TAPPS Championships Recap: Girls 400m

The 2024 TAPPS 1A Girls 400 Meter Dash final saw a remarkable leap forward for Hannah Bright of San Angelo Cornerstone Christian, who surged from a seventh-place finish in 2023 (1:07.35) to claim the state title in 1:00.75, a personal best and a massive improvement of over six seconds. Bright's breakout performance capped a season of steady progression and put her school atop the podium in one of the most demanding events on the track.

Right behind her was her freshman teammate Lorelei Bryant, who ran 1:01.18 to secure the silver medal and complete a stunning 1-2 finish for San Angelo Cornerstone. The freshman's poise and strength in the final 100 meters were impressive, and her time suggests she'll be a contender for years to come. Their 1-2 sweep also highlighted Cornerstone Christian's strength in the quarter mile, marking the school as a force in the 1A sprints moving forward.

Rounding out the podium was Annabelle Redmon of Conroe Lifestyle Christian, who clocked 1:02.16 for bronze. Redmon also took third in the 200 meters (28.02), proving herself a formidable all-around sprinter. Her consistency and speed in both events showcased her range and gave her one of the best sprint doubles in the division.

Rachel Graves of Texoma Christian, last year's silver medalist (1:01.00), finished fourth in 1:05.46. While not matching her 2023 form, she remained a strong competitor in a deeper, faster final. Graves also competed in the 200 and 100 earlier in the meet, showing her versatility.

The 2024 final represented a generational shift in TAPPS 1A girls 400m racing. With the reigning champion Elaina Craven graduated, a new class of athletes-led by Bright and Bryant-stepped up and elevated the level of competition. The times were faster, the depth greater, and the future of 1A quarter-miling looks promising.

Leah Hurley of Bryan St. Joseph Catholic delivered a composed and confident race to win the 2025 TAPPS 2A girls 400m state championship in 1:00.32, improving significantly on her fourth-place finish from 2024. The junior showed great poise through the first half and pulled away from the field over the final 100 meters, earning her first state title. Hurley capped her weekend with a strong sprint triple, also claiming bronze in the 200m (26.54), demonstrating her speed and versatility across the sprint spectrum.

Close behind her was Ellie Buck of Valor Prep, who repeated as a medalist with a silver finish in 1:00.78, just off her 2024 time of 1:01.08. Buck has now collected back-to-back top-two finishes in the 400m and continues to be one of the most reliable one-lap runners in the division.

Braelyn Brunson of Fort Worth Bethesda improved on her seventh-place showing from a year ago, securing third in 1:02.33. The sophomore showed strong development and held off several contenders down the stretch, indicating her potential as a future champion.

Veteran Gracie Rayes of Mercy Culture Prep placed fourth in 1:03.22, nearly matching her 2024 time. Freshman Emma Lane of San Antonio Atonement impressed with a 1:03.39 effort to take fifth, giving her program a promising young presence in the quarter mile. Sixth went to Berkley Boyd of Prestonwood Christian North in 1:03.72, while Emma Schmidt of Hallettsville Sacred Heart (1:04.80) and Clare Swirczysnki of Muenster Sacred Heart (1:05.08) rounded out the field.

The absence of 2024 champion Brooke Cerny from Shiner St. Paul opened the door for a new winner, and Hurley stepped up decisively. With a growing résumé that includes podium finishes in both the 200m and 400m, she'll be one of the top returning sprinters in TAPPS 2A next season.

In one of the most unforgettable moments of the 2025 TAPPS 3A Girls 400 Meter Championship, Ashlyn Helton, a freshman from Waco Live Oak Classical School, claimed the state title in 1:04.18, narrowly edging out Rockwall Heritage senior Addyson Wilkinson, who finished just two-hundredths of a second behind at 1:04.20. While the tight battle between the top two was compelling on its own, it was the story that unfolded behind them that truly defined the spirit of the race.

Elizabeth Hamblin, a sophomore from Kennedale Fellowship Academy and the 2024 state champion in the event (59.29), appeared poised to repeat with a dominant performance. She had built a commanding lead through the first 385 meters when tragedy struck-Hamblin stumbled and fell just meters from the line. In a stunning act of sportsmanship, Covenant Classical freshman GloryEvelyn Mitchell, who was in second place at the time, stopped her race, turned back, and helped Hamblin to her feet so the two could finish together. Despite ultimately placing sixth in 1:06.04, Mitchell's selfless gesture was a defining moment of the meet, earning the admiration of all in attendance.

Related: GloryEvelyn Mitchell: Competition With Honor

The rest of the field saw consistent efforts, with Jude Martinez of Austin San Juan Diego placing third in 1:04.53, narrowly ahead of Leah Wenthe from Lutheran San Antonio (1:04.75). Central Texas Christian's Ellie Maurer was fifth in 1:05.59, followed by Mitchell and Hamblin in sixth and seventh. Hamblin, despite the fall, still managed a time of 1:06.10, with teammate Khylee Webber just behind at 1:06.11.

The sportsmanship on display mirrored Mitchell's standout weekend in performance as well. She won the 100m (13.04) and 200m (26.62) titles, showing remarkable versatility and maturity as just a freshman. Hamblin herself had later taken silver in the 200m, running 26.65, and seemed destined for the 400m gold medal before the fall. While she didn't leave with a win in the 400m, Hamblin's courage and Mitchell's compassion elevated the race from athletic competition to a powerful life lesson.

