Texans Shine at the 2026 Indoor National Championships
The indoor national championship season wrapped up this weekend with Texas athletes making their presence felt across both the 2026 Nike Indoor Nationals in New York and the 2026 New Balance Nationals Indoor in Boston. From freshman breakthroughs to a historic relay performance and one remarkable kid who seemingly never sat down, it was a weekend worth cataloguing.
2026 Nike Indoor Nationals
Boys Freshman 1 Mile
San Antonio’s Cyril Girgis led Texas freshmen in the Boys Freshman Mile at Nike, finishing 14th in 4:36.88. The two Southlake entries — Aadi Ghanchi (28th, 4:41.75) and Cameron Perez (32nd, 4:43.80) — ran well, and Denton’s Logan Smith rounded out the Texas contingent in 68th at 4:56.37.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Cyril Girgis | San Antonio (TX) | Nike | Freshman | 4:36.88 |
| 28 | Aadi Ghanchi | Southlake (TX) | Nike | Freshman | 4:41.75 |
| 32 | Cameron Perez | Southlake (TX) | Nike | Freshman | 4:43.80 |
| 68 | Logan Smith | Denton (TX) | Nike | Freshman | 4:56.37 |
Boys 5000 — Championship
Ruel Newberry of Denton Guyer TC delivered the top Texas finish in the Boys Championship 5000 at Nike, running 14:04.33 for second place — a performance that puts the Guyer star among the elite distance runners in the country regardless of event. Ethan Garza of Celerity TC was 13th in 15:09.05.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ruel Newberry | Guyer TC (TX) | Nike | Championship | 14:04.33 |
| 13 | Ethan Garza | Celerity TC (TX) | Nike | Championship | 15:09.05 |
Girls 2 Mile — Emerging Elite
Richardson’s Abby Spiars ran 11:00.16 for 12th in the Girls Emerging Elite 2 Mile at Nike.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Abby Spiars | Richardson (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 11:00.16 |
Boys 2 Mile — Championship
The marquee distance event at Nike belonged to Southlake Carroll’s Caden Leonard, who finished second in 8:49.46. Leonard has been one of the most decorated Texas distance runners in recent memory — his 6A UIL State Cross Country title last fall was just the latest line on a résumé that keeps growing. He raced with purpose, sitting in the pack before opening up with a kick that put him in the mix for the title. The win eluded him, but 8:49 at the national level announces that Leonard’s best running is still very much ahead of him.
Further back, Denton Guyer’s Ruel Newberry — fresh off his 5000 earlier in the meet — posted 8:57.55 for 9th. Holliday’s Noah Strohman crossed in 9:01.80 for 17th, Austin’s Kai McCullough ran 9:02.65 (19th), Katy’s Ryder Darcey came in at 9:03.37 (21st), and Wells Peterson of Celerity TC posted 9:14.97 for 32nd.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Caden Leonard | Southlake Carroll (TX) | Nike | Championship | 8:49.46 |
| 9 | Ruel Newberry | Denton Guyer (TX) | Nike | Championship | 8:57.55 |
| 17 | Noah Strohman | Holliday (TX) | Nike | Championship | 9:01.80 |
| 19 | Kai McCullough | Austin (TX) | Nike | Championship | 9:02.65 |
| 21 | Ryder Darcey | Katy Red TC (TX) | Nike | Championship | 9:03.37 |
| 32 | Wells Peterson | SA TMI (TX) | Nike | Championship | 9:14.97 |
Girls 800 — Championship
Royse City’s Abigail Walker finished 33rd in the Girls Championship 800 in 2:16.26.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Abigail Walker | Royse City (TX) | Nike | Championship | 2:16.26 |
Boys 800 — Championship
Austin Anderson’s Colby Huntress was the top Texas finisher in the Boys Championship 800, crossing 15th at 1:53.89. Prosper’s Michael McCart ran 1:55.89 for 34th, and Schertz’s Sean Gonzalez finished 48th in 1:57.41.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Colby Huntress | Austin Anderson (TX) | Nike | Championship | 1:53.89 |
| 34 | Michael McCart | Prosper (TX) | Nike | Championship | 1:55.89 |
| 48 | Sean Gonzalez | Schertz (TX) | Nike | Championship | 1:57.41 |
Girls 800 — Emerging Elite
Lorena’s Jaylah Fish ran 2:18.12 for 23rd in the Girls Emerging Elite 800 at Nike.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Jaylah Fish | Lorena (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 2:18.12 |
Boys 800 — Emerging Elite
Rockwall Heath’s Chance Anderson won the Boys Emerging Elite 800 in 1:54.86 — more on him shortly. Wings TC’s David Carbajal was 9th in 1:56.25, Marble Falls’ Graham Goggans was 10th in 1:56.28, and Texas Titans Athletics’ Jacob Vargas ran 1:59.91 for 46th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chance Anderson | Rockwall Heath (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 1:54.86 |
| 9 | David Carbajal | Wings TC (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 1:56.25 |
| 10 | Graham Goggans | Marble Falls (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 1:56.28 |
| 46 | Jacob Vargas | Texas Titans Athletics (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 1:59.91 |
Boys 1 Mile — Championship
Noah Strohman returned to the track two days after his 2 Mile effort and delivered one of the weekend’s most impressive individual performances, finishing third in the Boys Championship Mile in 4:04.88. The Holliday junior and 3A UIL State Cross Country champion is quickly becoming a legitimate national-caliber miler.
