The biggest cross country meet in North Louisiana will take place tomorrow morning as Parkway is set to host The Border Dash at South Bossier Park in Bossier City, LA. While there are some big names from across the state who are scheduled to take the line, there is also an outstanding group of young runners who are looking to make their mark on the big stage. Here are some MileSplit LA Future Stars to watch for.
WYATT GAUTREAUX (Lafayette)--The sophomore lion is making his return to the Border Dash after finishing 23rd in 2025. His time last year on the flat, three-mile course was 17:32. Expect him to run much faster this year as he is the No. 5 seed coming in with a time of 16:02. The seed time comes from his personal record in 2025 set at the Division 1 Region 1 Championships where he finished just outside of the top 10 at No. 11. Could we see Gautreaux get a personal record and dip under 16:00 for the first time in his career? It's very likely if the conditions are right. He finished the 2025 season as the No. 4 ranked freshman runner in the state.
BRAXTON THOMAS (Parkway)-- The Parkway Panthers don't rebuild. They reload. There are several young weapons at head coach Kent Falting's disposal. Thomas is one of those runners. Look for him to be much improved from his freshman year when he ran on Louisiana soil for the first time at the 2025 Border Dash. In that race, he finished No. 46 with a time of 18:40. Last weekend, he opened up his sophomore campaign with a 5K of 16:25. That kind of improvement puts him among the most improved runners in the state of Louisiana. And he's just getting started. Imagine how much this young man is learning from one of the best runners in Louisiana history--Parkway's Brennan Robin.
JACQUES BRAUD (Loyola)-- Yet another sophomore who is opening his sophomore campaign at the Border Dash. Braud finished No. 19 last year at the Border Dash with a time of 17:17. At the time, it was one of the fastest times in Louisiana. He finished the season ranked No. 21 among all freshmen in Louisiana.
On the girls' side, it should come down to a foot race between St. Joseph's Academy sophomore Hannah Schneider and Ruston's Eden Dawsey. Even though she is only a sophomore, we don't consider Schneider a Future Star. She is a star after her impressive freshman campaign leading the Sticker girls program.
Another star who will be competing on Saturday is Teurlings Catholic's Abigail Leger, who finished a fantastic junior campaign by leading her Rebels to the Class 4A girls state championship. In that meet, Leger won both the 1600 (5:06.99) and 800 (2:15.72). Here are some other youngsters to keep an eye on.
CAYLEE WEAVER (Parkway)--Weaver is the top entry among all sophomore girls. Falting bragged on Weaver throughout her freshmen campaign. Weaver is ready for a big sophomore season. And it all starts at her home meet with the Border Dash. Last year, Weaver opened her high school career with a No. 12 finish with a time of 21:31. In a more competitive field this year, Weaver is a No. 13 seed.
KENNEDY WILLIS (Buckeye)-- Our only eighth grader on the list, Willis is a No. 17 seed heading into tomorrow's race.
KAYLEE IVEY (Providence Classical Academy)--The sophomore is coming off an impressive opener at The Den at Dawn where she won with a time of 19:07. Ivey looked strong throughout and ran the back half the race without serious competition.
The biggest cross country meet in North Louisiana will take place tomorrow morning as Parkway is set to host The Border Dash at South Bossier Park in Bossier City, LA. While there are some big names from across the state who are scheduled to take the line, there is also an outstanding group of young runners who are looking to make their mark on the big stage. Here are some MileSplit LA Future Stars to watch for.
WYATT GAUTREAUX (Lafayette)--The sophomore lion is making his return to the Border Dash after finishing 23rd in 2025. His time last year on the flat, three-mile course was 17:32. Expect him to run much faster this year as he is the No. 5 seed coming in with a time of 16:02. The seed time comes from his personal record in 2025 set at the Division 1 Region 1 Championships where he finished just outside of the top 10 at No. 11. Could we see Gautreaux get a personal record and dip under 16:00 for the first time in his career? It's very likely if the conditions are right. He finished the 2025 season as the No. 4 ranked freshman runner in the state.
BRAXTON THOMAS (Parkway)-- The Parkway Panthers don't rebuild. They reload. There are several young weapons at head coach Kent Falting's disposal. Thomas is one of those runners. Look for him to be much improved from his freshman year when he ran on Louisiana soil for the first time at the 2025 Border Dash. In that race, he finished No. 46 with a time of 18:40. Last weekend, he opened up his sophomore campaign with a 5K of 16:25. That kind of improvement puts him among the most improved runners in the state of Louisiana. And he's just getting started. Imagine how much this young man is learning from one of the best runners in Louisiana history--Parkway's Brennan Robin.
