A Banner Weekend at the Texas Relays
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Braylin Byrd set the tone in the sprints, claiming victory in the Division 2 Boys 100m with a blazing time of 10.33 (+2.2). In the hurdles, Swayde Griffin delivered a dominant performance in the Division 1 Boys 110m hurdles, clocking 13.46 (+3.3) to post the U.S. #3 all-conditions time this season. In the 300m hurdles, DeVonte Taylor surged to the win in 36.58, just ahead of Jadan Keiler, who finished with a U.S. #4 time of 36.60. The two now rank among an elite group of just seven boys nationally to break the 37-second barrier this season.
Middle-distance and distance events brought some of the most exciting races of the weekend. Luke Bone impressed in the Men's Invitational 800m, winning his heat and finishing fifth overall in 1:49.60. In the 1600m, Gavin Chapa ran a U.S. #5 time of 4:07.82 to take the title. Meanwhile, the 2K steeplechase provided a dramatic finish, as Griffin Hummel edged out Ian Larkin in a thrilling duel. Hummel's winning time of 6:03.50 now ranks U.S. #1, while Larkin followed just behind at U.S. #2 in 6:03.89.
The field events did not disappoint, with massive throws and record-setting performances. Adam Carter dominated the shot put, launching a U.S. #1 mark of 68-0.50 to take the win. He also placed second in the discus with a throw of 191-8, finishing only behind Tennessee's Ashton Hearn, who unleashed a U.S. #2 mark of 211-5. In the pole vault, Max Garvin cleared 17-0.75 to place third, trailing Victor Oleson, whose 17-4.5 clearance now stands as the U.S. #1 mark this season and Caelan Harland who also finished with a height of 17' 0.75".
The meet also delivered incredible relay performances, with Culver City (California) securing the fastest 4x400m time in the nation, running 3:10.94, while Edmond Memorial claimed a U.S. #1 time of 7:45.21 in the 4x800m.
Girls Highlights
Taylor Nunez set the tone in the sprints, winning the D1 Girls 100m in 11.13 (+3.4). While wind-aided, the performance stands as the fastest all-conditions time in the country this season. In the hurdles, Anisa Bowen-Fontenot of California clocked a wind-aided 12.99 in the 100m hurdles, setting a new U.S. #1 mark.
The mid-distance races saw several breakthrough performances. Sophia Bendet took the 1600m title with a winning time of 4:44.98. Macy Wingard followed closely behind in second, running a personal best of 4:46.54, while Mia Perez finished just behind her in 4:47.18, a time that ranks U.S. #7 this season. Wingard also dominated the 2K steeplechase, winning in 6:45.56 with an 11-second improvement.
The 3200m featured one of the deepest fields of the meet. Arkansas standout Gabbie Bishop took the title with a U.S. #3 time of 10:10.61, followed by Elin Latta (10:12.54, U.S. #4) and Addyson Bristow (10:14.99, U.S. #5), as three of the nation's top five times this season came from the same race.
Wilson-Long Beach (CA) dominated the relay events, becoming the first team this season to break the 3:40 barrier in the 4x400m, running a U.S. #1 time of 3:39.60. The California powerhouse also set the U.S. #1 mark in the 4x800m, clocking 9:00.30 to solidify themselves as the best in the nation.
With national-leading performances across multiple events, the Texas Relays once again proved why it is one of the premier meets in the country, setting the stage for an exciting outdoor season.