HEARNE — The Robertson County Striders turned in a strong showing at the 2026 TAAF State Games, with athletes competing across multiple age divisions and events and several earning All-State honors. Among the top individual performances were Jeremiah Butler, Brenden Boyd and King Knox, who each finished among the top competitors in their respective events. Butler earned fourth place in the All-State triple jump, giving the Striders one of their highest individual finishes of the competition. Boyd also turned in a pair of All-State performances, placing fifth in the 110-meter hurdles and seventh in the 300-meter hurdles. Knox finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles. The Striders’ success extended across several age groups, with athletes competing in both individual events and relay races. In the 10U girls 4x100-meter relay, Makhi, Jouree, Ava and Alani combined to finish fourth, narrowly missing a top-three finish. The Striders also fielded an 8U girls 4x100-meter relay consisting of Jumiyah, Tookie, Journee and Mina. In the 14U girls 4x100-meter relay, Asia, Alajah, Briyah and Jazzlyn finished 14th overall, while the 16U girls team of Aaliyah, Kyndal, Treyonna and Malaya finished 23rd overall. The 16U boys 4x100-meter relay team of King Knox, Ferdal, Brenden Boyd and Jayden Fuentes finished 15th overall. Individual competition also produced a number of strong performances. In the field events, Charlotte Luksovsky finished 32nd overall in the 10U girls shot put, while Andie McMahon placed 17th overall in the 12U girls shot put. Amani Webber finished 41st overall in the 12U girls long jump. On the track, Ferdal Miles placed 40th overall in the 16U boys 100 meters, while Nigel Sweed III finished 29th overall in the 18U boys 100 meters. Kyndal Pinchback finished 16th overall in the 16U girls 100-meter hurdles. Fuentes competed in two individual events, finishing 13th overall in the 16U boys 400 meters and 20th overall in the 200 meters. Knox also finished ninth overall in the 16U boys 300-meter hurdles. The State Games competition also saw several Striders advance to finals. Boyd and Knox qualified for the 16U boys 110-meter hurdles final, with Boyd entering the final ranked fourth and Knox ranked eighth. Boyd also qualified for the 300-meter hurdles final, entering that race ranked seventh. According to the Striders, the athletes continued to compete hard throughout the meet, with the team emphasizing the effort and improvement shown by its young competitors. The performances cap a busy stretch for the Hearne-based youth track program, which continues to provide Robertson County athletes with opportunities to compete at the state level. With athletes ranging from the 8U division through the older youth divisions, the Striders’ showing demonstrated the depth of local talent competing in track and field. The Robertson County Striders’ work continues as the young athletes build on their performances and prepare for future competition.