For the first time in well over 10 years, the Worthing Colts will have a hurdler competing at the Regional track meet on April 18th and 19th at Bullard High School in Bullard, Texas, after freshman Avonte Earl ran 15.06 in the 110-meter hurdles and 40.99 in the 300-meter hurdles during the Area round.
It feels amazing to make history and represent Worthing at regionals. I’m honored and ready to make my school proud.
Avonte Earl
Earl moves through the hurdles with ease, gliding smoothly from one to the next with quick transitions and barely any time in the air. Many would describe him as a true ‘Glide Hurdler.’ His form is sharp, his stride is steady and he makes hurdling look almost effortless.
But it wasn’t always this way—back in sixth grade, during his first track meet, nerves held him back and stopped him from showing what he was really capable of.
“I still remember the feeling like it was yesterday,” said Earl. “I was nervous, standing at the starting line, heart pounding louder than the starter’s gun. The hurdles looked tall, but I believed I was ready.”
Confidently, Earl ran his race, but falling on the last hurdle cost him the race.
“I scraped my knees and barely crossed the finish line in fifth place,” said Earl. “I wasn’t last, but it felt like it. I was angry, embarrassed and honestly, I wanted to quit. Track and field didn’t feel like my sport anymore.”
Earl recalls his sixth-grade track coach, Matthew McIntyre, filling him with confidence after a disappointing loss.
“He saw something I didn’t,” said Earl. “He pulled me aside and told me I had potential. I didn’t believe it at first, but I trusted him. So I kept showing up, kept running and continued learning how to rise after every stumble.”
By the time Earl was in the seventh grade, his stride was stronger, his confidence tougher and he began to win often. From a boy who wanted to quit to now being the boy who led the pack, he began to take running hurdles even more seriously, breaking the Dekalb Huntley Middle School record in the 110-meter hurdles after running 15.59.
Earl kept progressing on the track and eventually landed in Houston for his freshman year at Worthing, where he met Colts’ head track coach Adrian Wall.
“When I first met Avonte and began working with him, he had raw talent but was still learning how to channel it,” said Wall. “By refining his technique and focusing on his goals, he has become a true competitor.”
While others are still learning how to clear the hurdle properly during their freshman year, Earl has worked on not jumping over but through the hurdle.
“Coach Wall and I have focused on jumping through the hurdles with my left leg as my trail leg and my right leg as my lead leg taking four steps to get to the next,” said Earl.
Earl’s progress reflects his work ethic and dedication.
“Along with making it to the State track meet, my ultimate goal is to have fun and run my best race every time so I can go to the next level,” said Earl. “I’d like to one day run at UT Austin, then run in the Olympics. To every kid with a track dream, don’t let one fall determine your future. Keep pushing, keep driving, stay strong and never quit.”
About Avonte Earl:
Class: 2028
IG: @goated_.ae
Twitter: @AvonteEarl
Events: 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 4×100-meter relay
Height & weight: 6-feet-0, 157 pounds
Favorite artist: Rod Wave
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite subject: Algebra
