TAPPS Championships Recap: Boys 200m

We're excited to continue rolling out our TAPPS Championship recaps. We acknowledge we're a few weeks behind, as our team was called on to provide additional coverage for state championships in neighboring states immediately following the first weekend in May.

Azle Christian School asserted complete dominance over the 2025 TAPPS 1A Boys 200-meter dash final, delivering a commanding 1-2 finish. Sophomore Grayson Smith, already a sprint double champion in the 100 meters, capped off a sensational meet by capturing the 200m title in a blazing 22.92 (+3.1 wind). His performance was the fastest winning time in 1A since at least 2022 and over four-tenths of a second faster than last year's champion, Elijah Buris of Brazosport Christian, who won in 23.38 into a headwind.

Smith's teammate, Brodie Clark, followed closely in second with a time of 23.30, making this the second race of the day the pair finished atop the podium together-just hours after placing first and third, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Their sprint sweep solidified Azle Christian's position as the top sprinting school in 1A this year.

Rounding out the top three was Aric Musterman of Conroe Lifestyle Christian, who clocked 23.37 and repeated his third-place finish from the 100 meters. His consistency in both sprints highlighted his strength in this class, and his time was a full 1.2 seconds faster than the 200m third-place finisher from 2024.

Veteran Tyler Martinez of Divine Savior Academy, who was seventh in last year's 100m, showed growth with a fourth-place finish in 23.93. Fellow seniors Blake Rankin (24.02) and John Brogan (24.29) made their final state appearances, while underclassmen Joel Hurst (10th grade) and Noah Macias (9th grade) rounded out the field.

Compared to last year's final-where only one athlete dipped under 24 seconds-the 2025 race saw five runners break that barrier, illustrating a marked improvement in 1A sprint depth. With Smith and Clark both returning next year, the Azle Christian sprint dynasty could be just getting started.

The 2025 TAPPS 2A Boys 200-meter final brought high-powered sprinting to the track, featuring a deep field that included top finishers from this year's 100m dash and several returners from the 2024 meet. Emerging as the new 200-meter state champion was Gaddiel Nakatare (Nazarene Christian Academy). The junior, who placed third in the 100m earlier in the meet, surged over the final 50 meters to take the win in 22.56 (+3.3 wind), capping a breakout season and setting himself up as a favorite for 2026.

Just behind him in a thrilling finish was Kaleb Mitchell (Universal City First Baptist Academy), who closed strong for second in 22.59. A senior and 200m finalist in 2024 (fifth place in 23.42), Mitchell dropped nearly a full second from his previous state performance and wrapped up his career with an impressive silver medal.

Peter Najvar (Bryan St. Joseph Catholic), the 2025 2A 100m champion, claimed third in 22.63, adding to his remarkable sprint double weekend. While he couldn't replicate his 100m win, Najvar still proved himself one of the most complete sprinters in the classification.

Universal City First Baptist was well represented with Lincoln Schleif-a sophomore standout-placing fourth in 22.66, giving the team two athletes in the top four and demonstrating their exceptional sprint depth. Schleif had also placed fourth in the 100m (11.22), making him a name to watch for the future.

Rounding out the top eight were seniors Marshall Mincher (23.07) of Amarillo San Jacinto Christian and James Stimson (23.14) of Valor Prep Academy, along with Dominic Cristancho (23.58) of Bracken Christian and Mitchell Henderson (23.83) of Beaumont Legacy Christian. Cristancho notably made both sprint finals this year, showing consistency with a seventh-place finish in each.

Compared to 2024, the 2025 final was significantly faster, with four athletes running faster than last year's winning time (22.61 by Alijah Cason). The sprint depth in TAPPS 2A clearly surged this season, and with Nakatare and Schleif both returning next year, the 2026 edition promises to be just as exciting.

The 2025 TAPPS 3A Boys 200-meter dash final delivered a dominant performance by one of the state's top sprint talents, as Andrew Wright (Lutheran High School of San Antonio) completed a flawless sprint double. Already the 100m champion earlier in the meet (10.64), Wright exploded out of the curve and blazed to victory in 21.11 (+3.7), a massive improvement from his 2024 winning time of 22.28. Though wind-aided, the time further cements his place as one of the elite sprinters in TAPPS history, and with one year left, he'll be the heavy favorite entering 2026.

Wright was followed by Joshua DeRamus (Conroe Covenant Christian), who placed second in 22.26, showcasing consistency after also earning third in the 100m (11.14). DeRamus held off a late charge from another familiar face, Aiden Martinez, Wright's teammate, who took third in 22.32. Martinez completed a 100m/200m double podium finish of his own after earning second in the 100m final.

Rylan Goss of Lucas Christian rounded out a strong senior campaign with fourth place in 22.79, improving on his third-place finish from 2024 (23.11) despite facing a much faster field. Goss was also fourth in the 100m and leaves a solid legacy of sprint consistency at the state level.

In fifth was Joseph Cruz of Covenant Classical (23.02), followed by McKinney Cornerstone's duo of Alex Villarreal (6th, 23.16) and Jordan Lee (7th, 23.89). Unfortunately, Lukas Collier (Huntsville Alpha Omega Academy), who also competed in the 100m, did not have a clean race and finished eighth with an anomalous 34.92.

With Lutheran San Antonio sweeping the top three spots across both sprint events and capturing gold and silver in both races, the 2025 state championships proved to be a masterclass from Wright and Martinez. Their 1-3 finish in the 200m mirrors the same order in the 100m and positions their school as the sprint powerhouse of TAPPS 3A heading into next season.

