2025 UIL 4A girls 1,600m
The 2025 UIL 4A Girls 1600-Meter Run was more than a race-it was a showcase of dominance from Addyson Bristow (Canyon), the undisputed top distance runner in Texas 4A. Just two hours after setting the 4A state record in the 800 meters, Bristow returned to the track for the second leg of her ambitious double, and she didn't just win-she rewrote history once again.
With a season-best of 4:44.43 and a seed time nearly ten seconds faster than the next competitor, Bristow took command of the race immediately. She stormed through the first 400 meters in 1:08.32, separating herself from the field before the race had even settled. By the 800m mark, her 2:20.73 split had her on record pace, and by 1200m, her 3:36.66 split made it clear: this wasn't just a victory lap-it was a record chase.
With over 100 meters on the field heading into the bell lap, the only question left was whether Bristow would take down the longstanding 4A meet record of 4:53.75, set by Kelsey Johnson in 2008. She answered emphatically, closing hard over the final 200 meters to stop the clock at 4:48.64, shattering the record and completing her 800m/1600m double in unforgettable fashion.
Behind her, Brooke French, a promising sophomore from Canyon Randall, ran a smart, patient race, leading the chase pack and securing silver in 5:08.01. Emily Gross, the 3200m champion and a freshman from Dumas, capped off an impressive meet with a third-place finish in 5:09.96, showing the future of 4A distance running is in great hands.
Celeste Cantu (Huffman Hargrave) and McCall Boyd (Salado) also impressed, finishing fourth and sixth respectively in the 5:12 range, battling through a tightly packed group over the final two laps. But in the end, this race belonged to Addyson Bristow-two state titles, two records, and a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
