AUSTIN – Records. Records. And more records.
How else does one explain the phenomenal and head-shaking running of Canyon High junior Addyson Bristow at the 2025 UIL State Track and Field meet on Thursday?
State record in the 800 meters? Check.
State record in the 1600 meters? Check.
Anchoring Canyon’s state-record setting 1600 Relay? Check.
Putting on a performance in the conversation for the greatest day an Amarillo-area athlete has ever put together on the track at the state meet, Bristow’s three gold medal performance was the catalyst in Canyon finishing with 45 team points and runner-up to state champion Brownwood (64 points) in the Class 4A team competition.
Canyon coach Ray Baca said his comment is meant as no disrespect to any runner or arrogance but “certain people have that special mindset. Success for Addy isn’t her winning but setting records. She is extremely laid back and the nicest person. But when she’s about to step on the track she’s Clark Kent and steps out of the phone booth and becomes a Superhero.”
Those running against Bristow will agree 100 percent with Coach Baca.
Bristow’s running style is to go out fast and quickly build large leads. But instead of coming back to the field eventually like a lot of runners do when using this strategy, the two-time defending 4A cross country state champion buries the competition leaving everyone else racing for second place.
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And it doesn’t matter if it’s a regular ol’ March meet in Canyon on a windy day or against the best the state of Texas offers like on Thursday, it ends the same.
Bristow winning and winning big.
Bristow started her day off running the 800-meters in a state-record time of 2:07.19, eclipsing the mark of 2:09.81 set in 2009 by Simone Brinkley of Dallas Madison. Her split time after one lap was 1:00.34, her next closest competitor four seconds behind and she won by just under seven seconds.
Next up was the 1600 meter race where Bristow ran a state-record 4:48.64 signing her name to the state record previously held by Kelsey Johnon of Iowa Park at 4:54.73 set back in 2008. This time Bristow led by 18 seconds midway through the race and won by just under 20 seconds over Randall’s Brooke French.
Then in the 1600 Relay, a quick turnaround after the 1600-meter race many runners refuse to try and pull off because of fatigue, Bristow and Canyon teammates Brooklyn Kinsey, Reese Wilson and Sydnee Winfrey won in a 3:48.89, setting the state record previously held by Waco La Vega in 2013 at 3:49.75.
Bristow ran the anchor leg taking the baton in a close second and moving into first by the end of the first curve.
How’d Bristow do it?
“Just motivation that this was my last race with my team and I was really excited to celebrate after,” Bristow of her motivation to run the 1600 Relay. “This day was amazing. I know it all came from the love of my teammates and I really just wanted to do it for them and score as many points as I possibly could and leave knowing I couldn’t have pushed any harder.”
Bristow’s state medal haul is becoming insane as she now owns two individual gold medals for cross country and then at the state meet two individual silver medals, two gold medals for and three individual gold medals for her running.
Bristow’s teammates where strong in the 1600 Relay as well with leadoff senior Kinsey, freshman Wilson and senior Winfrey each ran their fastest legs of the year.
“It’s just a huge honor,” Winfrey said. “You have to go out with a bang on your last one. That’s what we have been talking about all our hard work and putting it out there. We did our job and came in every practice and got better. That was our goal at the end of the year and we did it.”
Said Kinsey: “The leadership as a senior is a lot different than when you are a freshman, sophomore or junior. So this year has felt heavier of a weight on how we take care of our teammates and how we lead by example. So in the end to know we did the best that we possibly could. Like Sydney says, we have worked so hard not only this year but every single year to get the confidence we have and now we get to be excited and hopefully pass down the legacy. This one amazing. We like to set high standards for our team and individually. Going into this, it wasn’t just win but let’s set these records. … we maxed out our effort.”
Baca said placing second behind Brownwood in the team race was not a disappointment.
“We set a personal record in the 3200 (Avery Brown), our pole vaulter was hurt (Hadley Johnson) so she did her best (finishing 8th), we had a PR in the 300 hurdles (with Kinsey) and all four in our mile relay set personal records,” Baca said. “And then Addy sets two state records. How can you be upset with that? Our day was perfect.”