Falls City senior Keandra Johnson goes 58.23 to win UIL 2A Girls 400m
2026 UIL Track and Field State Championships
The UIL 2A girls' 400-meter final entered Austin guaranteed to crown a new state champion after none of the medalists from the 2025 race returned. With all of this year's qualifiers separated by barely more than a second entering the meet, the race was projected to be one of the most wide-open sprint finals in the classification. Although Tarviant Campbell's long-standing state meet record of 53.84 from 1993 remained untouched for another year, the race still delivered one of the most competitive quarter-mile battles of the meet.
From the opening stagger, Falls City senior Keandra Johnson aggressively attacked the first curve and immediately established herself at the front of the race. Running confidently through the backstretch, Johnson carried her momentum into the 300-meter mark with a visible lead while several challengers began mounting their charges behind her. In lane two, Gruver's Reese Grotegut steadily worked her way forward, while Seymour junior Madi Pring and Olney sophomore Halee Craven both accelerated hard coming off the final turn in pursuit of the leader.
UIL 2A Girls 400m
As the field entered the homestretch, Johnson remained composed despite the pressure closing from multiple lanes. Holding her form over the final 50 meters, the Falls City senior maintained just enough separation to secure the state championship in 58.23, giving her the first state title of her career. Pring finished second in 59.13, narrowly edging Craven's 59.20 for runner-up honors in a tightly contested sprint to the line. Vega sophomore Khloe Griffitt followed closely in fourth at 59.39, while Grotegut rounded out the top five after her late surge through the field.
The race ultimately reflected the parity within UIL 2A girls' sprinting this season. Without a returning champion or clear favorite, the final came down to who could best manage the final stretch under pressure - and Johnson's aggressive early pace combined with her ability to hold off the field proved to be the winning formula.
Falls City senior Keandra Johnson goes 58.23 to win UIL 2A Girls 400m
2026 UIL Track and Field State Championships
The UIL 2A girls' 400-meter final entered Austin guaranteed to crown a new state champion after none of the medalists from the 2025 race returned. With all of this year's qualifiers separated by barely more than a second entering the meet, the race was projected to be one of the most wide-open sprint finals in the classification. Although Tarviant Campbell's long-standing state meet record of 53.84 from 1993 remained untouched for another year, the race still delivered one of the most competitive quarter-mile battles of the meet.
From the opening stagger, Falls City senior Keandra Johnson aggressively attacked the first curve and immediately established herself at the front of the race. Running confidently through the backstretch, Johnson carried her momentum into the 300-meter mark with a visible lead while several challengers began mounting their charges behind her. In lane two, Gruver's Reese Grotegut steadily worked her way forward, while Seymour junior Madi Pring and Olney sophomore Halee Craven both accelerated hard coming off the final turn in pursuit of the leader.