In a championship meet filled with impressive performances and fast times, the 3A girls' 400m final will be remembered most not for a record or a photo finish-but for a profound act of humanity between two young athletes who reminded everyone what sports are truly about.

Brianna Harrison of Colleyville Covenant Christian successfully defended her title in the 2025 TAPPS 4A Girls 400 Meter Dash, posting a time of 57.31 to earn back-to-back championships. The senior standout entered as the heavy favorite after running 57.57 in 2024, and she showed her poise and strength once again by leading the race from start to finish. Her performance capped a phenomenal state meet where she also placed second in the 200m (25.51) behind only Pantego's Neriah Williams and helped solidify her legacy as one of the top all-around sprinters in 4A.

Joining Harrison on the podium was Sasha Simon of Houston Northland Christian, who clocked 1:00.83 to earn the silver medal. Simon, only a sophomore, showcased her range throughout the meet-finishing fourth in both the 100m (12.53) and 200m (26.25)-and looks poised to contend for gold in the coming years. Rounding out the top three was Courtney Ganaway, a promising freshman from Colleyville Covenant Christian, who ran 1:01.34 to give her team a strong 1-3 finish and a major boost in the team standings.

Other notable finishers included Hanna Barbouti of St. Francis Episcopal (1:01.74), a freshman who just missed the podium but displayed significant potential, and Sadie Zbranek of McKinney Christian (1:02.47), who held off a tight pack in the middle of the field. Claire Bailey (1:02.72), Ella Garcia (1:04.26), and Carmen Smith (1:04.93) completed the field.

Harrison's win highlights not just her consistency and dominance in the 400, but also her versatility, as she stood out across multiple sprint events for the second straight year. With young talents like Simon, Ganaway, and Barbouti gaining experience, the future of 4A girls sprinting looks bright heading into 2026.

Bayleigh Minor of Fort Bend Christian Academy concluded a remarkable TAPPS career with her fourth consecutive 400-meter title, winning the 2025 championship in a dominant 54.73. The senior star maintained her stranglehold on the event across all four years of high school, improving on her 2024 winning mark of 55.33 and leaving no doubt in her final outing. Minor's win wasn't just a showcase of consistency-it was a statement of continued excellence, marking her as one of TAPPS' and overall one of Texas' all-time greats in the 400m.

While Minor cruised to gold, Charlotte Freeman of Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy put in a strong senior performance to take silver in 59.61, crossing under the 1-minute barrier and improving significantly on her absence from the 2024 final. Maya Gilmore of Tyler Grace Community followed closely in 1:00.05 to take third, edging out Sophia Lee of Houston Emery Weiner (1:00.18) in a tight battle for the podium. Lee and her teammate Meghan Conn (1:01.29) gave Emery Weiner a strong double showing in the final.

Further back, Mills Morris (1:02.30) of Fort Worth Southwest Christian and Kailey Harris (1:03.11) of Midland Christian placed sixth and seventh, respectively. Cadence Mabry, a freshman from Austin Hyde Park Baptist, rounded out the final in 1:05.80, gaining valuable championship experience.

Minor's success wasn't limited to just the 400m. She also captured the 200m title in a wind-aided 23.91, further cementing her sprint dominance. 

As Minor graduates with an unmatched TAPPS 5A 400m résumé-four titles in four years-her departure leaves a significant void. However, with rising stars like Walter and strong returning athletes across multiple events, the 5A sprints are poised for an exciting new era.

Mya Harris, a freshman from St. Dominic Savio Catholic, made a commanding debut at the 2025 TAPPS 6A Girls 400m Championship, winning the title in 56.66. Harris showcased maturity beyond her age, controlling the race from the start and pulling away in the final stretch to secure the fastest time seen at this meet since at least 2024. Her performance capped off an exceptional meet for St. Dominic Savio, which saw dominance across the sprint events.

Marit Beckman of Dallas Ursuline Academy, who finished third in 2024, returned to the podium with a 58.99 clocking for second place. Beckman's consistency at the state level reinforces her role as a key piece of Ursuline's track program. Meanwhile, Michaela Grimes of Houston St. Agnes took bronze in 1:00.18, just ahead of a pack of close finishers.

The middle of the field was tightly contested. Shea Spivey of Addison Trinity Christian (1:01.13) edged out Naomi Mangwiro of Dallas Bishop Lynch (1:01.29) and Morgan Lanier of St. Agnes (1:01.45), with senior Alicia Waldrop of St. Dominic Savio finishing seventh in 1:02.00.

Harris's 400m gold was only one part of St. Dominic Savio's sprint onslaught. In the 200m, she added silver (24.54) behind teammate Chayse Madison-Haire, who won in 24.29, and both athletes had already impressed in the 100m earlier in the meet. Their performances mark St. Dominic Savio as one of the most promising sprint programs in TAPPS 6A, especially considering both Madison-Haire and Harris are just freshmen.

Looking back to 2024, the winning time then was 58.00 by Emilie Couch of Ursuline. Harris's 2025 winning mark of 56.66 not only eclipses that by a wide margin but sets a new standard for future TAPPS 6A 400m contenders. With three more years of eligibility, Harris has the potential to dominate this event for seasons to come.