* Maya Easterwood is one of the top underclassmen in the country
Photo Credit: Chris Langford/MileSplit Texas
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As we officially enter the postseason over these next few weeks, a pair of young Texans and a pair of Oregonians have already proved they can hang with the best when the stakes are high.
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From the 4th Annual Rose City Championship Invite in Portland, Oregon, to Texas' District meet, we caught a glimpse of the future of high school distance running.
Check out these four talented runners who make up this season's fifth edition of Future Stars.
For the first time in her career, the stellar sophomore broke the coveted 17:00 barrier, running 16:52.0 in her runner-up finish at the UIL 6A District 5 meet. Easterwood was eight seconds back of defending UIL 6A state champion Macy Wingard, and remains the only athlete this season to finish within ten seconds of her, doing so three different times this season. The sophomore ranks No. 5 in Texas this fall and is the fastest sophomore in the nation.
South Eugene (Ore.)
Class of 2027
In a quick race in Portland, Oregon, the South Eugene frontrunner was the last athlete under 15:00 at the 4th Annual Rose City Championship Invite. Shibata finished 11th in a field of 170+ athletes, running 14:59.6 for his first trip sub-15. Shibata was one of just two underclassmen inside the top-25, but was the only one to break 15:25. After finishing 43rd at the OSAA 6A State Championships as a freshman, Shibata has since established himself as a contender.
Southlake-Carroll (Texas)
Class of 2028
One of the next stars of the Dragon dynasty, Gutierrez has quickly become one of the most important runners on one of the nation's best teams. The true freshman has already run as fast as 15:12.2, making him the third-fastest in Texas' class of 2028. At the UIL 6A District 4 meet over the weekend, Gutierrez was the fourth Dragon to cross the line, finishing sixth overall as his squad cruised to the team title over Northwest Nelson (Texas), 24-34.
Caldera (Ore.)
Class of 2027
As one of the top returners in Oregon's 6A class, Carney has impressed in all five of her races over the last month. She finished runner-up in her first two races before picking up wins in the next two. Most recently, Carney finished fourth at the 4th Annual Rose City Championship Invite, but lowered her PB down to 17:15.16, the fourth-fastest time in the state and the top mark amongst all underclassmen.