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The 2026 indoor track and field season is shaping up to be a strong one for Texas girls' shot put, with a deep mix of proven indoor performers and outdoor state meet standouts poised to elevate the event throughout the winter. While the state is loaded and this year projects to have a lot of depth, there are at least three girls who should enter as a trio with a little gap on others.

Leading the returning indoor group is Ainsley Bramer, who topped the 2025 indoor returners list with a 45-2.5 mark at the Texas Tech Wes Kittley Invitational. Bramer's consistency carried outdoors as well, where she finished fourth at the UIL 6A state meet and returns as one of the most complete throwers in the state. Bramer had a 45-6.75 best during the outdoor season and opened up last week at the Texas Indoor Throws Showcase with a 40-10.25.

Entering close behind is Briana Davis, who threw 44-7.75 indoors and later added a UIL 5A outdoor state meet performance of 41-2.75, positioning her as a legitimate contender across both seasons. However, Davis has proven that she isn't to be messed with. An AAU Junior Olympic National Championship throw of 51-1.50 capped her 2025 season. She opened up last week at the Texas Indoor Throws Showcase with a season opener of 48-1.75.   

Jayden Kimble also made a major impact indoors with throws of 43-8.25 and 42-2.25 across multiple championship meets, and her outdoor resume, including a 42-4 showing at the UIL 3A state meet, suggests even more upside heading into the winter. Kimble has a huge throw on her resume of 45-1 from the UIL 6A - District 23.

Looking to break into the top level of returners is London Jones (Mansfield Summit), who recorded a 41-1 on her resume from the UIL 5A - District 08 meet. She surpassed that mark again with her 44-1.25 best toss last week at the North Texas Throws Showcase to finish runner-up behind Davis.

The middle of the indoor field features athletes who could take significant steps forward in 2026, beginning with Brielle Lawson, who finished fourth at the Texas High School Indoor Championship and later emerged as one of the top returners from the UIL 5A outdoor state meet with a 43-2.25 throw; she also has a 45-10 throw from theUIL 5A - Region 3 meet.

Bethany Preusse is another key name to watch after surpassing 40 feet indoors and returning from the UIL 2A outdoor state meet with a 39-1.5 performance, giving her valuable championship experience that often translates well to indoor competition. During the summer, Preusse threw 44-5.5 and opened up last week with a 39-8.5. Avery Easterling, Logann Edwards, and Chloe Barber all return after solid indoor campaigns, while Meagan Davis adds depth to a field where multiple athletes are already flirting with the mid-40s, and she has already eclipsed that last week with a 41-1 throw.

What adds further intrigue to the 2026 indoor season is the strength of outdoor state meet returners who could factor indoors if they choose to compete. UIL 6A runner-up Kylie Herpin headlines that group after a massive 46-9.25 outdoor throw, while 5A state champion Ava Rushing (43-6) already threw 43-5.75 last week and 4A standout Aubrianna Jordan (42-6.5) bring championship-caliber credentials.

From smaller classifications, Ziunna Wade's 43-3.75 2A state title and Rayya Brown's 42-4 performance at the 3A meet underscore the statewide depth in the event. With multiple athletes already proven at the state level outdoors and several returning with elite indoor marks, the Texas girls' shot put landscape entering the 2026 indoor season promises competitive finals, rising performances, and a clear path for new stars to emerge on the winter stage.

The weight throw gives an additional opportunity for throwers to showcase their abilities in front of collegiate coaches. The 2026 Texas girls indoor throws season gains an added layer of intrigue with the inclusion of the weight throw, an event that, while not widely contested across the Texas high school indoor circuit, holds major significance at the collegiate and world championship levels. For Texas throwers, opportunities to compete in the weight throw provide valuable technical development that often translates directly to improvements in the indoor shot put, and the early-season results already suggest rapid progress among the state's top athletes.

Returning from the 2025 indoor season, Chloe Barber of Momentum Throws set the standard with a 53-11.75 performance, establishing herself as the top returner and signaling elite potential in the event. Bethany Preusse followed closely with a 51-2 throw, reinforcing her versatility as a multi-event thrower, while Miranda Roskop and Emily Rohm rounded out the returning rankings with solid foundational marks that hinted at future growth.

That progression was on full display last week at the North Texas Throws Showcase where one of the few opportunities for the event was provided. It delivered some of the most eye-opening performances of the early indoor season. Barber continued her upward trajectory by winning the event with a massive 56-6 throw, extending her dominance and pushing well beyond last season's best. Preusse again proved her consistency by finishing second at 50-5.5. Shot put standout Ainsley Bramer showed the crossover benefits of the event with a strong 47-3 throw, placing fourth, and Faith Hoh and London Jones both surpassed 44 feet to further deepen the field. The meet also showcased remarkable depth, with athletes like Bailey Murray, Emerson Netherland, Meagan Davis, and Logann Edwards all producing competitive marks, and underclassmen such as Avery Easterling and Miranda Roskop continuing to build experience against high-level competition.

