Just when you think the Lincoln track programs had done it all, they find a way to reach a new level.

After nine combined state championships since 2011, both programs had done plenty of winning.

But on Saturday, the two teams ran away from the field, each capturing the Class 4A state championships, winning in the same year for the first time in school history.

The girls scored 96 team points, as the Bulldogs consistency outlasted runner-up Plainview (82) and 3rd place Douglass (68).

The boys dominated the meet, finishing with 131 points ahead of runner-up Cache (75).

"All of this makes me pause and be humbled by what it means to be a part of a place like Lincoln and Church on the Move, who is collectively honoring God, pursuing Jesus and living out our calling," said Lincoln head coach Stephen Lewelling. 

From beginning to end, Lewelling was blown away by his team, his staff and the family that make the program what it is.

"Our kids were amazing, the families over the top supportive and the coaches I get to do this with put their life on hold to serve the kids," he said. 

It was the 4th title in the last five years for the boys and the programs 7th overall.

The girls competed the back-to-back quest after winning last spring. It was the program's 4th title, all since 2016.

With a young group returning from last year's state title for the girls and runner-up for the boys, Lewelling knew he had something special.

It was finding a way to mesh the talent, provide ample opportunities throughout the year and preach "trusting the process "along the way.

"From the first week of practices I preached to them be humble because this is a special group and we're going to do special things," he said. "I'm not surprised at all by the success but I am blown away by the quality of kids I get to coach. Praise God we were able to glorify Him on the biggest stage."

On the boys side, it was a historic and perfect day for Ty Brooks.

The sophomore went 4-for-4 in his events, capturing the state championship in the 800, 1600 and 3200, as well as helping set a new state meet record in the 4x800 relay.

"Ty did the unthinkable by winning all four of his events," Lewelling said.

Brooks had an amazing finish in the 3200, kicking on the final lap to outlast a strong runner-up finish from Zach Williams of Cache.

Brooks broke Andrew Smithwick's school record with a time of 9:21 to take home the gold.

Trevor Hacker finished 7th for Lincoln in the 2-mile with a time of 9:55.

Later on, Brooks narrowly edged teammate and senior Garner McAfee, running 1:55.14 in the 800 to take home the title there. McAfee ran 1:56.03 and sophomore Sammy Farris was 5th for Lincoln, neck-and-neck with his teammates at 1:56.67.

Brooks took his 3rd individual title of the weekend on Saturday in the 1600, as the sophomore ran 4:25. Farris was close behind at 4:29 in 5th.

Brooks, Farris, McAfee and Braxton Ferguson teamed up to put their name in the record books, cruising to the 4x800 relay title.

The group ran 7:56 to break the school record and beat the state meet record by 18 seconds, a mark that had stood for 33 years.

"That group has done some amazing things and they continued to carry on the legacy we have built in that event over the last number of years," Lewelling said.

The boys 4x100 relay team also took home a state title, as the sprint relay captured gold for the first time in school history.

Senior Kylan Schultheis, Darian Gertner and freshmen Caleb Peterson and CJ Wright combined to run 42.29, which was a new school record.

"I'm really proud of those guys," said Lewelling. "Not a lot of people expected them to win it  and they ran amazingly."

Perhaps one of the more impressive performances of the day was senior Elliot George in the pole vault.

After George took 3rd in the high jump, finishing at 6-6, he entered a duel with Sulphur's Eli Vinson, last year's Class 4A champ.

George, who recently set a new personal best last week at regionals, winning the event at 13-feet, took his game to a whole new level.

The senior cleared 13 feet, then 13-6 and finally 14-feet on his final attempt to keep pace with Vinson.

Eventually both vaulters failed at 14-6 and Vinson won on a tiebreaker, but the performance from George was the perfect end to the boys title culmination.

"It was the icing on the cake," George said. "He was absolutely at his best when it mattered most."

Wright was outstanding in his first state track meet, as the freshman was top-5 in both sprint events.

He ran 10.84, a new personal best, in the 100 to take 2nd. And later in the day, Wright ran another personal best in the 200, clocking at 22.40.

The boys 4x400 relay team (Brian Washington, Gertner, Elijah Summerlin, McAfee) finished at 3:24 in the final event of the day, taking home 3rd to cap off the state title in style.

Cason McDaniel performed well for Lincoln in the discus, finishing 6th with a throw of 147-6.

Baylee Woodrich took home her 3rd individual state title, as the senior won the 3200 in an exciting race to kick off the state meet on Friday morning.

After winning the 1600 last year and the individual state title in cross country last fall, Woodrich delivered again, running 11:06.

"She closed out her career in style," Lewelling said. "To win three individual state titles in three events is impressive."

Woodrich was well-clear of runner up Kenzi Readnour, who won state in the 2-mile last spring and set a state record in the process. Woodrich won by 13 seconds.

Sophomore Bentley Stewart stepped up big for Lincoln in the same race, finishing 5th with a time of 11:45, as her strong career continues in just her first two seasons.

"Bentley and Trevor (Hacker) both scoring for us in the 3200 was huge," Lewelling said.

Senior Ellie Stine also closed out her career in style, taking home the state championship in the discus.

Stine, who had the top throw in the state for all classes all spring, came through in a big way on Friday, as she threw 147-2. Stine was the runner-up a year ago.

"She, like Elliot, was at her best when it mattered most and that was huge for us," Lewelling said.

Kabry Kiger also came up big for Lincoln in the disc, as she threw her new personal best to take 3rd, marking at 126-1.

The most decorated track athlete in school history was as good as ever throughout the course of two days, as senior sprinter Ally Huxtable delivered big time for Lincoln.

Huxtable was busy on both days and placed in the top four of three individual events and was top five on another relay team.

Huxtable was 2nd in the 200, running a new personal best at 25.07 and finishing less than a half second outside of gold. She also was 2nd in the 400, narrowly missing out on a title by less than a second.

She also took 4th in the 100, running 12.42 for Lincoln, which was a new school record.

Huxtable was a part of the 4x400 relay team that finished off the title for Lincoln, as she, Maddi Stewart, Jayla Albert and Brynlee Durborow combined to run 4:02 and take 5th.

"Ally ran seven races across two days for us and was still great late in the day on Saturday," Lewelling said.

Woodrich was one of three to score for Lincoln in the 1600, as she took 3rd by running 5:13. 

Sophomore Tennyson Housley was 5th for Lincoln, as she ran 5:16 after battling back from being hurt late in the season.

"Tennyson coming back from injury and gutting it out to get us points was big time," Lewelling said. 

Bentley Stewart was 7th for Lincoln in the 1600 with a time of 5:21.

The girls 4x100 relay set a new school record in the prelims and then took 4th overall on Saturday, as Lesley Taylor, Gracie Atkinson, Kayli Atkinson and Drue Froelich combined to run 49.93.

The girls 4x800 relay team was 5th in a tough event. Aldrich, Bentley Stewart, Durborow and Housley finished with a time of 9:54.

The girls 4x200 relay team finished 7th, as Taylor, the Atkinson sisters and Froelich ran a time of 1:47.

With some of the best to ever wear the red and gold set to graduate this week, Lewelling and his program are relishing in the present, even if the future remains bright for years to come.

"It's always tempting to think what's next but this moment is too special to pass by," he said. 


Photos by Sam Farris