In only her first year at the varsity level, Hays High freshman Abby Parra will soon be taking on the best cross country runners the state has to offer.

On Monday, Parra secured a 6th place individual finish at the UIL Region IV championships in Corpus Christi, which officially punched her ticket to the UIL state cross country meet in Round Rock.

Parra, who finished the 5,000-meter course in 17:00.42, is the only Hays CISD athlete who will compete at the state meet, which will be held Nov. 3 at Ol...