Race Recap
by Brett Honeycutt, DyeStat Southeast Editor

It was Colby Lowe's race to lose nearly the entire last mile.

He didn't let it slip away. Lowe, the two-time Texas 5A champion, won the Foot Locker South Regional by about 10 seconds over defending South Region Champion Ryan Hill of Hickory (NC) High.  It was Lowe's third consecutive time he qualified and Hill's second consecutive.

Lowe, a Southlake Carroll TX senior and considered the favorite coming in, was in the lead pack that went out in about 4:41 for the first mile.  He said his goal for the day was just to run hard.

"I just came out here to run as fast as I could," Lowe said.  "All the guys out here bring a whole new level with them.  We just come out here to run as fast as we can.  It's just awesome."

Lowe's victory was the eighth time a boys runner from Texas won the South Regional, joining Brian Sullivan (2003), Brad Hauser (1994, 1993), Ricky Gallegos (1990), Eric Henry (1986), Reuben Reina (1985) and Stacy Sutter (1984) and tying Virginia for the most years (eight) a state has had the winning runner.

Lowe said the difference between his previous finishes the past two years, when he was 7th last year in 15:09 and 9th the year before in 15:07, was that he put in some high mileage over the summer to give him a good base.

"I've really stepped up my mileage," said Lowe, who ran about 14:45 Saturday.  "During summer, I pushed up my base.  I'm in a lot better condition."

Lowe said he wasn't after a certain time or record, but he was looking to just qualify.  "Just pushing hard to race against that finish line," Lowe said.  "...place is what matters."

Hill said at 2 miles is about when Lowe separated himself from any remaining challengers.

In the last 800 meters, he separated himself even more.