Jayden Kennedy gets his state title in the 200m
2026 UIL Track and Field State Championships
Jayden Kennedy of Keller Fossil Ridge and Justin Stewart from Fort Worth Arlington Heights were each finalists in the 2025 UIL 5A boys 200m, and they returned this year as the two favorites.
Earlier in the evening, Stewart topped Kennedy in the 100m by the smallest of margins, 10.23 to 10.24. With a silver medal in last year's 200m, Stewart was aiming for a second gold medal in the meet. Kennedy had other ideas running out of lane 2 as he scooted around the curve faster than anyone else in the field.
Stewart was no slouch running the curve, but he was behind Kennedy. Over the final 100m, Stewart was likely the faster runner, but he could not run down Stewart, who won in 20.54.
Stewart settled for his second straight silver medal in the event with a time of 20.63. Kennedy's teammate, Xavier Amos, ran a strong race and nabbed the bronze medal thanks to his time of 20.79. Sophomore Kingston Brown of New Braunfels was the final runner to break 21s in his fourth-place finish. Jon Nielsen (Frisco Heritage) and Kollyn Harris (Texas City) were the final scoring runners crossing the line in 21.12 and 21.17, respectively.
