Tiger runner Owen Likins' pursuit of greatness wows competition -- and an Olympic legend

Owen Likins, right, a Texas High junior, poses with Olympic legend Carl Lewis at the Carl Lewis High School Invitational in January at the University of Houston. (Photo courtesy Susan Likins)
Owen Likins, right, a Texas High junior, poses with Olympic legend Carl Lewis at the Carl Lewis High School Invitational in January at the University of Houston. (Photo courtesy Susan Likins)

When chasing a dream, there is no finish line. Owen Likins is constantly moving the bar forward as he gets closer to goals and achievements he runs toward. His strides are taking him places.

Likins, a junior at Texas High, was named the Athlete of the Meet at the Carl Lewis High School Invitational in January in the Yeoman Fieldhouse at the University of Houston. He was presented the award by Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist.

Likins won the 1,600 meters in 4:23.86 and the 3,000 meters in 9:03.66, as well as placed third in the 800 with a time of 2:00.36.

He admitted he was shocked when he was announced as the Athlete of the Meet.

"I was really surprised to win that award. After doing really well in my events, I was happy with the way I had performed," Likins said. "But I never imagined that I was going to win Athlete of the Meet, because there was so much good competition there; it was a big surprise and very exciting.

"(Carl Lewis) was extremely nice; growing up watching track and being a fan you know who he is. I knew who he was, but getting to meet him was surreal. It was great experience."

The Carl Lewis High School Invitational draws some of the best competition from across the country.

"The competition was great; it was a great benchmark for my preseason," Likins said. "I was really happy with my times. Everyone performs their best when they're pushing themselves against good competition, and I definitely think it helped my times to be up against the best there. It was fun to be able to run with my brother, also."

Owen's brother, Evan, a freshman at Texas High, also competed at the invitational.

Owen ran his first 5K in the fourth grade and continued running as a hobby until he joined the Texas Middle School track and cross country teams in the seventh grade.

Preparing for his junior season, he has goals he is aiming to reach. However, those aren't a finish line for him.

"One of my goals is I want to drop a lot of time this year, and my end goal is to qualify to the state meet and run in the state meet," Likins said. "I also want to continue running and competing in college, but I'm unsure where that will be."

Likins has raced in the state cross country meet but hasn't advanced past the regional track and field meet through his sophomore years.

That could change in April, along with what new goals he sets.

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