Photo Credit: Christopher Carpenter/MileSplit TX
The Case For Tate Taylor
Indoor Season
Junior sprinter Tate Taylor opened his 2025 indoor season in impressive fashion, capturing the 60m title at the Texas High School Indoor Championships. He cruised through the prelims in 6.75 before claiming victory with a 6.68 in the final.
He also competed in the 200m at the Texas Tech Wes Kittley High School Invitational. He kicked off with a 21.09 in the preliminary round. He finished with a runner-up finish in the finals by going 21.14.
Indoor Nationals
Taylor carried all of his momentum to the Nike Indoor Nationals, where he ran 6.73 and 6.81 in the rounds before unleashing a personal best 6.64 in the final to place second. That time tied him for No. 7 on the U.S. high school all-time list.
The San Antonio Harlan sprinter's indoor 200m campaign was even more historic. After logging three solid 60m performances, he delivered the race of his life at Nike Indoor Nationals. Blazing to a 20.46 win, Taylor not only secured the national title but also set a new U.S. high school indoor record, producing one of the greatest performances in prep sprint history.
Spring Dominance
During the Texas outdoor season, Taylor chose to focus primarily on the 100m, approaching his campaign with a strategic and selective race schedule. He competed in just a few meets leading up to the state qualifying rounds, opening with a 10.54 and following that with a 10.36 to set the tone for the postseason.
In the district round, Taylor posted 10.41 and 10.61 in the 100m, while also recording solid marks of 20.74 and 20.86 in the 200m. He continued to sharpen his form in the area meet, where he lowered his times to 10.27 in the 100m and 21.27 in the 200m.
At the regional championships-the final hurdle before the state meet-Taylor delivered his strongest performances yet, clocking 10.08 and 10.14 in the 100m, along with 20.88 and 21.13 in the 200m to secure his spot in Austin for the UIL State Championships.
Spring States/Nationals
Despite the demanding four-week qualifying journey, Tate Taylor saved his greatest performances for the biggest stage-the Texas state meet. Lining up in what would become the fastest high school 100m race ever contested on American soil, Taylor rose to the occasion. He stormed to a wind-legal 9.92 victory, not only securing the Texas state title but also setting a new national high school record.
In the 200m, Taylor delivered another standout performance, clocking a personal best of 20.14. That time ranks No. 2 all-time in Texas history and No. 3 on the U.S. high school all-time list.
Taylor's season reached its crowning moment at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, where he faced off against some of the nation's top sprinters, including fellow standout Maurice Gleaton. Once again, he delivered under pressure, running 10.10 in the final to claim the national title and further solidify his place among the greatest prep sprinters in history.
Completing The Case For Tate Taylor
Tate Taylor put together a historic season, setting two national records and posting three U.S. No. 1 performances across both the indoor and outdoor campaigns in two different events. He added to that résumé with a 20.14 in the outdoor 200m, which ranks as the No. 3 all-time performance in U.S. high school history.
At just 17 years old, Taylor's wind-legal 9.92 in the 100m stands as the fastest U18 performance ever recorded globally and the second-fastest U20 mark in world history. His indoor 200m national record earned a remarkable 1,217 points on the World Athletics scoring tables, while his 9.92 scored 1,238 points and his 20.14 200m effort was worth 1,198 points-each reflecting the truly world-class level of his performances.