On His Final Night As A Texas High School Track Athlete, Colby Huntress Finished On Top

AUSTIN—Colby Huntress’ family found seats in the second row near the finish line on Friday at the UIL Class 5A Track and Field Championships at Mike Myers Stadium. 

They almost never sat that close. 

“But they were too nice to give up,” said Granger Huntress, Colby’s father. 

At stake, the family knew, were two Texas state titles over 800 and 1,600 meters. 

Each of them had their own history at the Texas state championships. Colby’s brother, Kepler, had won an 800 meter title in 2022. His mother, Tara, pocketed a Texas state swimming title over two decades ago for Cy-Fair. And Granger? He owned a runner-up finish in tennis. 

The youngest Huntress, a University of Texas signee, was so close a season ago, managing a runner-up result over 800. But being second is its own kind of misery, and no part of him wanted it to elude him again. 

“Last year I came up short and that was pretty disappointing,” he said. 

Then the night came and Huntress got his wish, thanks to two legendary kicks and two legendary moments. He was named the UIL Class 5A Athlete of the Meet. 

“It feels pretty magical to be honest,” said Huntress, who secured his 800 meter win in 1:51.65 before doubling back in the 1,600 to finish the night in 4:20.46. He finished his career with three state championships, including a third in cross county over the previous fall. 

How Colby Huntress Won His State Titles

Huntress’ evening began with the 800. A minor flu had weakened him in April after he ran a personal best 4:10 over 1,600 at The Texas Relays, but by Friday things were back to level. 

Experience, it turns out, was at his advantage. 

Huntress didn’t feel the need to lead wire-to-wire from the start. He remained patient until the final 300, when he surged on the backstretch and took the lead. He then issued a second press over the final straightaway, a decidedly winning move. 

“I’ve been through so much,” Huntress said. “I just felt like I owed it to all the people who helped me get there, and I owed it to myself to give it everything I had. I wasn’t going to back down today.” 

Huntress wasn’t done.

Hours later, under a dark sky and the bright stadium lights, he returned to the track. Huntress, feeling the effects of a fast morning race, knew he could win. 

That idea only grew when the pace slowed on the third lap. By then, Huntress found himself full of life. 

But contact ushered him back into second place on the backstretch of the last lap. Instinct took over and he kicked it into sixth, charging past Frisco Lebanon Trail’s Andrew Malan. 

One Final Night Of Racing For Colby Huntress

The sprint finish wowed those in attendance. A hush of oohs and aahs filled the stadium. 

“I just think that’s what happens in a tactical race,” Huntress said. “The time was really slow for all of us, so Andrew was kind of boxed in and wanted to go. When he went, someone reacted. 

“It was a little bit of physicality, but I think that’s where a lot of experience comes into play and not being thrown off by just holding my ground and staying confident.” 

For Huntress, it was a validating night. 

“I didn’t care about times at all. I just cared about my place. So, yeah, I feel like this feels pretty perfect.” 

Class 5A Medalists: 

Class 5A Girls: Morgan Nelson, Pflugerville Hendrickson, 1,600m, 2nd-Place; Eva Cragnolino, Austin LASA, 1,600m, 3rd-Place; Peace Ece, Georgetown East View, 400m, 3rd-place; Georgetown East View girls, 4×400, 3rd-place.

Class 5A Boys: Colby Huntress, Austin Anderson, 800m, 1st-place; Colby Huntress, Austin Anderson, 1,600m, 1st-place.