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The 6A boys 3200m race had the potential to be a race to remember with a loaded field and it turned into a strategic race that ended up with a fast finish. A year ago Benjamin Montgomery (Bridgeland) closed with a great finish to take the title over Caden Leonard (Southlake Carroll), but this year Leonard flipped the script.
With 800m remaining there were still six boys in the lead group separated by less than a half-second. Freshman Ruel Newberry (Denton Guyer) had made a move at the mile mark going from last to first but was not able to shake anyone. Leonard went to the front on the backstretch of the seventh lap and he held off all the challengers. He kicked it into high gear to start the final lap and Montgomery, Aidan Torres (El Paso Eastwood) and Gavin Chapa (Reagan) went with him.
Leonard proved to be too fast and won the title in 8:57.98 after running a 56.32 final lap. Montgomery held strong for as long as he could, but did not have the final kick to catch Leonard. In fact, Torres moved past Montgomery at the tape with a great final push to take second in 8:58.28 while Montgomery had to settle for third place in 8:58.35.
