MLMcKale Lee Texas Track & Field

Texas Track & Field · 800m & Cross Country

McKale
Lee

Down at area. Champion at state.

McKale Lee is a freshman middle-distance runner for the University of Texas and the 2026 UIL Class 6A state champion in the 800m. A year after a fall ended her junior season, the Houston native ran away with the state title in 2:08.69. She studies Exercise Science at UT Austin and is part of the Feniex Industries NIL program.

  • Houston, Texas
  • Alief Taylor HS
  • Freshman · Exercise Science
McKale Lee smiling in a burnt orange Texas Longhorns uniform
Official Texas Athletics portrait
2:08.69UIL 6A State Champion · 800m

Won by more than two seconds in Austin, May 2026.

2:08.50800m Personal Best

Set winning the UIL 6A Area 19 & 20 meet, 2026.

800 + 1600Area Champion, Both Events

Swept the 800m and 1600m at the 2026 area meet.

Her story

The fall that started it

At the 2025 area meet, McKale went down on the back straight in the first 200 meters. The race, and her junior season, were over before she could get back into it.

She came back as a senior at Alief Taylor determined to show up and give it everything. She won the 800m and 1600m at the area meet, qualified for state in both events at regionals, and in her first state final went with the early leader before pulling away on the second lap. She ran the fastest closing lap in the field and won in 2:08.69.

Now a Longhorn, she runs the 800m and cross country for Texas.

“If you fall seven times, get back up eight times.”

McKale Lee, to ABC13 Houston, May 2026

Timeline

Back up, and faster

  1. 2025

    The fall

    Went down on the back straight at the area meet, ending her junior season short of state.

  2. 2026

    Double area champion

    Won the 800m and 1600m at the UIL 6A Area 19 & 20 meet, lowering her 800m best to 2:08.50.

  3. 2026

    State champion

    Won the UIL 6A girls' 800m in Austin in 2:08.69, her first state title.

  4. 2026

    Texas Longhorn

    Joined Texas Track & Field and Cross Country, and the Feniex Industries NIL program.