His twin brother Ryder Strohman was 22nd in 4:13.40 — a strong showing in his own right, and a fitting end to the Strohman family’s weekend at the Armory. Austin Vandergrift’s Miles Nutt finished 16th in 4:12.28, SA TMI’s Wells Peterson ran 4:14.32 for 28th, and Ryder Darcey of Katy Red TC crossed in 4:17.59 for 36th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Noah Strohman | Holliday (TX) | Nike | Championship | 4:04.88 |
| 16 | Miles Nutt | Austin Vandergrift (TX) | Nike | Championship | 4:12.28 |
| 22 | Ryder Strohman | Holliday (TX) | Nike | Championship | 4:13.40 |
| 28 | Wells Peterson | SA TMI (TX) | Nike | Championship | 4:14.32 |
| 36 | Ryder Darcey | Katy Red TC (TX) | Nike | Championship | 4:17.59 |
Girls 1 Mile — Emerging Elite
Midlothian’s Jenna Jacobsen finished 9th in the Girls Emerging Elite Mile at 5:01.43. Bellaire’s Georgia Bass was 24th in 5:10.10.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Jenna Jacobsen | Midlothian (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 5:01.43 |
| 24 | Georgia Bass | Bellaire (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 5:10.10 |
Boys 1 Mile — Emerging Elite
SA Antonian’s John (Jack) Boland won the Boys Emerging Elite Mile in 4:14.17. Rockwall Heath’s Chance Anderson — already a national champion at 800m earlier in the day — doubled back in the Mile and ran 4:24.35 for 26th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John (Jack) Boland | SA Antonian (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 4:14.17 |
| 26 | Chance Anderson | Rockwall Heath (TX) | Nike | Emerging Elite | 4:24.35 |
2026 New Balance Nationals Indoor
Boys Freshman 1 Mile
El Paso’s Sebastian Leyva led the Texas freshmen at New Balance, finishing 11th in 4:27.83. Heath’s Chance Anderson was 18th in 4:29.44 — his first of four events on the weekend.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sebastian Leyva | El Paso (TX) | New Balance | Freshman | 4:27.83 |
| 18 | Chance Anderson | Rockwall Heath (TX) | New Balance | Freshman | 4:29.44 |
Boys 5000 — Championship
La Feria’s Anthony and Armando Morales represented Texas in the Boys Championship 5000 at New Balance, with Anthony finishing 8th in 14:40.28 and Armando posting 15:10.38 for 20th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Anthony Morales | La Feria (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 14:40.28 |
| 20 | Armando Morales | La Feria (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 15:10.38 |
Girls 5000 — Championship
Denton Braswell’s Macy Wingard had a strong showing in the Girls Championship 5000 at New Balance, finishing 6th in 16:20.42. Wingard doubled back in the Mile later in the weekend, demonstrating the kind of versatility that will serve her well as she moves up the distance ladder.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Macy Wingard | Denton Braswell (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 16:20.42 |
Boys Freshman 800
Rockwall Heath’s Chance Anderson won the Boys Freshman 800 at New Balance in 1:54.24 — his first national title of a very busy weekend. El Paso’s Sebastian Leyva ran 2:01.46 for 17th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chance Anderson | Rockwall Heath (TX) | New Balance | Freshman | 1:54.24 |
| 17 | Sebastian Leyva | El Paso (TX) | New Balance | Freshman | 2:01.46 |
Boys 2 Mile — Championship
Bridgeland’s Griffen Saacke ran 9:09.72 for 42nd in the Boys Championship 2 Mile at New Balance.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Griffen Saacke | Bridgeland (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 9:09.72 |
Girls 2 Mile — Championship
South Texas Heat Christian’s Iris Latta led the Texas contingent in the Girls Championship 2 Mile at New Balance, finishing 10th in 10:14.09. Texas Select’s Morgan Nelsen ran 10:34.72 for 34th, and Westlake’s Sophia Belcher crossed in 11:04.47 for 122nd.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Iris Latta | South Texas Heat Christian (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 10:14.09 |
| 34 | Morgan Nelsen | Texas Select (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 10:34.72 |
| 122 | Sophia Belcher | Westlake (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 11:04.47 |
Boys 800 — Championship
EP Franklin’s Tyson Cotchery ran 1:53.45 for 25th in the Boys Championship 800 at New Balance. FAST Elite Training’s Zane Daniel was 112th in 1:56.68, and Born to Run’s Rory Yonnone crossed in 2:05.94 for 224th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Tyson Cotchery | EP Franklin (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 1:53.45 |
| 112 | Zane Daniel | FAST Elite Training (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 1:56.68 |
| 224 | Rory Yonnone | Born to Run (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 2:05.94 |
Girls 800 — Championship
Texas Select’s Sophia Lopez finished 48th in 2:14.45. Westlake’s Sophia Belcher was 59th in 2:15.33 — a solid double after her 2 Mile effort. Alief Taylor TC’s McKale Lee ran 2:15.92 for 70th, and Katy’s Kate Rogers was 91st in 2:16.74.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Sophia Lopez | Texas Select (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 2:14.45 |
| 59 | Sophia Belcher | Westlake (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 2:15.33 |
