The roar of the crowd at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium had barely faded when the Lincoln girls realized they had made history. In a dramatic finish that came down to the final event, the Tigers captured the UIL 4A girls team state title—their first since 1997—sharing the crown with Canyon in a 58-58 tie.
The moment was almost too good to believe for junior Naomi Jones. When head coach Reginald Bell broke the news, she leaned over the railing in the podium tent, waiting for confirmation. Then, with a leap of joy, she rushed back to her teammates: Sanai Lewis, Kamarri Brown, and Siani Simpson. The four had just earned bronze in the 4x400 relay, but that third-place finish was the final piece of a championship puzzle.
"Excitement," Jones said, beaming. "And I'm proud, very proud."
Bell pointed to the message on a fellow coach’s shirt: "start strong, finish strong." It was a motto born from last year's heartbreak, when Lincoln dominated day one of regionals only to stumble on the critical second day. "That's what gave us our fuel, our drive, for this year," Bell explained.
The Tigers came prepared. Throughout the season, they faced top-tier 5A and 6A competition—Lancaster, DeSoto, Duncanville—sharpening their edge for the state stage. On Thursday, they struck gold in the 4x100 relay, then took silver in the 4x200 despite setting a new 4A record. Jones added a commanding win in the 400 meters with a time of 55.13, setting up a winner-take-all scenario: Lincoln needed at least a third-place finish in the 4x400 to secure a share of the title.
The race was a nail-biter. Lincoln led through the final exchange before Canyon surged ahead. But the Tigers held on for bronze, clinching the co-championship. "It's a lot of excitement, nervousness, all that watching the finish," Jones admitted. "But I was really just ready to get it over with. I feel like I did good, but honestly, I felt I could have done a better time."
Meanwhile, Carter junior Charles Anderson had a golden day of his own, dominating his events with the kind of performance that makes track fans take notice. From the 3A and 4A action, it was a day of unforgettable moments—and a reminder that in Texas high school track, every second counts.