800m
Savanah Moya has already posted impressive marks during the 2026 outdoor season. She opened with a 2:17.34 at the Buddha Johnson Invitational and most recently ran a season-best 2:15.86 at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational. Look for her to be one of the top contenders among the elite 800m runners.
Adeline Bennett has recorded two sub-5:00 performances in the 1600m, both at the Colony Cougar Invitational and the Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational. Even more impressive, she ran 2:13.49 at the Charger Relays. Expect her to factor alongside Moya.
3200m
Maya Easterwood currently sits atop the 3200m rankings. Her impressive 10:37.17 proves she is a step ahead of the field. Despite racing the 3200m only once this season at the Hebron Hawk Invitational, Easterwood is looking to show she can compete with the best in Texas and beyond.
El Paso native Emily Orr is aiming to establish herself as one of the top runners in Texas. She posted a 10:30.00 in the 3,000m indoors at the Texas Tech Wes Kittley High School Invitational and has averaged 5:06 in the 1600m this season. The Franklin High School senior will look to translate that experience into a strong 3200m performance Friday evening.
1600m
Georgia Giesinger, a junior from Fort Worth Nolan Catholic, has faced limited competition this season, with Adeline Bennett being one of the few to push her. Giesinger opened with a 5:03.82 at the North Texas Winter 1600m and recently ran a personal-best 4:56.81 at the Flower Mound Marcus Invitational. She is a clear top-three contender.
Austin Westlake junior, Caroline Strong, has been consistent all season. She ran 2:15.04 in the 800m at the Chap Relays and followed it up with a 4:58.96 personal best in the 1600m. Strong will be looking to make her presence known as another top-three contender.
5K
Luna Gutierrez enters unfamiliar territory this weekend in the 5K, but she has had a strong start to 2026. She ran a 5:07 personal best in the 1600m at the North Texas Winter 1600m and doubled back with an 11:06 PR in the 3200m at the same meet. She also clocked 10:08.80 in the 3,000m at the ASICS Sound Running Invitational indoors.
Bridgeland junior, Hope Smith, is off to a strong start this season, running 4:57.09 in the 1600m at the Seven Lakes Relays and 2:13.32 in the 800m at the Cain Relays. She also brings momentum from a strong 2025 cross country season, including appearances at Nike South Regionals and Nike Cross Nationals.
Boys
800m
The top three 800m runners in Texas are separated by just two-tenths of a second, and Lincoln Wright is among them with a 1:52.92 this season. He has shown consistency, including a strong performance at the Jaguar Relays. He also ran 4:19.55 in the 1600m at the same meet, demonstrating strength that should translate well to the 800m.
5000m
Southlake native, Kai Gutierrez had an outstanding 2025 cross country season, with three of his five races under 15 minutes and a Nike Cross Nationals appearance. In 2026, he continued that momentum, running 8:24.66 in the 3,000m at the ASICS Sound Running Invitational. Expect him to contend in the 5,000m Saturday night.
Griffen Saacke ran under 15 minutes in four of five races during the 2025 cross country season, highlighted by a 14:13.30 performance at the 44th annual Woodbridge Classic. He will be looking to challenge Gutierrez for the 5,000m title.
1600m
The most anticipated race of the meet is the boys mile elite. Eight athletes widely considered among the nation's best are not just chasing a win - they are chasing history.
Only 32 high school athletes in U.S. history have broken the four-minute barrier in the mile. Caden Leonard came just 0.07 seconds short at the ASICS Sound Running Invitational and now has another opportunity in ideal conditions with elite competition.
He'll be joined by names like Noah Strohman, who is within four seconds of the barrier, along with standout runners such as Ruel Newberry, Thomas Garrett, Brian Burns and Noah Thayer.
With favorable weather in the forecast, all signs point to a historic performance Saturday evening.
One thing is certain: history will be made one way or another. If you're not watching the livestream, you might miss it. Be sure to tune in both days on TxMilesplit to catch all the action live.
