Coronado cross country runner McKenzie Archer, who as a freshman two years ago qualified for the UIL state meet, is itching to return to Round Rock.

And she’d like to take the rest of the Lady Mustangs with her.

Coronado, which won its first team district championship in 15 years a little more than a week ago, is hoping to reach the state competition for the first time since 2000. To do so, the Lady Mustangs must finish among the top three in today’s Region I-5A race at Mae Simmons Park.

“I think it would be a really good experience for all of us, having two freshmen on the team and two seniors,” Archer said. “It would be a lot of fun to show everyone what Coronado can do.”

Archer, who finished ninth at the 2007 regional meet to secure the second-to-last individual berth to the state competition, acknowledged it won’t be easy for the Lady Mustangs to advance. They finished seventh both at last year’s regional meet and this year’s Lubbock Invitational, which is regarded as a preview of the regional event.

Region I counterparts Coppell, El Paso Eastwood, Odessa Permian, Amarillo and Mansfield finished ahead of Coronado at the Lubbock Invitational. And three of the teams in today’s field – Coppell, Southlake Carroll and Flower Mound – are ranked among the top 10 in Class 5A in the latest poll released by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas.

“The competition in our region this year is very, very tough,” Coronado head coach Tim Torres said. “We are really going to have to run fast in order to qualify for state – all the girls, one through seven.”

Torres said the Lady Mustangs are ready for the challenge, though, and they gained loads of confidence at the District 2-5A meet on Oct. 29. Archer, Maddie Kauffman, Krystal Robles and Brooke Lindstrom each finished among the top 10 – with the sophomore Kauffman winning the race – and Coronado turned the tables on Amarillo and Permian in the team standings.

Archer said winning the district title proved to the Lady Mustangs they could compete with some of the region’s top teams, so she’s confident about their chances today. She and Robles both said it comes down to Coronado’s attitude and willpower.

“If mentally we feel like we can do it, and if we can gut it out, I think we’re there,” Robles said. “I feel like we have a handful of good athletes that can take us there.”

Securing a spot in next week’s state meet, which will be held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, would be especially sweet for Robles, one of two seniors on the team along with Peyton Rutledge. Robles had never run cross country before this season, and she said she only took up the sport so it would help her prepare for track and field season in the spring.

Now she has a chance to participate in a state competition for the first time.

“It would mean a lot,” she said. “I really love to run, and if we make it to state, I’d be happy. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

High school cross country

• What: Region I meet

• Where: Mae Simmons Park

• Race schedule: Class 2A girls, 9 a.m.; 2A boys, 9:30 a.m.; Class 3A girls, 10 a.m.; 3A boys, 10:30 a.m.; Class 4A girls, 11 a.m.; 4A boys, 11:30 a.m.; Class 5A girls, noon; 5A boys, 12:30 p.m.; Class 1A girls, 1 p.m.; 1A boys, 1:30 p.m.

• At stake: Top three teams, top 10 individuals in each race advance to UIL state meet

• Area teams, runners to watch: Coronado’s Donovan Torres (10th at 2008 state meet), Crosbyton’s Meghan Bass (third at 2008 state meet), Coronado girls (District 2-5A champion), Frenship girls (District 4-4A champion), Shallowater boys and girls (District 3-2A champions), Sundown boys and girls (ranked No. 1 and defending state champions in Class 1A), Plains boys (ranked No. 2 in Class 1A), Wellman-Union boys (ranked No. 9 in Class 1A), Crosbyton girls (ranked No. 8 in Class 1A)

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