Texas Tech Commit Wins Sprint Double at U20 National Championships

Texas Tech track and field commit Tate Taylor added to his stacked high school sprints resume with another - yes, another - national record in the 200-meter dash en route to winning both short sprint events at the USATF U20 Championships in Eugene, Ore. this week.

Taylor blazed to a 19.94 in the half-lap, breaking his own high school national record. The San Antonio native now sits No. 4 on the all-time under-20 list in the event.

Earlier in the meet, Taylor, 18, won gold in the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.15.

Taylor's previous 200-meter best was 19.97 earlier this year when he became the first high school athlete to ever dip below the 20-second mark.

He holds a 100-meter personal best of 9.92 from the UIL state championships last year, which broke state and national records, as well, with a legal wind reading.

"The first thing I thought was, man, I finally did it," Taylor said High School On SI after the 19.97 race. "I was hype. God is insanely good and has truly blessed me, so I immediately thanked Him."

Taylor also holds the indoor national record in the 200, which was previously held by Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles.

The Harlan High School sprint phenom has a prep resume the track world has never seen before:

Taylor will soon turn his attention to the world championships taking place in Eugene, August 5-9.

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Taylor now joins a Texas Tech track program that is just as much of a juggernaut as his achievements are individually.

The Red Raiders are coming off back-to-back sweeps of the Big 12 indoor and outdoor championships. Texas Tech, under legendary head coach Wes Kittley, has regularly churned out superstar sprinters who compete on the national and world stage.

Taylor will immediately be a force to be reckoned with as a freshman next spring.

And with the 2028 Olympics approaching, a few strong seasons in Lubbock could prepare Taylor to represent Team USA and take his talents global.

"Tech, for me, was one big family, but not a normal family, a hungry one," Taylor said to the media after committing. "Everybody there was just as good as me or better and wanted to prove something on their own there on the track or field. And really after my visit I knew that’s where I needed to be."