Easton Royal was surprised to hear his name called back to the awards stand late Saturday despite how familiar the spot had become for the Brother Martin star throughout the three-gold day.
But no part of the résumé that earned the determined, 5-foot-11, 200-pound athlete’s Class 5A Outstanding Performer honors was unexpected — not even breaking a 46-year-old state composite record with his blazing 10.17-second 100-meter dash.
Royal said that accomplishment was decided upon at the start of track season, worked toward tirelessly to this point and never in doubt.
In fact, he’d hoped for even faster.
“It’s expected,” Royal said. “It obviously means a lot, but I wanted to run 10.00 or closer to the 9 range. But God blessed me to be able to run a 10.17, which I’m grateful for.”
A record Louisiana track lifers had spent more than four decades waiting to see fall was just the beginning of Royal’s day.
He added a 20.84-second 200-meter and an electric anchor to a winning 41.32-second 4×100-meter on his way to the meet’s superlative honors.
“Usually, throughout the race, I can tell how it’s gonna go,” he said. “So before I even got the baton, I said to myself, ‘I know how this race is about to go.’ And when I got the baton, I was in fifth place. Before I know it, my God-given ability, I came back in first … It just feels good, especially when you’re able to live up to your word.
“I always tell my teammates it’s not about getting me the baton first. Obviously that’s wanted, you know? Because if you get the baton first, I’m not gonna be caught. But to me, I feel like it makes me look better and our team when I’m able to hawk ’em down not just for myself, but for my team as well.”
Royal referred multiple times Saturday to the LHSAA outdoor track and field championships and the season as a whole as a redemption story.
He slashed his 100-meter time down to 10.30 seconds as a sophomore, already admittedly far faster than he had ever imagined himself reaching.
But his major strides that year and a 10.40-second, second-place finish at 2025 state championships fueled his focus and preparation in the sport to an entirely new level as a junior.
“This year I really focused more in on track, getting speed training and block-work training,” he said. “Last year I came out here, I had it to the end of the race and I lost. And it’s left a bad taste in my mouth, so I had hunger.”
Royal’s intensity was palpable throughout the day.
He made clear both that he was grateful for his achievements, but not satisfied — a proposition equally scary for his competition and exciting for fans and his potential future college coaches.
“It feels good, because it shows me how determined I am to be great,” he said. “It’s good to be great in Louisiana, but I’m coming for the Texas and Florida times.”
Royal’s star as a football prospect has risen right along with his track prowess.
He committed last summer to the goal of participating in track at the next level as well and committed Nov. 29 to Texas.
As he wraps up the school year, his intention to be a two-sport athlete in college sounds like a non-negotiable, but the destination is up for further review entering the summer.
“I’m going through my OVs, getting all the information,” said Royal, who returned to the awards stand in an LSU pullover. “And depending on how I’m feeling, I wouldn’t put it past me, but there may be another commitment date coming soon. I’m gonna have a final decision date most likely where I stick with Texas or I flip somewhere else. So have your notifications on.”
