Texas distance runners made a powerful national statement at the 2025 Music City Track Carnival in Tennessee, with standout performances that shook up the national and state leaderboards.
Elin Latta of South Texas Homeschool Heat stole the spotlight in the girls 3200m, delivering a dominant victory in 9:56.33. In a field loaded with elite talent from across the country, Latta surged away from her competitors to clock the No. 4 time in the U.S. this season and the top time in Texas for 2025. Her mark also etched her name into the Texas all-time list, ranking No. 6 behind legendary names like Natalie Cook, Elizabeth Leachman, and Brynn Brown. The win further cements Latta's national presence as one of the premier distance runners in the country.
Joining her in the 3200m was Sophia Bendet, a recent Randolph High School graduate and Texas A&M signee. Bendet finished fourth overall with an outstanding time of 10:03, securing the No. 2 ranking in Texas this year. Her performance capped off a stellar high school career with a statement effort on a national stage.
In the boys 800m, it was Luke Bone (Austin HS / Texas Tech commit) who took control of the race and never looked back. Bone clocked a winning time of 1:50.48, winning by more than two seconds in a commanding effort that continues his ascent as one of the nation's top half-milers. He was followed by Georgia's Keayari Lee (1:52.83), while Texas was well represented behind them.
Noah Strohman of Holliday High School placed fourth in 1:53.36, Colby Huntress (Austin Anderson) claimed seventh with a 1:54.37, and Edgar Thielens, a Houston Awty grad and Cornell commit, crossed in 1:54.67 for eighth. The deep Texas contingent showed the state's depth and competitiveness across both genders and distances.
With several national-level performances and rising stars asserting themselves, the Music City Track Carnival proved to be a high-powered showcase for Texas talent on one of the biggest post-season stages.