who were experienced to my younger ones who didn’t know anything about high school cross country, I thought we all progressed,” he said. “We did a good job with how long the season is, and interacting with each other.
Developing the mental toughness and learning how to go out and compete. How to do that a little better.”
That mental toughness will come into play at Mae Simmons.
A Magical Year for the Dudley Sisters
Freshman Amari (Left), Senior Marisa (Right)
One of the side stories to the 2025 season has been the Dudley sisters.
It’s the only year that senior Marisa and freshman Amari will run together as Bulldogs. And while Amari plans to compete in track and field next spring, Marisa won’t. The Lubbock meet likely is her last as a Bulldog.
“Maybe,” she said, smiling.
“It’s kind of bittersweet because I know that I am moving on but it’s also bitter because I really enjoy cross country and it has been my favorite sport ever since eighth grade,” she continued.
Marisa Dudley has been able to impart her experience and knowledge of the sport on the younger teammates, including her sister.
Amari never has run Mae Simmons.
“But I watched her run the course,” Amari said.
“I don’t enjoy this course,” Marisa responded. “It’s very challenging mentally because there are a lot of hills and it feels really long. Oftentimes, you run it when it’s really hot. The combination of that makes it easy for your mental game to get off before your legs start to burn.”
Amari said the field will be crowded and she could be pushed around.
“I’m just expecting to do my best and see how far I can make it,” the freshman said.
A Family Tradition
The girls have been running for years. It’s part of their family dynamic.
“(This year) reminded me of old times. Growing up, our parents took us on neighborhood runs. They would push us in the stroller and we would get out at the halfway mark and they would have us run home,” Marisa said. “It has been comforting to have someone so familiar with me. Any time I am nervous, I recognize at least one person.”
Amari agreed.
“It’s kind of scary as a freshman to see all the competition and what it looks like but she tells me a lot. It’s reassuring to know that you have someone who knows what she is doing,” Amari said.
Sisterly Advice
Best advice from big sis?
“Trust your training,” Marisa said. “Trust the kind of athlete you know that you are.”
“Knowing who you are helps you tune out everything around you.”
Best advice from little sis?
“Have fun,” Amari said. “Don’t overthink it or give into the pressure.
Don’t worry about it. Just have fun. Do what you want to do.”
Off the Course
The Dudley girls are as close as car seats. A favorite non-running activity is “car picnics.”
“We like to go to Chick-fil-A and order a big meal and sit in the parking lot and talk,” Marisa said. “That’s something we bonded over, going out to get fun food and drinks together.”
Maybe not the meal of champion runners …
“We definitely do it after meets,” Marisa said.
“Or we go out to Walmart and I’ll judge everything she gets,” Amari said, looking and grinning at her sister.
Looking Ahead
Marisa plans to study biology in college.
“I want to go to PA (physician’s assistant) school,” she said.
She will continue to run.
“I like going on really long runs on my own,” Marisa said. “Maybe a half-marathon for my 18th birthday.”
Amari still has three years to compete as a Bulldog. However, there is just one more meet the Dudley sisters will do together.
“It’s sad that it’s coming to an end but I am glad it is ending the way it is,” Marisa said.
Added Amari, “I want to follow in her steps.”