If you were not at the 2026 Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational this past weekend, you missed a good one. The Kingwood Mustangs traveled to College Station and competed against some of the top programs in Texas over two full days of track and field. Early-season meets are rarely perfect, but the Mustangs delivered several standout performances that showed the depth and determination of this year’s team.
I had a great weekend watching many of these races and then seeing the final results come in. What stood out most was the teamwork and determination across the roster. Our athletes stepped up and competed alongside some of the most talented runners and competitors in the state, and they did not back down.
A Relay Victory to Lead the Weekend
The highlight of the meet came from the Boys 4×800 Relay team of Jed Mazingo, Connor Graham, Broderick Rosello, and Spencer Steadman, which captured first place with a time of 7:57.00. In a field filled with strong programs from across the state, Kingwood’s distance squad rose to the top of the results. Winning an event at an invitational of this caliber says a lot about the strength of the program and sets an exciting tone for the rest of the season for this relay team.
Even more impressive, this marks the second year in a row that Kingwood has won this event at the Bluebonnet Invitational. Both years, the Mustangs’ winning time went on to become the fastest 4×800 time in the nation at that point in the season, an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the strength of Kingwood’s distance program.
Strong Showing in the Steeplechase
Kingwood’s distance depth was also on full display in the 2000 Meter Steeplechase.
Charlie Dye finished 5th overall with a time of 6:38.96, while Connor Graham followed closely behind in 6th place at 6:40.42. Having two Mustangs finish in the top six at a meet this competitive reflects the consistency and strength of the distance program.
Narhi Leads the Girls’ Distance Effort
On the girls’ side, Ella Narhi took on a challenging double across the two-day meet. She competed in the 1600 Meter Run on Day 1, finishing in 5:15.73, and returned on Day 2 to run the 3200 Meter Run, posting 11:53.84. Racing two demanding distance events across consecutive days takes resilience, and Narhi showed the toughness that will continue to benefit the team as the season progresses.
Riley Lemoine also competed in the 800 Meter Run, finishing in 2:24.19 and gaining valuable experience against a strong field.
Hurdle Crew Steps Up
In the hurdle events, Jasmin Maya competed in both the 100 Meter Hurdles and the 300 Meter Hurdles, running 15.10 and 48.34, respectively. Doubling in hurdle events requires both speed and endurance, and Maya delivered strong performances in both races.
Addison Barnard also competed in the 100 Meter Hurdles, running 15.83 in the prelims.
On the boys’ side, Adam Orth ran 38.86 in the 300 Meter Hurdles prelims, finishing 17th and positioning himself as an athlete to watch as the season continues.
Field Events Contribute Key Performances
The Mustangs also produced strong results in the field events.
Evan Giles cleared 5 feet 4 inches in the High Jump, earning 7th place in a competitive field. Taylor Dixon also competed in the event, clearing 5 feet.
In the Pole Vault, Olivia McCabe cleared 10 feet 7 inches.
Camiryn Brown competed in both throwing events, recording 105 feet 10.25 inches in the Discus and 35 feet 3 inches in the Shot Put.
In the jumping events, Tom Stoddart competed in both the Long Jump and Triple Jump, recording 21 feet 1.5 inches and 43 feet 5.25 inches. Seth Dick also competed in the Long Jump, jumping 20 feet 2.75 inches.
Relays Across the Board
Relay events spanned both days of the competition, with several Mustang squads delivering strong performances.
Another exciting relay performance came from the Boys 4×100 Relay, which featured Seth Dick, Adam Orth, Jonathan Ankutse, and Randall Skelton, who ran 41.49 to finish 15th overall. While it may not have been a podium finish, the time itself was historic. The mark broke a 14-year-old Kingwood school record, a reminder that sometimes the biggest moments come from personal and program milestones rather than just placement.
The Co-Ed 4×400 Relay finished 4th overall with a time of 3:38.02.
The Girls 4×800 Relay finished 11th in 10:08.82.
The Girls 4×200 Relay ran 1:42.47, finishing 16th.
The Girls 4×100 Relay finished 35th in 48.83.
Looking Ahead
Early-season meets are about building momentum, gaining experience, and finding rhythm as a team. This weekend showed that the Mustangs have talent across the roster and the determination to compete with some of the best programs in Texas.
With a relay championship, multiple top finishes, and athletes stepping up across events, Kingwood left College Station with strong momentum. District season is approaching, and the Mustangs look ready for the challenge.
