Fort Worth Arlington Heights runners carry elite family track legacies

Now it’s time for Justin Stewart and Logan Eubanks to carve their own niche in their family legacies.

The Fort Worth Arlington Heights High School track standouts comes from families with strong running pedigrees. And while they aren’t at the level of their parents yet, they are on their way.

Both of Stewart’s parents, dad Raymond and mom Beverly (formerly McDonald), competed in the Olympics for Jamaica. Raymond competed in four Olympics (1984 to 1996), winning a silver medal. He also enjoyed success competing for TCU from 1985-89.

Beverly, also a TCU standout in the mid-1990s, won gold, silver and bronze medals while competing in three Olympics (1996, 2000 and 2004). Eubanks’ mother, Jackie, was a track star for TCU in the early 1990s.

So it should come as no surprise that their children are now chasing a state track championship of their own for the Yellow Jackets. Stewart leads the state in all classifications in the 200 and is tied for second nationally with his time of 20.64 seconds. Both are among the top runners in the state in the 100.

“They’re two of the top kids I’ve ever coached,” long-time Heights track coach Curtis James said. “They’re special to watch run, but you won’t see them bragging. They’re normal kids.”

Well, except when they get on a track. Then, they are much more than normal, as their history even before Heights shows.

Stewart began his career running for Hurst L.D. Bell as a freshman and in select meets outside of high school competition as a sophomore. His resume includes finishing sixth in the state in the 100-meter dash in Class 6A in 2023.

Eubanks came to Heights after winning state in the 100 at the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship level for Hill School in 2022, transferring the next school year.

Ironically, Stewart was a soccer player before he turned to track.

“I started doing soccer in the sixth grade, but then I started running and was beating other kids by 50 meters in the 200, so I figured it was my time to shine on the track,” he said.

Stewart did not run high school track in 2024, opting instead to focus on elite meets.

“With the new rules in place, you need to be seen as much nationally as possible, and your high school team is not going to get you out there that much,” James said. “I told his dad I have no problem with that. This kid is special.”

The young Stewart decided to return to high school track, coming to Heights after his family moved for his father’s work. He continues to grab national attention, though he has not yet decided for which college he will run. However, James said he will likely have his pick of schools after he leaves Heights.

Eubanks transferred to Heights for educational purposes, he said.

“They have more classes. I want to study business,” he said, noting that he plans to attend TCU and follow in his mother’s footsteps as part of the track team.

However, he chuckled and said he has no plans to run the same events as his mother.

“She ran the 400 and 800. I can’t run that far, to be honest,” he said with a laugh.

The two runners also compete for club teams: Stewart for Athletic Performance Ranch and Eubanks for Xpress Track Club. Stewart won a gold medal as part of a 4x100 relay at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics in 2024, along with winning gold individually in the 100 and 200 individually in 2023.

Eubanks is a two-time qualifier for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics and finished fifth in the 2024 USATF Junior Olympics as part of a 4x100 relay.

Their focus at the moment is to win state championships for Heights. As part of that pursuit, they push each other mightily in practice.

“It’s a good thing having him here,” Eubanks said of Stewart. “He pushes me to work my hardest every single day.”

Of course, they could share a title as Eubanks runs the first leg and Stewart the anchor leg of the 4x100 relay.

James said their devotion to that goal includes skipping the prestigious Texas Relays. The meet is renowned as an opportunity for coaches nationwide to see athletes at their best.

“Most kids wouldn’t do that, but they said they want to be ready for what’s ahead,” James said. “I told you, they’re special.”