Dallas Lincoln junior Naomi Jones made it back-to-back UIL 4A Girls 400m wins
2026 UIL Track and Field State Championships
The UIL 4A girls' 400-meter final once again revolved around defending state champion Naomi Jones of Dallas Lincoln, and once again she delivered. Entering the 2026 championship with the fastest qualifying mark at 55.23 and after winning the 2025 state title in 55.94 as a sophomore, Jones was the clear favorite to repeat. Although the long-standing 4A conference record of 53.65 set by Licretia Sibley in 2001 remained out of reach, the field featured several athletes capable of pushing the pace, including Fort Bend Crawford junior Famatta Everett and Geronimo Navarro sophomore Emersen Cochran.
From the stagger start, Everett appeared intent on challenging Jones, keeping the Dallas Lincoln standout directly in her sights from the outside lanes. Cochran also positioned herself aggressively through the opening 200 meters, ensuring the race remained competitive entering the final straightaway. As the field came off the final curve, Everett and Cochran both remained within striking distance, with Cochran especially fighting hard over the final 100 meters to stay in medal contention.
But Jones' strength over the final portion of the race proved decisive. Showing the same composure and finishing ability that carried her to the title a year earlier, she produced a strong final 50 meters to separate from the field and secure back-to-back state championships in 55.13, improving on last year's winning mark. Everett held on for second in 55.68, while Cochran finished third in 56.41 after a determined effort throughout the race. Bandera's Milesia Casas added another strong performance in fourth at 56.67 as four athletes broke 57 seconds in a highly competitive final.
The victory not only solidified Jones as one of the premier quarter-milers in the classification but also completed another impressive championship performance for Dallas Lincoln. In a race where challengers continually applied pressure, Jones once again demonstrated why she remains the standard in UIL 4A girls' sprinting.
Dallas Lincoln junior Naomi Jones made it back-to-back UIL 4A Girls 400m wins
2026 UIL Track and Field State Championships
The UIL 4A girls' 400-meter final once again revolved around defending state champion Naomi Jones of Dallas Lincoln, and once again she delivered. Entering the 2026 championship with the fastest qualifying mark at 55.23 and after winning the 2025 state title in 55.94 as a sophomore, Jones was the clear favorite to repeat. Although the long-standing 4A conference record of 53.65 set by Licretia Sibley in 2001 remained out of reach, the field featured several athletes capable of pushing the pace, including Fort Bend Crawford junior Famatta Everett and Geronimo Navarro sophomore Emersen Cochran.
From the stagger start, Everett appeared intent on challenging Jones, keeping the Dallas Lincoln standout directly in her sights from the outside lanes. Cochran also positioned herself aggressively through the opening 200 meters, ensuring the race remained competitive entering the final straightaway. As the field came off the final curve, Everett and Cochran both remained within striking distance, with Cochran especially fighting hard over the final 100 meters to stay in medal contention.
