PHOTO CREDIT: RPERNETTER
Early-Season Breakthroughs From Four Texas Underclassmen
Smith, Howard, Williams, and O'Connor are producing marks that already matter
The 2026 outdoor season is a few weeks old in Texas, and four underclassmen have already posted breakthrough marks. Jayson Smith, Hickson Howard, Bryhn Williams, and Noelle O'Connor are sophomores and freshmen putting up numbers that sit at the top of their class statewide.
BOYS
Smith opened his season with a 10.66. He then ran 10.30 in the prelims of the 100m at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational on Mar 6, which currently ranks him third among Texas sophomores in the event. He also ran 10.49 in the finals at the same meet. Indoors this past winter, he posted a 6.83 in the 60m and a 21.51 in the 200m.
Howard ran 15.92 in the 110m hurdles last season as a freshman. He's at 14.49 this year, a 1.43-second drop that currently places him sixth among Texas sophomores in the event. The 14.49 came in prelims at the Pirate Relays on Mar 5. He's also run 40.29 in the 300m hurdles this season, down from 44.16 in 2025, and has a long jump of 18-3.50.
GIRLS
Williams ran 25.24 at the Charger Relays on February 20 to open her season. She came back on Mar 6 and ran 24.07 at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational, a mark that currently ranks her first among Texas freshmen in the 200m. She also competed indoors this past winter, posting a 25.48 in the 200m and a 7.96 in the 60m.
O'Connor cleared 4-10 at the Hebron Hawk Invitational on Feb 21, then 5-2 at the Plano ISD Ron McNeill Invitational on Feb 28, before jumping a PR of 5-4 to win the Coppell Cowboys Relays on March 5. The 5-4 mark is currently tied for fourth among Texas freshmen in the high jump.
PHOTO CREDIT: RPERNETTER
Early-Season Breakthroughs From Four Texas Underclassmen
Smith, Howard, Williams, and O'Connor are producing marks that already matter
The 2026 outdoor season is a few weeks old in Texas, and four underclassmen have already posted breakthrough marks. Jayson Smith, Hickson Howard, Bryhn Williams, and Noelle O'Connor are sophomores and freshmen putting up numbers that sit at the top of their class statewide.
BOYS
Smith opened his season with a 10.66. He then ran 10.30 in the prelims of the 100m at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational on Mar 6, which currently ranks him third among Texas sophomores in the event. He also ran 10.49 in the finals at the same meet. Indoors this past winter, he posted a 6.83 in the 60m and a 21.51 in the 200m.
Howard ran 15.92 in the 110m hurdles last season as a freshman. He's at 14.49 this year, a 1.43-second drop that currently places him sixth among Texas sophomores in the event. The 14.49 came in prelims at the Pirate Relays on Mar 5. He's also run 40.29 in the 300m hurdles this season, down from 44.16 in 2025, and has a long jump of 18-3.50.
