AUSTIN, TX — For the second year in a row, the Wall Hawks finished No. 2 in the state at the 2026 Track and Field State Championships. Powered by three school record-breaking performances in the relays, Wall finished its season on a high note and only five points out of first place. Holliday beat out the Hawks in the end in the 4x400 meter relay to overtake Wall 76-71 in the final standings.
"I'm very proud of them," Head Coach Craig Slaughter said midway through the state championships on Thursday. "We PR'd in the 4x1 and PR'd in the 4x2. This is a huge meet to come and run as good as you ever have."
While the Hawks did not ultimately capture the overall state title, Wall improved from top to bottom to finish the season in nearly the best way possible to make their coaches and families proud.
Wall Relays Shine
Wall Hawks claim a 3rd place finish in the 4x200-meter relay at the state championships 2026.
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Wall's 4x100 Meter, 4x200 Meter, and 4x400 Meter Relays all received top-five finishes in Austin on Thursday. Each relay team also broke school records in the process. In the 4x100 meter relay, run by Jager Thompson, Reid Robertson, Gunner Garza andLevi King, Wall finished with a 41.37 and in second place, setting the first of three new school records.
Later in the day, Evan Boehle, Reid Robertson, Hagyn Barbee and Levi King finished 3rd in the 4x200 meter relay, with a 1.:26.22, another school record.
Finally, in the 4x400 meter relay, in what was easily the closest race of any event on Thursday, Wall finished 4th with a time that broke the state record at 3:14.96. Unfortunately for the Hawks' Evan Boehle, Hagyn Barbee, Reid Robertson and Bryson McFarden, three other teams also broke the state record in that race, but Wall still broke its own school record with that blazing fast time.
Slayton Hallmark Claims Two Silvers
Wall's Slayton Hall Mark claims two silvers at the UIL State Track and Field Championships 2026
One of the most notable performances of the day had to be Slayton Hallmark in the hurdles. The young man finished 2nd in both the 110-meter hurdles (14.33) and the 300-meter hurdles (38.38), claiming two silvers and earning the Hawks 16 points in the process. The junior performed well and should be back bigger, faster, and better than ever next track season. Gavin Sisson also placed in both hurdle races. Sisson placed 4th in the 300-meter hurdles (39.65) to score points for the Hawks, while finishing 8th in the 110-meter hurdles (15.04).
Levi King was the lone sprinter for the Hawks on Thursday. King finished 6th in the 200-meter (21.36).
McFarden Medals in the Field Events
Wall's lone field event medal of the day came from the Hawks' Bryson McFarden. He finished 3rd in the Triple Jump with a 46'5" leap to claim a bronze medal. McFarden also finished 4th in the High Jump. Wall's Jager Thompson also finished 4th in the Long Jump with a jump of 22'4.75".
Tough Day for the Lady Hawks
The ladies fought hard, but the competition was extremely fierce in 2026. The Lady Hawks missed the podium but still performed well against the best that 3A had to offer. Wall's best finish on Thursday came from three 5th-place finishes. Jaycee White placed 5th in the 100-meter hurdles (14.77), and Marley Snowden, Emma Surber, Kynlee Stevens and Hannah Quesada added another in the 4x200-meter relay (1:44.03). Emma Surber also added a 5th-place performance in the Long Jump (17'2").
The Lady Hawks placed 8th in the 4x100-meter relay (Emma Surber, Kynlee Stevens, Jaycee White and Hannah Quesada), with a 49.20 finish. Jaycee White also placed 7th in the 300-meter hurdles (46.04).
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