Meet Preview: 2026 Carl Lewis High School Invitational

The Carl Lewis Invitational annually serves as one of the premier early-season indoor tests in Texas, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be no different. With elite returners from the Texas High School Indoor Championships, rising underclassmen, and nationally ranked performers across multiple disciplines, the meet offers a true championship-style environment.

There are athletes coming from the Virgin Islands, along with a Colorado squad (Angel Flight) who should be coming to add to the quality of the meet.

Below is a breakdown of key events and athletes to watch.

Girls 400 Meters

A deep field blending proven quarter-milers with athletes trending upward early in the season.

• McKenzi Roberson (Shadow Creek, 2027)

  • Outdoor best: 55.76

  • Fresh off a busy weekend running the 60m and 200m; now focuses on her strongest event.

• Darasimi Odelowo (Jacobs Sports Academy, 2027)

  • Indoor: 57.59 | Outdoor: 55.84

  • Strength-based runner who thrives late in races.

• Jayda Runnels (Bridgeland, 2027)

  • Indoor: 58.55 | Outdoor: 56.97

  • Consistent competitor with big-meet experience.

• Alaya Stewart (Fort Bend Marshall, 2027)

  • Indoor: 58.43 | Outdoor: 57.29

  • Continues to chip away at the sub-57 barrier.

• Victoria Mason (Tomball Memorial, 2026)

  • Indoor: 58.24 | Outdoor: 56.25

  • Brings strong championship credentials.

Boys 400 Meters

One of the deepest events on the schedule with multiple sub-49 threats.

• Jason Walker (Shadow Creek / H-Town Hurricanes, 2026)

  • Outdoor best: 46.62

  • Elite quarter-miler with national-level upside.

• Brycen Martin (Wings Track Club, 2027)

  • Indoor: 47.89

  • Combines hurdler strength with flat speed.

• Justin Wallace (Track Houston YTC, 2027)

  • Indoor: 49.72

  • Smooth runner who excels indoors.

• Gregory Cheeks II (Wings Track Club, 2026)

  • Indoor: 50.11

  • Trending downward early in the season.

• Jakobe James (GODspeed HTX, 2027)

  • Outdoor: 48.43

  • Strong late-race finisher.

Girls 60 Meters

Texas speed is on full display with nationally ranked athletes.

• Lily Pierrot (Team Quest, 2026)

  • Indoor: 7.38

  • Currently US No. 4 after last weekend.

• London Graham (Texas Titans, 2027)

  • Indoor: 7.48

  • Tied for US No. 12.

• Zyiah Ganaway (R.O.P.E., 2027)

  • Indoor: 7.58

  • Continues to improve in championship settings.

Boys 60 Meters

Short sprint loaded with sub-7.00 potential.

• Damien Hankins (Track Houston YTC, 2027) - 7.00

• Jordan Riggs (H-Town Hurricanes, 2027) - 7.04

• Brashard Miles (Houston Nimitz, 2026) - 7.06

• Max Hopkins (Fort Bend Crawford, 2026) - 7.02

• Tomi Tanski (Avionics The Collective, 2027) - 6.87

Boys Shot Put

Elite power throwers highlight the ring.

• CJ Williams (Momentum Throws, 2026)

  • Indoor: 65-4¾

  • Reigning indoor champion and national contender.

• Justin Bordelon (Momentum Throws, 2027) - 62-4

• Jackson Kerth (2027) - 58-10¼

• Oswald Jacquet (All American Throwers Club, 2028) - 53-10½

Girls Shot Put

• Briana Davis (Texas Pressure T&F, 2027) - 48-7½

• Ainsley Bramer (Coppell, 2026) - 45-6¾

• Jayden Kimble (Atascocita, 2027) - 45-1

Girls Triple Jump

• Karis Nartey (Fly Speed Academy, 2026) - 40-8¾

• Ava Flugence (Avionics The Collective, 2026) - 37-8¾

Girls Long Jump

• Zenobia Witt (Angel Flight) - 19-9 Has aldready jumped over 19-2 twice

• Cate Bryant (Texas Elite T&F, 2027) - 19-3¼

• Jasmine Gambol (Cypress Ridge, 2026) - 19-2

• Karis Nartey (Fly Speed Academy, 2026) - 19-2¾

Girls Pole Vault

• Leilani Goodman (Bay Area PVA, 2028) - 12-3¼

• Emma Kidder (Dickinson, 2026) - 12-0

Boys Pole Vault

• Ryder Harrison (Vault Barn, 2026) - 15-3

Boys Triple Jump

• Dayjon Jamison (2026) - 47-11¼ (UIL 5A runner-up)

• Abdurahman Ghaji (2026) - 48-8¾

• Caleb Woodard (Keller Fossil Ridge, 2027) - 46-4½

• Cody Pardu (CL Athletics, 2027) - 46-2½

Girls 60m Hurdles

• Zenobia Witt (Angel Flight) - US No. 4 ranked with a 8.56 from last month

  Journey Jones (Hurdlenomics, 2026) - 8.76

• Madison Mason (Performance Hurdling, 2026) - 8.76

• Kamryn McClellan (Creek TC, 2029) - 8.80

• Corie Wilmington (Wings TC, 2027)

  • Outdoor: 14.39 (100H), 42.61 (300H) - emerging short hurdler.

Boys 60m Hurdles

• Steven Schwartz (Track Houston YTC, 2026) - 7.82

• Avonte Earl (Track Houston YTC, 2028) - 7.84

• Kristian Kuykendoll (Texas Pressure, 2026) - 8.03

• Niko Bailey (Hurdlenomics, 2027) - 8.06

Girls 800 Meters

• Sophia Lopez (Texas Select, 2027) - 2:13.77 (winner last weekend)

• Mckale Lee (Track Houston YTC, 2026) - 2:19.40

• Erin Peters (Texas Storm TC, 2026) - 2:22.71

Boys 800 Meters

• Chance Anderson (Rockwall Mustangs, 2029) - 1:56.21

• Brandt Kovar (Huntington, 2026) - 1:57.31

• Aden Saucedo (Iowa Colony, 2026) - 1:58.34

• David Carbajal (St. Thomas / Wings, 2026) - 1:56.64

• Graham Goggans (Marble Falls, 2028) - 1:57.18

• Colby Hestermann (Keller Fossil Ridge, 2026) - 1:57.92