Lancaster senior Ashley Starks, the defending 4A champion, is back and enters the race seeded third (42.42). Starks, a Texas signee, ran her season-best at the 4A Region II meet.

Starks' time is No. 6 in the nation. She's behind Saginaw's Donique' Flemings (42.12) and Destiny Luman (42.21) and El Paso Chapin's Evonne Britton (42.30).

Mesquite Poteet's Courtnie Allen, who finished second to Starks at the 4A Region II meet, is seeded fourth (42.73).

Mesquite Horn junior Olivia Amy was miffed after a disappointing time in the 100 hurdles at regionals but responded with a personal-best 43.32 in the 300 hurdles that earned her another state berth. Amy is seeded second in 5A.

CHAVA DEMART: Houston Cypress Creek