The high school track season has concluded, and it is time to hand out some awards. This is my fourth year putting together the team and there are a couple of rules. The first rule is that athletes can only be chosen for one individual event. The second rule is that selections will be based upon best results, consistency, and performance in the post season.
100m - Braylon Johnson, Sr., Falls City
Unlike last year when Tate Taylor was an easy choice, this year there was no true dominant sprinter in San Antonio. Braylon Johnson was money when it mattered this year winning the Area and Regional titles, including a personal best time of 10.63 in the Regional finals in Kingsville. He capped off his season with a fourth-place finish at the State meet narrowly missing out on a medal.
Others: Kingston Brown (New Braunfels), Kevin Harris (Randolph), Rayshun Hurt (Johnson), Tyson Youngblood (Judson)
200m - Kingston Brown, So., New Braunfels
Kingston Brown was the best all-around sprinter in the area this year, but he was stronger in the 200m. He did not add the 200m to his repertoire until late March and it was a great decision. He was the District, Area and Regional champion in the event and then ran his fastest time at the State meet, 20.93, where he finished in fourth place. He was also a Regional champion in the 100m and had a season best of 10.40. I expect big things from Brown in the future.
Others: Abdou Ndiaye (Johnson), Tristan Childs (Clark), Breydan Gherman (Bandera), Emaurie Jones (Judson)
400m - Maverick James, Sr., Steele
The quarter-mile was loaded this year with 10 local runners breaking 48s and it was Maverick James who shined the brightest. James won the District and Area titles and then ran a fantastic 46.63 to finish as the runner-up at the Regional meet. In the State meet, he ended up on the podium from Lane 1 where he closed fast in a time of 47.07. He broke 48s on seven occasions and also had a personal best time of 21.71w in the 200m.
Others: Yashiyah Griffin (Johnson), Abdou Ndiaye (Johnson), Benjamin Tealer (Brandeis), Gavin Williams (Smithson Valley), Carlwynn Young (Judson)
800m - Channon Davis, Sr., Wagner
The 800m was a difficult decision with both Samuel Ackerman and Channon Davis putting in dominant seasons. In the end, I went with Davis who broke 1:54 on six occasions during the season. Davis posted a dominant season and did not lose a race until the State championship where he finished third after leading through the first lap. He had a great championship season winning the Area meet in 1:53.28 and the Regional title in 1:52.64 before running his all-time best at the State meet, 1:52.31.
Others: Samuel Ackerman (Reagan), John Boland (Antonian), Sean Gonzalez (Clemens), Caden Kitson (Cole)
1600m - Kaden Cypert, So., Floresville
For most of the season, Kaden Cypert did just enough to win his races in the mile, but when he needed to, he was able to step up his performance. First, he out-raced the Morales twins from La Feria to win the Regional title in 4:15.83. Then, he ran an intelligent race in the State finals and pulled out a victory in 4:16.23. He was undefeated all season long in the 1600m.
Others: John Boland (Antonian), Sean Gonzalez (Clemens), Nicholas Maldonado (Madison), Wells Peterson (TMI)
3200m - John Boland, Jr., Antonian
John Boland capped off his season with a spectacular TAPPS State meet. He opened the meet by running a personal best in the 3200m (9:00.23) and then followed it up with a runner-up performance in the 800m and a victory in the 1600m. During the season, he finished sixth at the Texas Distance Festival with a time of 9:10.20 and he was fifth at the Arcadia (CA) Invitational with a time of 9:01.19.
Others: Shawn Edwards (Boerne Champion), Sean Gonzalez (Clemens), Logan Martinez (Reagan), Wells Peterson (TMI)
110mh - Jack Hollimon, Sr., Alamo Heights
Despite hitting the last hurdle at the Regional meet, Jack Hollimon had an amazing season. He was virtually undefeated during the season winning every invitational except the Texas Relays. He tied the Region IV-5A meet record in the 110mh in the prelims with a time of 14.13. He was also outstanding in the 300mh culminating in a bronze medal at the State meet with his time of 37.11. He was also undefeated in the 300mh during the season except at Texas Relays.