The 2025 TAPPS 4A boys 200-meter final saw a surge of senior sprint talent, led by Cristian Hodges of Westbury Christian, who blazed to a wind-aided 21.86 (+3.2) to capture the state title. Hodges, who had been a top contender all season, delivered his fastest race of the year when it mattered most, establishing himself as the premier 200m runner in the division. His win marked a significant improvement from the previous year's winning mark of 22.46, showing the progression of TAPPS sprinting at the 4A level.

The runner-up spot went to Miguel Monteiro Pereira of Midland Trinity School, who followed up his 100m championship win with a strong performance in the half-lap sprint, clocking 22.15 to cap off a stellar sprint double. Pereira's championship weekend demonstrated both his consistency and range, as he now holds the top 100m and a silver medal in the 200m.

Just behind Pereira was Tomiwa Akinyoade of Arlington Pantego Christian, another double podium finisher after placing second in the 100m (10.94). In the 200m, Akinyoade ran a lifetime best of 22.28, improving dramatically from his seventh-place finish in 2024 (23.56). Travis Migura (Schertz St. John Paul II Catholic High School) finished fourth in 22.45.

Ryan Martinez, a rising sophomore from St. Thomas Episcopal, impressed with a fifth-place finish in 22.47, holding off Brian Neel of Waco Vanguard (6th, 22.79). Tre Newsome (7th, 23.54) and Blake Rippy (8th, 27.11) rounded out the field, with Rippy struggling to close after a likely injury or mishap.

The 2025 final was a marked step forward in quality from last year's race, where only one runner broke 22.50. With four athletes under that mark this year (albeit wind-aided), it was a statement year for TAPPS 4A sprinting. The duel between Pereira and Akinyoade across both sprints, along with Hodges' late-season peak, made for one of the most compelling 200m finals in recent TAPPS memory.

Blake Hamilton of Fort Bend Christian Academy left no doubt about who owns the sprint scene in TAPPS 5A. After already claiming the 100m title earlier in the meet with a blazing 10.49, Hamilton returned for the 200m and exploded to a wind-aided 20.91 (+4.0) to take the win by nearly three-quarters of a second. His performance not only blew away the competition but also set a new high bar for TAPPS sprinting, marking one of the fastest all-conditions 200m times in state meet history.

Challenging Hamilton the best he could was Lawson Livingston of Tyler Grace Community, who capped off his senior season with a strong 21.65 for second place. Livingston, the 100m runner-up in 10.74, once again showed excellent form in his final state meet appearance, closing out a stellar prep career with two silver medals on the day.

Joshua Hoover, a rising sophomore from San Antonio Saint Mary's Hall, made a big statement with a third-place finish in 21.85, improving upon his fifth-place showing in the 100m. Hoover's strong double proves he's a name to watch in the coming seasons as he continues to gain experience on the big stage.

Rounding out the top five were Gavin Snyder of Cypress Christian (4th, 21.91) and Colton Popovich of Fort Bend Christian (5th, 21.97). Popovich improved on his third-place finish in last year's final (22.61), helping Fort Bend Christian secure major points in the team standings thanks to his and Hamilton's efforts.

Also in the final were Noah Bonjour of Arlington Grace Prep (6th, 22.23), Gus Christian of Austin Regents (7th, 22.38), and Stacy Jones of Midland Christian (8th, 22.74), each delivering competitive marks in one of the fastest TAPPS 5A 200m finals to date.

The combination of high wind, blazing times, and a deep, experienced field made the 2025 200m final an electric conclusion to the TAPPS sprint season, highlighted by Hamilton's historic sprint double.

The TAPPS 6A boys 200m final in 2025 featured a tightly contested and high-caliber race, with several of the classification's top sprinters pushing the limits down the homestretch. In a thrilling finish, CJ Witten, a junior from Liberty Christian, powered to victory with a 21.66 (+2.5), edging out a loaded field in a dramatic conclusion to the TAPPS sprint season. After placing outside the medals in 2024, Witten's surge to the top spot this year showcased his growth and finishing strength.

Just behind him was David Madison of Plano Prestonwood Christian, who clocked 21.68 to take second for the second consecutive year. A model of consistency, Madison matched his 2024 runner-up finish and improved on last season's time of 22.02, further cementing his status as one of the classification's most reliable performers.

Rounding out the podium was Carson Clark of Tomball Concordia Lutheran, the 100m state champion, who added a third-place finish in the 200m with 21.76. The junior had already clocked 10.64 to win the 100m earlier in the meet, and his strong 200m performance capped a stellar sprint double. His teammate Devin Scott also returned from the 100m final to finish sixth here in 22.23, reinforcing Tomball Concordia's depth in the sprints.

Blake Coogan of Houston St. Thomas, who was fourth in last year's final as well, matched that placement again in 21.98, showing impressive consistency in major races. His teammate Damarcus Batiste followed closely in seventh (22.36), helping St. Thomas rack up sprint points.

Ryan Elms of Addison Trinity Christian, the 2024 champion, ran well in his title defense but finished just outside the top three this time in fifth at 22.00. Though he didn't repeat as winner, Elms still showed he belongs among the elite.

With all eight finalists running under 22.50 and multiple returners from last year's championship improving their times, the 2025 6A boys 200m final reflected just how deep and competitive TAPPS sprinting has become. The event saw a mix of redemption, new champions, and emerging stars-setting the stage for more fireworks in 2026.