While the weight throw may remain a niche event within the Texas high school indoor landscape, its growing participation and rapidly improving performances point to its increasing importance. With established leaders like Barber and Preusse pushing past the 50-foot mark and a wide range of shot put contenders gaining valuable technical reps, the weight throw is quietly becoming a meaningful contributor to the development of Texas' elite female throwers-and an event worth watching as the 2026 indoor season unfolds.

The 2026 indoor track and field season sets up to be a showcase year for Texas boys' shot put, with elite throwers returning from every classification and multiple athletes capable of pushing past the 60-foot barrier before the outdoor season even begins. While some throwers have already been in the weight room and working on their technique all fall, others have begun to trickle into the ring as their football seasons ended, and more will do so after this weekend's slate of state championships.

At the center of the conversation is CJ Williams, who enters the winter as the undisputed favorite after winning the 2025 Texas High School Indoor Championship with a massive 64-8.75 and then elevating himself to the top of the national scene outdoors with a 66-3.25 UIL 5A state title. Williams' (Frisco Heritage) combination of indoor consistency and outdoor dominance gives him a clear edge, but the competition behind him is deep and proven.

Jackson Kerth, the rising junior from Kerrville Tivy, returns after a 58-0.5 indoor best and a strong national showing at Nike Indoor Nationals, and he backed that up outdoors with a 61-8.5 performance, signaling continued growth. Derek Thompson (Sharyland Pioneer) is another major factor after finishing fourth indoors at 56-6.25 before exploding to 64-4 outdoors, winning at the regional level, and proving he can contend with anyone in the state regardless of venue. Jett Harrison also brings championship credentials indoors after a 56-2.75 win at the Carl Lewis Invitational and a 61-0 outdoor best that places him firmly among Texas' elite.

What makes the 2026 indoor season especially compelling is the sheer depth across classifications, as state meet medalists and champions from UIL 6A down to 1A return with marks that translate well indoors. Marlon Cook and Cedar Hill's Desman Manuel, the top two finishers at the UIL 6A outdoor state meet, both return after throwing over 64 feet, making them immediate threats if they contest the indoor circuit. Underclassmen like Oswald Jacquet II and Trace Calhoun add intrigue after productive indoor debuts, while experienced throwers such as Sione Vaea and Mason Wright, who claimed a UIL 2A state title outdoors, bring valuable meet-tested consistency. From 4A standout Kolton Dearth to 3A returner Jackson Hutchison and 1A champion Brice Roesler, Texas's smaller-school talent further reinforces the statewide strength of the event. With multiple throwers already proven beyond 60 feet outdoors and several pushing that standard indoors, the 2026 indoor season promises high-level competition, big marks, and a shot put landscape that mirrors Texas's reputation as one of the nation's premier throwing states.

The boys weight throw continues to quietly grow within the Texas high school indoor scene, serving as an important developmental bridge to collegiate throwing while offering elite throwers another platform to showcase rotational power and technique. Returning from the 2025 indoor season, Thanasi Jaeger of Momentum Throws set the early standard with a 58-6.25 performance, establishing himself as the top returner and a clear leader entering 2026. Jaeger headlines a Momentum Throws-heavy field that includes Lucas Erickson (47-3), Christron Martinez (45-10.75), and Cayden Kelly (45-0.25), all of whom gained valuable national-level experience at the Washburn Be Your Best Meet. Underclassman Maxten Hogan adds depth after surpassing 42 feet last season, while athletes from Let's Throw Big-Russell Carney, Stone Rumage, and Cooper McMillan round out the returning rankings and highlight the expanding reach of the event across Texas programs.

That depth and upward trajectory were fully evident at the North Texas Throws Showcase, where the boys weight throw produced some of the biggest marks ever seen at a Texas-based high school meet. Outdoor shot put standout CJ Williams delivered a statement performance by winning the event with a massive 62-4.5 throw, instantly elevating himself into national contention and underscoring the crossover benefits of the event. Jamarr Weathers followed closely with a 60-8.75 effort, while Jaeger confirmed his consistency by reaching 60-0.5, proving last season's top return wasn't a one-off. Braden Alvarado added another near-60-foot performance at 59-5, and Erickson and Martinez both broke 52 feet, showing significant year-over-year improvement. The field remained deep through the placements, with Cayden Kelly, Elijah Cuellar, Caleb Dryer, and Maxten Hogan all contributing competitive marks that reinforce the strength of Texas' developing weight throw community.

While still a limited event on the Texas indoor calendar, the boys weight throw is rapidly becoming a proving ground for the state's top power throwers. With multiple athletes now pushing past the 60-foot mark and several proven shot putters using the event to sharpen technique and strength, the 2026 indoor season signals a major step forward for the discipline-and further cements Texas' growing presence in a nationally significant throwing event.