Ruel Newberry competes at the 2026 Texas HS Indoor Championships
Texas High School Indoor Championship 2026
High School Boys' 2 Mile, Finals 1
The boys 2 mile at the Texas High School Indoor Championships delivered a compelling rematch that lived up to and surpassed last year's standard. In 2025, Griffen Saacke captured the title historically, setting a meet and facility record of 9:08.17, with Ruel Newberry finishing as the runner-up.
This time, the roles were reversed. Both athletes entered the race fresh off outstanding cross-country seasons in which they led their teams to strong campaigns and firmly established themselves as two of the most recognizable names in Texas distance running. On Saturday morning in College Station, it was Newberry who seized the moment, turning patience and precision into a breakthrough victory.
From the opening laps, the race unfolded at a fast but controlled pace, with a tight lead pack passing 818 meters in the low 2:18 range. Newberry, Saacke, and Dominic Matthias ran nearly shoulder to shoulder, signaling early that this would be a strength-based battle rather than a sit-and-kick affair. We know that is not the strategy Newberry perfers and by the mile, he began to subtly assert control, splitting 4:32.22, just ahead of Matthias (4:32.48) and Saacke (4:33.99).
Boys 2 Mile - Texas All-Time Indoor Top Performances
| Rank | Time | Athlete | School | Year | Meet |
|---|
| 1 | 8:50.79 | Colby Lowe | Carroll HS | 2007 | Nike Indoor Nationals |
| 2 | 8:52.01 | Benjamin Montgomery | Bridgeland | 2025 | Nike Indoor Nationals |
| 3 | 8:55.33 | Adam Burlison | Lubbock Coronado | 2024 | CYUP Misfits Invite |
| 4 | 8:56.81 | Ruel Newberry | Denton Guyer | 2026 | Texas HS Indoor Championships |
The decisive move came over the third 800 meters, where Newberry maintained his rhythm and clicked off a 2:14.50 segment, reaching 2418 meters in 6:46.72. Behind him, Saacke and Matthias began to lose contact as the sustained pressure took its toll.
Over the final laps, Newberry never faltered. Closing in a sharp 2:10.10, he pulled away convincingly to cross the line in 8:56.81, a performance that now stands as the US No. 1 time this season and the fourth-fastest Texas indoor 2-mile of all time.
Saacke battled back late to secure second in 9:08.66, narrowly ahead of Matthias at 9:08.70. At the same time, a deep chase pack followed with multiple athletes finishing between 9:12 and 9:15.
In the end, the rematch delivered more than just a role reversal; it produced one of the most significant indoor distance performances in Texas history. It added another chapter to an already memorable rivalry.
Boys 2 Mile - Texas High School Indoor Championships (with Splits)
| Place | Athlete | Grade | School / Team | 818m | Mile | 2418m | Final Time |
|---|
| 1 | Ruel Newberry | 10 | Denton Guyer | 2:18.44 | 4:32.22 | 6:46.72 | 8:56.81 |
| 2 | Griffen Saacke | 12 | Bridgeland | 2:18.67 | 4:33.99 | 6:55.20 | 9:08.66 |
| 3 | Dominic Matthias | 10 | Unattached | 2:18.30 | 4:32.48 | 6:51.74 | 9:08.70 |
| 4 | Graham Hummel | 10 | Unattached | 2:18.69 | 4:34.91 | 6:56.25 | 9:12.63 |
| 5 | Armando Morales | 12 | Celerity Performance | 2:19.28 | 4:34.71 | 6:55.92 | 9:12.84 |
| 6 | Anthony Morales | 12 | Celerity Performance | 2:19.51 | 4:34.47 | 6:54.85 | 9:13.11 |
| 7 | Wells Peterson | 12 | TMI Episcopal HS | 2:19.03 | 4:34.27 | 6:55.66 | 9:15.45 |
| 8 | Desmond Marino | 9 | Unattached | 2:21.09 | 4:41.91 | 7:05.90 | 9:26.44 |
| 9 | Joseph Reid | 12 | Unattached | 2:22.23 | 4:40.84 | 7:05.39 | 9:27.58 |
| 10 | Avinash Dewagan | 9 | 620 Running | 2:25.60 | 4:48.89 | 7:11.45 | 9:30.28 |
