Noah Strohman of Holliday High School has cemented himself as one of the most decorated male distance runners in Texas high school cross country history. On Saturday, he captured his fourth consecutive UIL 3A boys state cross country championship, a feat no other boy in Texas has ever achieved.
Strohman's reign began as a freshman in 2022, when he surged past Winnsboro senior David Soto to win in 15:49. As a sophomore, he battled through injuries but still managed to drop a stunning 15:30 to edge East Bernard's senior standout Chris Kopecky. In his junior season, he extended his legacy with a 15:24 win over Troy's Grayson Williams. And now, in his senior finale, Strohman saved his best for last. Pushed harder by his twin brother than ever by any other runner at the state meet, it was Ryder Strohman, who clocked a blazing 15:44 as Noah delivered a 15:26 to secure his historic fourth title.
While Texas has seen its fair share of distance legends, Leo Manzano, Judson Greer, Graydon Morris, Carter Blunt, and Alan Culpepper, among them, none have managed what Strohman just accomplished. Multiple-time champions are rare, and a few others, like Steven Quintanilla, Rickey Gallegos, and Willie Garcia, have come close. Even this weekend, others were added with Sebastian Talemantez (1A) and Caden Leonard (6A) adding their third state titles of their own. But Strohman now stands alone atop the record books, his name etched in Texas running history.
What makes Noah's resume even more staggering is his dominance on the track. With eight UIL track state championships, he's a three-time winner of both the 1600m and 3200m, and a two-time champion in the 800m. His personal bests - 4:04.88 in the 1600m, 9:02.54 in the 3200m, and 1:53.36 in the 800m - are elite marks by any standard, and showcase his unmatched range. From a 52-second quarter-mile to a sub-4:10 full mile, Strohman's versatility rivals any high school runner in the nation.
As his high school career closes, Noah Strohman leaves behind not just a legacy of medals but a standard of consistency, excellence, and resilience that may not be matched for decades. Texas has produced many legends, but in the world of high school boys' cross country, there's now only one king: Noah Strohman.