TAPPS Championships Recap: Boys 1600m

David Salas of San Angelo Cornerstone Christian closed out his TAPPS career in dominant fashion, claiming a wire-to-wire victory in the 2025 1A Boys 1600m championship with a time of 4:28.98. It was the second gold of the meet for the senior standout, who earlier in the day ran a sensational 1:58.91 to win the 800m title. Salas, who entered as the defending state champion in the 1600m from 2024 (4:21.62), didn't quite match his previous time but proved unchallenged en route to completing the middle-distance double and solidifying his place as one of the top small-school distance runners in Texas.

Following Salas across the line in both races was Joshua Oban of Austin Classical School, who took silver in both the 800m (2:05.50) and the 1600m (4:42.49). Oban's effort was a strong improvement from his 5th-place finish in last year's 1600m (5:01.69), showing clear development and competitive grit as a senior. He held off a deep field, particularly in the 1600m, where four runners broke the 5:00 barrier.

Ethan Stegent of Bellville Faith Academy placed third in the 1600m at 4:54.53, just ahead of Robert Welling (Spring Founders Christian) at 4:57.48, who improved by a spot from last year's fourth-place showing. Welling's consistency over two years speaks volumes about his endurance and tactical racing.

Several athletes completed impressive doubles, including Tyler Sturdivan (Texoma Christian), who was fourth in the 800m (2:11.02) and fifth in the 1600m (5:12.53). His performances this year came slightly behind his 2024 marks (5:06.13 in the 1600m), but he remained a key point scorer for Texoma.

Rounding out the 1600m were Trey Inman (Wichita Falls Christ Academy) in sixth, Jesse Vermillion (Regents Academy) in seventh, and Cooper Tryer (Wichita Falls Christ Academy) in eighth. The race showcased a strong mix of seniors leaving their mark and younger runners gaining valuable state meet experience.

Salas' TAPPS legacy is now etched in the record books-not just for his times, but for his dominance, range, and clutch performances across four years. His 2025 double capped off a remarkable high school career and set the standard for future 1A distance athletes.

The 2025 TAPPS 2A Boys 1600m Championship was all about one name: Ethan Locke. The junior from Valor Prep Academy put on a masterclass performance as he did the day before in the 3200m, crushing the field with a time of 4:18.82 to win the title by more than 24 seconds. Locke, who was last year's state champion in 4:32.28, obliterated his own standard in a dominant wire-to-wire victory that leaves no doubt about his place among the top distance runners in the TAPPS ranks. His tactical patience early, followed by a sustained drive through the second half of the race, separated him from the rest of the field by a huge margin.

Behind Locke, the race for the remaining podium spots was much tighter. Roman Martinez of Amarillo Ascension Academy held off a late surge to claim silver in 4:43.06, just edging Luke Gehrig of Muenster Sacred Heart, who finished in 4:43.11. Martinez completed an impressive double after placing second in the 800m earlier in the day (2:04.54), showing both speed and stamina in a packed championship schedule. Gehrig, the senior leader for Sacred Heart, capped off his career with one of his best races, just a few hundredths of a second shy of second place.

Jorden Anderson of Lubbock Southcrest Christian finished just outside the medals in 4:44.58, maintaining his reputation as a consistent distance threat. After placing fourth in the same race a year ago, Anderson nearly matched his 2024 time (4:39.84) and was a key scorer for his team. Notably, his teammate Lucas Higgins, who earned bronze in the 800m with a 2:05.49, did not return for the 1600m-leaving Anderson as the Southcrest distance representative in the final.

Further back, Ryan Janak of Hallettsville Sacred Heart (5:04.65), Daniel Puller of Bryan Allen Academy (5:10.88), and Aaron Flores of Chinquapin Prep (5:15.42) rounded out the top seven. Flores also competed earlier in the 800m, placing fifth in 2:11.27, demonstrating solid range on the day. While the gap between first and the field was immense, the battle from second through fifth reflected the depth of competition across the state in TAPPS 2A.

Ultimately, this 1600m final was a defining moment for Locke. With one year still to go in his high school career, he's now a two-time state champion in this event-and after the way he ran in 2025, it's clear he may not be done rewriting the TAPPS distance record books.

Providence Classical delivered a championship performance for the ages in the 2025 TAPPS 3A Boys 1600m, sweeping the podium and firmly stamping its dominance on the distance events. Henry Stevens, a senior and long-time leader of the program, captured the state title with a composed and strategic race, crossing the line in 4:33.21. Just steps behind him was sophomore teammate Kaeden Beno, who clocked 4:33.61 for silver, followed by fellow senior Steven Wimberly, who grabbed bronze in 4:34.91 to complete the stunning 1-2-3 sweep for Providence.

This was not Wimberly's only highlight of the day-earlier in the meet, he ran 2:00.02 in the 800m to finish as state runner-up. That performance was part of another 1-2 finish for Providence Classical, as sophomore Elijah Zuniga took the 800m title in 1:59.32. The strength and depth of the Providence squad were unmatched, making a strong case for the most complete boys' distance team in TAPPS 3A.