Others: Kamden Ray (Jourdanton), Caiden Rodriguez (Brandeis), Jackson Vann-Morgan (Holy Cross), Ajahni Williams (Brandeis)
300mh - Jackson Vann-Morgan, Sr., Holy Cross
Jackson Vann-Morgan earned this spot thanks to his State meet performance that helped propel Holy Cross to a runner-up team performance. After setting a personal best in the 110mh with a time of 14.99 to finish second, he blasted his 300mh to set a huge personal best with a time of 38.55 that earned him a second silver medal. He also ran a leg on the winning 4x400m relay team.
Others: Austin Anderson (Johnson), Jack Hollimon (Alamo Heights), Cash Lancaster (Pieper), Caiden Rodriguez (Brandeis)
Shot Put - Jackson Kerth, Jr., Tivy
Jackson Kerth was consistently awesome in both the shot put and discus, but he rated a little higher in the shot put. He opened the season with a 60-foot throw and eclipsed that mark at seven different meets. During the championship season he posted marks of 64-2 at the Area meet, 64-9.25 to win the Regional meet and 63-9.5 to finish second in the State. He finished an impressive fourth place at Texas Relays. In the discus, he threw over 180-feet at four meets including a huge throw of 192-8 to nab third place in the State.
Others: Ralston Burns (Castle Hills), Joshua McNeil (Johnson), Kaleb Ned (Stevens), Jordan Pinones (East Central), Hans Scheff (Smithson Valley)
Discus - Cyelan Whitley, Sr., Clemens
Cyelan Whitley went from being a good discus thrower to a great one by the end of the season. He opened the year with a throw of 153-0 and then never threw less than 160-0 the rest of the season. He went over 170-0 for the first time at the District meet and swept through championship season getting gold medals at the District, Area and Regional levels. He saved his best throw for the State meet where he uncorked a toss of 184-8 on his first attempt and it ended up earning him the silver medal.
Others: Jackson Kerth (Tivy), Kaleb Ned (Stevens), Hans Scheff (Smithson Valley), Blake Stehling (Boerne Champion)
High Jump - Zion Jackson, Jr., Reagan
There were multiple athletes that could have been picked here, but Zion Jackson's consistency is what set him apart from the rest. He cleared at least 6-6 in every championship meet winning District and finishing second at the Area with that mark before winning the Regional title by clearing 6-8. He finished off the season with another 6-6 performance at the State meet.
Others: Christian Dupree (Clemens), Gabriel Fuller (Clemens), Cordel Leon (Seguin), Justin McKinney (Steele)
Long Jump - Carter Pape, Sr., Comfort
For about two minutes Carter Pape thought he was a State champion after jumping 23-11.25 on his final attempt at the State meet, but he was passed on the final jump of the event. Regardless, Pape had a remarkable season jumping over 23-feet in four meets including his final three of the season.
Others: Rowdy Esparza (Devine), Joshua Hoover (Saint Mary's Hall), Kingston Kennan (Alamo Heights), Cameron McDuffie (Johnson)
Triple Jump - Michael Ajagbe, Sr., Pieper
Michael Ajagbe jumped over 49-feet on three different occasions during the season, including a personal best of 49-10 to take the Regional title. Other than a close call at the Area meet where he finished in fourth place, it was a dominant triple jump season for Ajagbe. He nearly took home the State title when he jumped 49-1.25 on his final jump and moved into first place, but he was passed by the final two jumpers to finish in third and claim his bronze medal.
Others: Ryder Flugence (Boerne Champion), Kahdyn Freeman (Pieper), Louis Gutierrez (Judson), Quentin Jones (Brennan), Cameron McDuffie (Johnson)
Pole Vault - Jace Bennett,
Sr., Utopia
Jace Bennett notched a third
consecutive UIL 1A State title this year breaking his own State meet record. He
held the record from his 2025 performance when he cleared 15-9, but this year
he eclipsed that with a huge mark of 17-0.75 that figures to last for a long
time. He cleared at least 16-feet at five different meets. The only meet he did
not win was the Texas Relays where he finished seventh with a height of 16-5.5.
Others: Brady Chandler (Geneva), Quentin Jones (Brennnan), Dane Mignerey (Wimberley), William Moffatt (Canyon), Logan Tennell (Pieper)
The high school track season has concluded, and it is time to hand out some awards. This is my fourth year putting together the team and there are a couple of rules. The first rule is that athletes can only be chosen for one individual event. The second rule is that selections will be based upon best results, consistency, and performance in the post season.
100m - Braylon Johnson, Sr., Falls City