In the 100-meter race, breaking the 11-second mark is considered elite for most sprinters. Breaking 10 is the Olympic standard, with United States runner Noah Lyles recording a 9.79-second time to win the 2024 Gold Medal in Paris.

Texas football target Dillon Mitchell broke that barrier Friday, placing first at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet Invitational with a wind-aided 9.88-second 100-meter dash. The 16-year-old sophomore out of C.E. King is also a four-star football recruit, according to 247Sports’ composite, with 34 offers from the likes of Auburn, Arkansas, Baylor and the Longhorns.

Mitchell made headlines as a freshman for running the 100-meter dash in 10.17 seconds at the 2025 UIL Class 6A Track and Field State Meet. In his first season playing varsity football, he recorded 1,230 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns. During the UIL 6A Division II state semifinals against Vandegrift, he took his one reception 61 yards for a touchdown in C.E. King’s 51-41 win. The Panthers would fall to the DeSoto Eagles in the state finals. 

All eyes will be on Mitchell at the 2026 UIL state meet, as he’ll be the presumptive favorite to earn a spot at the top of the podium for the 100.Â