Photo: Texas MileSplit
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The final weekend of UIL qualifying and the annual Kansas Relays were the perfect hosts for Southlake-Carroll's (Texas) Caden Leonard and Topeka-Seaman's (Kan.) Ryin Miller as they took on the distance double en route to huge performances.
CADEN LEONARD, Southlake-Carroll (Texas)
Class of 2026
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At the UIL 6A - Region 1 meet, the three-time state champion punched his ticket to the UIL State Championships in the 3200m and 1600m. Leonard opened up the weekend with a runner-up finish in the 3200m, where he ran a SB of 8:53.17, a mere two seconds back of the winner. Later on in the meet, Leonard toed the line once more, but this time in the 1600m. Like clockwork, Leonard took care of business for four laps, running 4:09.13 to hold off a challenging field of sub-4:15 athletes Leonard ranks second in 6A in both events and is the defending champ in the shorter of the two distances as all attention shifts to the UIL State Championships.
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Her second trip to the Kansas Relays was exceptional, as the junior defended both titles from a year ago as she swept the 1600m and 3200m. In her first race of the weekend, the 3200m, Miller had her hands full with an elite field that was trying to break the race open, but Miller's experience kept her calm and collective. At the bell, Miller shifted gears and pulled away in a 67-second closing lap, winning in 10:21.78. The next day, the 1600m was a tad different, as Miller was never alone from the moment the gun went off. However, after Father Tolton Regional Catholic's Elyse Wilmes made a big move down the backstretch, Miller used her strength to respond and chase her down to get her at the line in 4:46.03, the third-fastset time in state history.
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