Canutillo relay upends expectations to win bronze medal at UIL state

If track meets were run on paper, on the two dimensions of form charts, there wouldn't be much to notice about Canutillo High. The Eagles managed to get a 4x400 relay team to the Class 5A UIL State Track and Field Championships without getting an individual to Austin, they came in seeded fifth in the nine-team field and needed a school record at regionals just to get that. More: UIL state track meet results 2026 Day 2 Texas winners by event, class Lined up next to titans of Class 5A like Port Arthur Memorial and Texas City, they don't look like likely medalists, and indeed, Canutillo had never sent a relay to the state meet.

They sure didn't look like medalists sitting seventh heading into the last half of the race. What Canutillo brought to Austin on Friday night was a mountain full of fight and grit to go with a refusal to back down. That was enough to earn the underdogs a bronze medal, and perhaps some statewide respect that is well-earned.

More: Andress’ Jordan Owens jumps to silver on final attempt at UIL state meet "It's not what was expected, we were supposed to get sixth," anchor David Rivas said after turning back several charges from teams behind him in the final 150 meters. "But we came out and showed up. "It was about trusting in our training and believing in our teammates.

I've never been in a stadium like this, the crowd was roaring, the lights were bright. But we competed. It's kind of unreal.