PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISTOPHER CARPENTER

Jackson Ballew threw 158-5 at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on Apr 3 to finish fourth. Three weeks later at the TAIAO HS State meet he threw 169-7, won, and set a career best. He also ran 11.68 in the 100m at the same meet, just for good measure.

The jav isn't contested within the UIL, but that doesn't mean the leaderboard isn't full of impressive marks. Second on the Texas javelin board is Easton Pettiet of Tomball Concordia Lutheran at 165-4 from the CLHS Spring Thrower's Meet on Feb 7. Last spring at Texas Relays, Pettiet threw 176-9 - seven feet farther than Ballew's current state lead. At this year's Texas Relays he threw 155-11.25, well short of February and well short of last spring. His 2026 season best and his career best are nearly 12 feet apart, but there is still more season to come. He also threw discus at the TAPPS 6A District 4 Championship on Apr 16-17, going 129-3.25.

The TAIAO HS State meet on Apr 25 moved four athletes into the Texas top ten. Rhys Bonow of Texas Wind Home School threw 147-0 for fourth in the state. Trusten Bonow also of Texas Wind Home School threw 116-10 for eighth. Christopher Jones of Tyler Home Education Athletics of Tyler threw 110-10 for tenth. Sammy Miller III of sits third at 154-5.5 from the CLHS Spring Thrower's Meet in February. Jacob Muhle of Houston Homeschool won the LHC Invitational on Apr 25 at 140-8 for fifth. Brady Eldridge of Fort Worth Southwest Christian is sixth at 135-9.5 from Texas Relays. Kolter Burns is seventh at 120-9. Gayton Lieke of Sugarland Logos Preparatory Academy threw 111-0 at the LHC Invitational on Apr 25 for ninth.

Nationally the gap is wide. Bryson Jacobs of Adrian High School in Missouri leads the country at 225-7.75, more than 56 feet ahead of Ballew. Jason McNicoll of Blue Valley West High in Kansas is second at 218-6. Gable Gray of Chelmsford High School in Massachusetts threw 216-7 at the Penn Relays for third. Jaxon Talley of West Monroe in Louisiana is fourth at 216-0. Walker Ferguson is fifth at 213-8.