| 70 | McKale Lee | Alief Taylor TC (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 2:15.92 |
| 91 | Kate Rogers | Katy (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 2:16.74 |
Boys 1 Mile — Championship
Colleyville’s Andrew DeYoung was 78th in 4:18.30, Schertz’s Sean Gonzalez ran 4:19.72 for 98th, and Austin’s Oscar Whiteley Bermeo crossed in 4:20.62 for 117th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | Andrew DeYoung | Colleyville (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:18.30 |
| 98 | Sean Gonzalez | Schertz (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:19.72 |
| 117 | Oscar Whiteley Bermeo | Austin (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:20.62 |
Girls 1 Mile — Championship
Denton Braswell’s Macy Wingard backed up her 5000 with a 12th-place finish in the Girls Championship Mile at 4:47.25. South Texas Heat Christian placed three runners in the top 25: Iris Latta was 14th at 4:48.31, Remy Latta ran 4:50.65 for 24th, and Reese Latta was 71st in 4:58.60. Texas Select’s Morgan Nelsen ran 4:58.62 for 72nd, and Sophia Lopez closed in 5:12.21 for 168th.
| Place | Name | Team | Meet | Division | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Macy Wingard | Denton Braswell (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:47.25 |
| 14 | Iris Latta | South Texas Heat Christian (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:48.31 |
| 24 | Remy Latta | South Texas Heat Christian (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:50.65 |
| 71 | Reese Latta | South Texas Heat Christian (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:58.60 |
| 72 | Morgan Nelsen | Texas Select (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 4:58.62 |
| 168 | Sophia Lopez | Texas Select (TX) | New Balance | Championship | 5:12.21 |
Traveler of the Weekend: Chance Anderson, Heath
If there was a prize for mileage logged over the course of this indoor national championship weekend, it would go to Rockwall Heath freshman Chance Anderson — and it wouldn’t be close.
Anderson competed in four events across the two meets, beginning at New Balance in Boston and closing out at Nike in New York. At New Balance, he opened with the Freshman Mile on Thursday, finishing 18th in 4:29.44. The next day, he returned to the track and won the Freshman 800 in 1:54.24 — his first national title.
But Anderson wasn’t done. He made the trip to the Armory for Nike Indoor Nationals, where he entered the Emerging Elite 800 and won that too, running 1:54.86. The next morning, he doubled back in the Emerging Elite Mile, running 4:24.35 for 26th.
Four events. Two meets. Two cities. Two national titles.
The 800 wins are what stand out most. Winning a national-level 800 as a freshman — twice, in different divisions at different meets within the same weekend — is the kind of thing that gets people paying attention. Anderson is worth watching for a long time.
The Headliner: Texas Takes Silver in the State Distance Medley Relay National Championship
And then there was Saturday night at the Armory.
The State Distance Medley Relay at Nike Indoor Nationals has long been one of high school track’s most compelling events — four runners, four different distances, representing their state against the best in the country. This year, Texas came to New York with a team capable of competing for the national title. They nearly pulled it off.
The Texas foursome was a collection of the most decorated distance runners in the state. Noah Strohman, fresh off a third-place finish in the Championship Mile just hours earlier, led off on the 1200 leg. Strohman is the reigning 3A UIL State Cross Country champion — a kid from Holliday who has quietly become one of the best distance runners in the country regardless of classification. He handed off in position.
Joshua Shelton of Pearland ran the 400 leg, and Colby Huntress — who had competed in the Championship 800 earlier in the weekend — handled the 800. The Austin Anderson standout and 5A UIL State Cross Country champion brought Texas to the anchor leg with a shot at the title.
That anchor was Caden Leonard.
The Southlake Carroll senior and 6A UIL State Cross Country champion, who had finished second in the Nike 2 Mile on Friday with an 8:49.46, took the baton and ran. Leonard closed in 4:00.57 — very nearly sub-four minutes on a relay anchor, at the end of a long national championship weekend, with the title on the line. The gap to Iowa closed. It just didn’t close fast enough.
Iowa won in 9:46.23. Texas crossed in 9:46.98 — less than a second back.
To put that in context: the national high school record for the State DMR had stood at 9:53.40 since 2022, until it was shattered the day before by Miami Havana of Florida, who ran 9:47.01. Texas then came within three-quarters of a second of that fresh record.
Three UIL State Cross Country champions on the same relay, an anchor who nearly broke four minutes on the mile leg, and a silver medal at the national championships. For the Texas distance community, it’s a result that stings — but one that says something important about where the state’s distance running is right now.
Iowa won. Texas let them know they were there.
Texas Distance Project covers high school distance running in Texas.