The Texas UIL State Track and Field Championships is always going to stand as one of the best (usually the best) in-season outdoor high school track meets in America, and so it was this year, with the caveat that several potential national records were lost to the wind.
For the most part, the athletes who were stars all season lived up to expectations. The best runners and jumpers at this meet were the best of the year.
The Class 6A boys’ 110 hurdles at the meet was the best race in high school history. Here are 10 athletes who stood out.
Andrew Jones, Spring Collins, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles
The biggest name coming in met his billing. Jones ran a spectacular race in the 110s, though his time of 13.01 seconds was slightly wind-aided (2.6 meters per second; the allowable is 2.0). That tied another one of his races this year for second-fastest all-conditions in high school history, behind his own windy 11.97.
He later turned around and won the 300 hurdles with a time of 36.00 to earn the Class 6A performer of the meet award.
Tyler Key, Richardson Berkner, 110 hurdles
The only non-champion to make this list, the Kentucky signee Key turned in a wind-aided time of 13.05 in the 110 hurdles, just 0.04 behind Jones. That is the fourth-fastest all-conditions 110s ever and the fastest by someone other than Jones.
Dillon Mitchell, Houston King, 100, 200
The other biggest name (along with Jones) coming in, Mitchell, was as great as he was supposed to be. His wind-aided 9.92 was the second fastest all-conditions 100 this year behind his 9.88 and ties the fourth-fastest ever.
He then turned around and finished second in a great 200 race in 20.50, though it was heavily wind-aided.
Blake Hamilton, Katy Tompkins, 200
The race between Hamilton and Mitchell in the 200 was, in fact, epic, as Hamilton’s (massively) wind-aided time of 19.86 was the fastest all-conditions high school 200 in history and won the most anticipated race of the meet. He was also part of a championship 4×100 relay and runner-up 4×200 relay for Tompkins, which won the team title.
Formerly a UTEP football signee (wide receiver), Hamilton said he would reveal his new college choice on Wednesday, May 20. At this point, he can go wherever he wants, and he said the strength of the track program will be a key factor in his decision.
Camden Capehart, Winnsboro, 100
Anyone who bet that a 3A sprinter would end the meet with the national leader performance in the 100 would be rich now. With a legal 1.9 meter-per-second tailwind at his back, Capehart sailed to a division record 10.02 that makes him the seventh fastest 100 runner in high school history and the fastest 3A sprinter in Texas history by a cavernous margin (the previous record was 10.38).
The 10.02 topped previous national leader Tate Taylor’s 10.05, and Taylor isn’t running high school this year. It’s also the 23rd fastest time in the world this year, including pros and college.
Part of the reason he had the fastest legal time of the weekend is that 6A, which was won in 9.92, was windy, but the biggest reason is that Capehart was flying.
He also won the 200 in 20.48 and was sixth in the long jump.
Lancaster girls 4×1, 4×2
The traditional powerhouse narrowly missed taking down their own national record in the 4×100, finishing 43.99 (they ran a 43.77 earlier this year), then ran a nation’s leading 1:33.95, just off the national record of 1:33.43.
They comfortably won the Class 6A girls team title, though they were a little disappointed with a fourth-place finish in the 4×400 relay, where they were supposed to contend for a championship.
Lancaster cycled through three different uniforms for their three relays, which were provided by Nike.
Lilly Pierrot, Lancaster, 100, relays
Pierrot’s 11.14 in the 100 was the fourth fastest all-conditions high school 100 in the nation this year, and second among athletes competing in high school. She also ran a leg on the winning 4×100 and 4×200 relays for the state team champions.
Caitlyn Cavitt, Arlington Martin, long jump
Cavitt wasn’t the favorite in the 6A long jump, but she was the winner and her effort of 20-7, a foot better than her regional mark, stands as a national outdoor leader.
Noah Stroman, Holliday, 800, 1,600, 3,200
The Oklahoma State signee closed his brilliant high school career by sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, helping Holliday to the team title. He finished his career 11-0 at state meets.
Danni Ruiz, Menard, 800, 1,600, 3,200
The junior, who has ruled Class 1A distance running for three years now, pulled the 800/1,600/3,200 triple, in the process finishing tied for third in the overall team standings by herself. She was the Class 1A girls performer of the meet.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas UIL track results are in, here are the top 10 performances in 2026
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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