#3. HOWARD FIELDS - Manvel
Howard Fields was the leader of the Manvel 400m crew that was deep and fast. Fields came into the season looking for more than his third place finish from the 2016 UIL 6A 400m race. In 2016, Fields was able to save the season that was hampered with a mid season injury. With a 2017 season that was mostly healthy, things began to fall in place like Fields was looking for. He was undefeated on the outdoor season and was one of only three Texans to break 47.00. At the Victor Lopez Classic, Fields was finally able to hit a 46 with his 46.49. The only thing left was to win a state title. At the UIL 5A State meet, everything finally came to fruition as he went even lower with a 46.45 and captured that illustrious UIL gold medal.
#2. SEAN HOOPER - Keller Fossil Ridge
Sean Hooper was another athlete looking for a 400m state championship. Without the opportunity to do so during the 2016 season, Hooper was able to win the USATF and AAU Junior Olympic championships. During the indoor season, Hooper showed his speed by running fast 60m races. When outdoors rolled around, Hooper ran everything from the 100m up to the 800m. When the state meet time came around, all of the attention was set on the 400m. The fastest two guys in the state were locked in one race. Hooper and Champion Allison were finally matched up and they did not disappoint. Hooper would take second, but would go on to run in post season meets like the Brooks PR and the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships. Hooper earned a spot on Team USA to run on the 4x100 and the 4x400 earning two gold medals in the Pan American Championships including the 4x400 relay that ran an amazing 3:00. Oh, by the way, Hooper did get a UIL gold medal as he won the 200m championships
#.1 CHAMPION ALLISON - George Ranch
Champion Allison is the one guy who already had a state title. Fields and Hooper were both chasing something that Allison had. In 2016, Allison took the UIL 5A title. His George Ranch team was realigned to 6A for the 2017 season, so Allison's goal was to do in 6A just as he did in 5A. Allison had a good indoor season competing in both the 60m and the 200m. When the outdoor season rolled around, Champion was hitting 47s and 46 mids. All roads led to a UIL 6A showdown with Sean Hooper and the two athletes did not let down. When Allison crossed the line, he did so first and in a personal best 45.87. In a season that had two elite athletes both with similarly impressive campaigns, all things came down to the head to head battle and that earned Allison the number one spot.