Jordan Simmons' 6.89 Leads Boys 60m To Finals At Carl Lewis

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The boys' 60-meter preliminaries at the Carl Lewis Invitational delivered instant fireworks, with Houston Yates standout Jordan Simmons stealing the spotlight in his first race of the 2026 indoor season. Simmons exploded out of the blocks to clock a 6.89, a performance that is tied for Texas No. 8 all-time indoors, and immediately announced that his speed translates far beyond the football field.

His run led a remarkable preliminary round in which 11 athletes dipped under 7.00 seconds, underscoring the depth and quality of the sprint field on Friday at the University of Houston.

Behind Simmons, the chase pack was just as impressive. Brandon Gilmore followed closely with a 6.91, while LaDainian Green rounded out the top three qualifiers at 6.92, keeping the margins razor-thin heading into the later rounds. The sub-7 group extended well beyond the podium contenders, as athletes like Kaden Barnaby, Isaiah Watson, and Sean Pina all advanced in the mid-6.9 range, proving that qualifying alone would require near-perfect execution.

For Simmons, who is currently being recruited primarily as a football player, performances like this could significantly expand his Division I opportunities as coaches continue to see his elite track speed carry over to the straightaway.

With the type of speed we saw in the opening round, the Carl Lewis Invitational 60 meters is continuing to live up to the moniker of being the fastest straightaway track in the country, and Simmons has firmly placed himself at the center of the conversation in Houston.

Boys 60 Meter Dash - Prelims (Top 11 Qualifiers)

Carl Lewis Invitational