Freshman Nate Lugo from McKinney Cornerstone Christian Academy made an impressive debut with a fourth-place finish in 4:35.54, nearly breaking up the Providence pack. Just behind him was Zeke Carl of Waco Live Oak Classical, who placed fifth in 4:43.44, improving on his eighth-place finish in last year's state meet.

Covenant Classical showed depth with three finishers in the 1600m final: freshman Noah Keyes took sixth in 4:50.74, and brothers Jude Schuknect and Daniel Keyes followed in seventh (5:07.64) and eighth (5:11.06), respectively. Notably, both Noah and Daniel doubled back from the 800m, where they ran 2:09.61 and 2:13.23, respectively-solid efforts given the demands of the double.

Compared to the 2024 championship race, which saw Temple Christian's AJ Abeyta win in 4:28.66, the 2025 final was slightly more tactical but equally competitive up front. With all three Providence medalists returning or graduating with top marks, the program's reign in 3A distance events-especially after sweeping the 800m and 1600m-is firmly established in TAPPS history.

Braden Belew of Midland Christian delivered a signature performance in the boys 1600 meters to cap an outstanding distance triple at the 2025 TAPPS 5A State Championships. The junior surged to the front with 300 meters to go and never looked back, clocking a personal-best 4:22.87 to claim the gold medal. After placing 7th in last year's 1600m final, Belew completed a dominant weekend that included a runner-up finish in the 3200m (9:38.14) and a victory in the 800m (1:57.42), establishing himself as the top all-around distance runner in TAPPS 5A.

San Antonio Christian's Adrian Rule also had a phenomenal meet, finishing second in the 1600m with a time of 4:28.64, just ahead of teammate Nathan Womack, who crossed in 4:29.96 for third. The duo had already made their presence felt earlier in the 3200m, where Rule captured the state title in 9:33.21 and Womack placed fifth. Their consistency across both events helped San Antonio Christian stake a strong claim to distance team dominance.

Fort Worth Christian senior Hunter Hinrichsen, a returning state finalist, placed fourth in 4:33.14, matching his fourth-place showing in the 3200m (9:43.24) from earlier in the meet. Right behind him was Elijah Savage of Fort Bend Christian, who posted a solid 4:33.96 in the 1600m following his impressive 9:41.35 bronze medal effort in the 3200m.

Aidan Rivers of Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy rounded out a strong senior campaign by placing sixth in 4:34.74 and doubling back from the 800m, where he also placed sixth (2:02.67). Elias Gonzalez of Austin Regents and Liam Finley of Lubbock All Saints rounded out the top eight, both finishing in the 4:43 range.

The 2025 final reflected a notable shift in the landscape compared to 2024's historic field led by Marcelo and Franco Parra. With several key names graduating last year, the spotlight was seized by juniors like Belew and Rule, both of whom will return in 2026 with sub-4:20 credentials and state titles already under their belts. Their performances anchored a deep and competitive field that signaled a bright future for TAPPS 5A distance running.

Wells Peterson of TMI Episcopal cemented his status as one of TAPPS' premier distance talents with a commanding victory in the 2025 TAPPS 6A boys 1600-meter final, crossing the line in 4:15.04. The junior pulled away decisively over the final lap, capping off an incredible double after winning the 3200 meters earlier in the meet with a blazing 9:08.80. His time in the 1600 marked a 10-second improvement over last year's winning mark and showcased his growth from an emerging talent into a dominant force in private school distance running.

Following closely behind was John Boland, a sophomore from San Antonio Antonian who clocked 4:19.26 for second place. Like Peterson, Boland doubled back from the 3200m, where he earned silver in 9:19.95, a remarkable feat for a young athlete facing two grueling races on championship day. His ability to handle the pressure and pace of both races bodes well for Antonian's future distance corps.

Shaun Benesch of Houston St. Thomas delivered a strong showing as the top 10th grader in the field, placing third in 4:25.96. Just behind Benesch was Chris Pietrak of St. John's Houston, the senior closing his state meet career in 4:26.17 after claiming bronze in the 3200m with a 9:36.23 effort.

Marco Pineda of Dallas Parish Episcopal finished fifth in 4:34.66, improving on his 2024 mark and continuing a strong meet that included a top-five finish in the 3200 meters. Seniors Daniel Ogomo of Frisco Legacy Christian and Cooper Harris of Liberty Christian went 6-7 in both the 1600 and 3200, each showcasing durability and consistency in a tough distance double. David Granado of Nolan Catholic rounded out the top eight in 4:42.71, returning to the state final after placing seventh a year ago.

With six of the top eight athletes doubling back from the 3200, this race was a test of not only speed but also stamina. Peterson's winning time and authoritative close elevated the standard of the 6A 1600 final, and with both he and Boland returning in 2026, the distance scene in TAPPS 6A remains in very capable hands.