PHOTO CREDIT: RPERNETTER

Four Texas Underclassmen Are Already Moving Up the State Lists

Taylor, Newman, Howard, and Gardner are all pushing into the top of their class statewide

Four Texas underclassmen leaped up the state leaderboards after big performances last week. Isaiah Taylor ran 10.47 at the Texas Relays – wind-aided, but his legal 10.92 earlier this season shows he does have the speed. Ryan Newman jumped 23-8 to push into the top 20 among sophomores in the long jump. Ma’leyah Howard cleared 5-4 after opening the season at 4-6. Gabby Gardner has PRd in five events this season including a 14.89 in the hurdles at the Texas Relays.

Taylor ran 10.47 (+2.1) in the 100m at the Texas Relays, a mark that ties him 64th in the state overall and puts him in the top-10 among Texas sophomores in the event. He has also run 10.92 legal in the 100m and 22.04 in the 200m this season, and a few weeks ago he jumped a PR of 6-4 in the high jump. The top of the sophomore 100m leaderboard is occupied by Dillon Mitchell, who has run 9.88 (+5.8) and 10.10 (+1.8) this season.

Newman jumped 23-8 at the Jaguar Relays on Apr. 2, moving him into the top 20 among Texas sophomores in the long jump. His season has been one of steady improvement – he opened at 22-4.25, then went through a range of 21-3, 21-6.25, 22-1.75, 21-7, and 22-10.5 before leaping 23-8 last week. He has shown he can jump consistently in the 22-foot range on any given day, and the 23-8 suggests there is more ahead.

Howard cleared 5-4 at the Steve Telaneus Invitational on Apr. 2, a mark that ties her for eighth among Texas freshmen in the high jump. She opened her season at 4-6 on Feb. 21 and has been adding height at nearly every meet since. She’s already “jumped” up 10 inches of improvement, and she is still early in the season.

Gardner ran 14.89 in the 100m hurdles at the Texas Relays, and now sits in the top-10 among Texas freshmen in the event. She opened her season at 15.71 on Feb. 12, ran through the mid-to-high 15s for a few meets, then dropped to 14.89. She has also posted PRs of 52.12 in the 300m hurdles, 4-8 in the high jump, 16-11 in the long jump, and 36-4.5 in the triple jump this season.Â