AUSTIN — One year ago, the Holliday and Wall boys track teams staged an epic battle for the 3A UIL State Track and Field Championship team title that was so good (Holliday won on a lean in the 4×400-meter relay) — it seemed un-toppable.
As it turns out, the Eagles and Hawks ran it back in an eerie, but equally thrilling replay with the same heart-stopping result.
With everything coming down to a winner-take-all 4×400-meter relay, again, Holliday anchor Brayden Hamill charged from fourth to catch Wall in the final, frantic steps. The Eagles were second in the race behind Edna, but it hardly mattered because Wall was 0.11 seconds back in fourth in a race where four teams broke the old state record.
That all added up to a 76-71 win for Holliday and its second consecutive dramatic title.
Holliday got the expected huge day from the Strohman twins (Noah swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, while Ryder went fourth, second and second in those two races) and added a 400 title from Hamill to account for for 58 of their points, with the 4×400 adding 16 more.
“It just keeps happening the same way,” coach Kory Atwood said. “Wall has a great program, we do too, it’s been a battle. I’m just happy it ended up the way we did. (Last year and this year) both felt the same, it’s awesome. Lots of excitement, proud of our kids and coaches. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Holliday.”
Led by Atwood’s niece Kenli Atwood, who won three gold medals, the Holliday girls finished second in the team standings behind Randolph.
As expected, the boys’ battle with Wall was close throughout, and even when Wall opened up a 21-point lead heading into the 1,600, the 16th of 17 events, it wasn’t going to survive a 1-2 finish from the Strohman twins that set up a wild back-and-forth 4×400.
In that race Wall and Holliday repeatedly passed each through traffic other as part of a five-way battle with Edna, Goliad and Jim Ned.
In order to win the meet, Holiday had to run a school record 3:14.85 (Wall was two spots back at 3:14.96).
“I was in shock, I looked up at our time and ‘Oh my gosh,'” Hamill said. “We not only beat our own school record, we beat the state record too behind Edna. It felt amazing, it felt great. … With 50 meters left, I felt (Wall) slow up, I felt I was coming back, I sped up and got it.”
It was the most remarkable of endings.
“That 4×4, I couldn’t even imagine being on that said Noah Strohman, who celebrated with his brother in the mixed zone while they watched their teammates secure the team trophy. “I’d be terrified. Right now, this feels ecstatic, back-to-back state championships coming down to the 4×4.
“This was amazing.”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Holliday boys track team wins second straight UIL track state title
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
