For four years, Miles Westbrook trained, raced, and chased a goal that felt just out of reach. This spring, on the biggest stage in Texas high school track, he finally caught it. Miles crossed the finish line not just as another competitor, but as a state champion of the 3200-meter race.
“It feels great. I mean, I’ve been working for the past four years, so just all the hard work coming, together and happening on the day and being the best on the day, feels really good,” Miles said.
The final race wasn’t just about physical strength — it was a culmination of pacing, strategy, and mental toughness. As the laps ticked down, Miles felt his confidence build.
“I think I was super, super confident with about 800 (meters) left, the guy leading the race kind of seemed like he was falling off a bit,” he said. “We went from running 1:07 per lap to 1:10, and I just kept getting closer and felt really, really strong.”
And then, with one lap to go, he knew.
“But completely knew I won was about 400 to go,” he said.
The journey to that finish line wasn’t something Miles walked alone. Ulysses O’Rourke, his closest friend and longtime training partner, was there for the early mornings, the brutal heat, and the quiet moments when doubt crept in.
“I’ve been with Miles for the 5:40 a.m. workouts before school and the 100-degree runs, so it’s awesome to see that all his hard work paid off and he achieved one of his major goals for the season.” Ulysses said.
Though Ulysses faced injuries that kept him from the podium, he never lost perspective. To him, the win was shared in spirit — not just a solo achievement, but a reflection of the team’s grit and effort.
“Everyone was super happy when he crossed the line, but not many really saw the day-to-day grind,” Ulysses said.
On the infield, Coach Michael Truax was pacing, watching every move. Even early in the race, he could tell this would be different.
“Lap two, there was a lady sitting next to me, and I was telling her, it’s over, I could see how smooth Miles was — just hovering right behind the first place guy.” Coach Truax said.
As the final stretch approached, Coach Truax was on his feet, shouting as Miles surged forward.
“The last 250 meters, I was yelling at the top of my lungs, It was amazing. It was fun to watch. It’s one of the most dominant races I’ve ever seen.” Coach Truax said.
Coach Truax, who had only joined the program earlier this year, quickly came to understand what made Miles different. His routines, choices, and leadership all pointed toward a singular focus — winning when it mattered most.
“Everything that he does was geared towards state, He’s extremely competitive… Not only does he do that, he also mentors all the athletes underneath. He is a great teammate.” Coach Truax said.
The journey to the state title started four years ago, Miles was close during the cross country season after finishing third in the state final.
“I thought it was possible during cross country, And then after cross country didn’t happen, I knew it could happen on the track,” Miles said.
