Childress sprinter Mark Willis celebrates after leading the Bobcats to a gold medal in the 1600 meter relay during the District 1-3A/ 2-3A Area Track and Field Meet at Younger Field in Tulia. [Nicole Dill/ For Press Pass Sports]
It a star-studded District 1-3A/ 2-3A Area Track and Field Meet at Younger Field in Tulia.
The Childress Bobcats held off Slaton to win area with 97 points to the Tigers 92 points.
The Bobcats stamped the afternoon their successful afternoon by coming back to beat Canadian in a thrilling 1600 meter relay. Anchor leg Mark Willis took the final handoff trailing Canadian’s Angel Garcia by 20 meters. As Willis made up ground, he was able to pass Garcia during the final 50 meters of the back stretch and get the Bobcats a gold medal and solidify the area team championship. Willis, along with teammates, Creek Churchill, Lamont Nickelberry, and Jacob Daniel, set a new season-best time of 3:26.86.
On top of that performance, Churchill helped the Bobcats qualify for regionals in all three relay events. Nickelberry was a part of the 400 meter relay team that qualified, and advanced in the triple jump (41-5 1/2) placing fourth.
Stone Smith also highlighted a big day for the Bobcats. Smith tossed a season-best throw of 163-4 to take gold in the discus, and earned a silver in the shot put (45-10).
There were superb individual performances from the boys side of the meet as well. Spearman showstopper and Texas football signee, Brenen Thompson, broke his own school record blazing to a 10.30 to take a gold medal in the 100 meter dash. Thompson was a part of a silver medal 800 meter relay, and won the 200 meter race (22.90).
Bushland’s Kash Bradley advanced to regional in four events. Bradley went double gold in the long jump and triple jump. The senior popped off a 21-11 to win the long jump, and leaped a 42-11 1/2 in the triple. Bradley placed fourth in the 100 meter dash (11.21) and was part of the Falcons 400 meter relay qualifier.
River Road’s Crawford Kiser continued his spectacular season winning two of the long distance races. Kiser won the 3200 meter run with a 10:16.87 on Thursday morning. In the afternoon, Kiser clocked a 4:42.02 to make make the gold medal stand in the 1600.
The Bushland Lady Falcons stacked up 154 points to win convincingly over Shallowater’s 113 second place total.
Bushland’s stellar relay teams racked up the points Thursday. The impressive 400 meter relay team of Ellie Frye, Kenley King, Eason, Bayleigh and Jessie Fowler won with a 49.71. The 800 meter relay of Caitlyn Culwell, Sloane Hale, Peyton Baldridge, and Leah Ruthardt won gold with a 1:46.47, and the 1600 meter squad advanced to regionals with a silver.
Teammate Jillian Howell had a historic morning and afternoon. Howell broke two Bushland school-records Thursday morning. Howell, a defending state shot put champion, won the shot put with a new record throw of 42-2 3/4. She then set her second school-record by getting second in the discus tossing a 126-11. In the evening, Howell headed back to Bushland and led the softball team to a 14-4 win over River Road going 4-for-5 with a pair of homers and four RBIs.
As for individual performances, Spearman’s Braylen Lusby was a definite highlight. Lusby leaped a 34-5 3/4 to win the triple jump. During the running finals, Lusby earned two more gold medals by taking the 800 meter run (2:22.18), and winning the 300-meter hurdles (46.72). Canadian freshman Konnar McClendon was another that won multiple races. McClendon ran a 12:06.67 for a victory in the 3200 meter run, and paced a 5:41.26 for a gold in the 1600 meter race.
The Region I-3A Track and Field meet is set for April 29-30 at Abilene Christian University.
Panhandle’s Sydney Adee won the 300-meter hurdles during the District 1-2A/ 2-2A Area Track and Field meet at West Texas High in Stinnett on Wednesday. [Tucker Stroud/ For Press Pass Sports]
Panhandle sweeps area meet
As expected, the Panhandle Panthers track teams swept the District 1-2A/ 2-2A Area Meet on Wednesday at West Texas High in Stinnett.
The highly-talented Ettes put up 157 points to Gruver’s 118 for the area championship.
Senior standout and Texas Tech signee, Mackie Land, qualified in four events. The three-time state champion won the 400 meter race (58.67), the 200 meter dash (27.01), and was a part of Panhandle’s 1600 meter relay team that won gold with a (4:14.18). Teammate Sydney Adee is also headed to regionals in three events. Adee blazed to a 47.03 for a gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles and was a part of the 800 meter relay and 1600 meter relay squads.
Wellington’s Kyla Kane went double gold in the 800 meter run (5:45.34), and the 1600 meter run (2:18.58). Sunray’s Mia Gray also snagged two gold medals winning the shot put (36-8), and the discus (108-0).
The Panhandle boys team tallied 135 points for the area championship.
Long distance runner Levi McGill highlighted Wednesday. McGill won the 3200 meter run with a 10:59.52, then took gold in the 800 meter race (2:08.18), and capped off his afternoon getting a victory in the 1600 meter run (5:14.01).
Shamrock’s Caden Peevey and Wellington’s Marc Ramirez also impressed. Peevey won both the 400 meter race (52.84), and the 200 meter dash (22.28). Ramirez swept the hurdle events with a 15.87 in the 110-meter hurdles, followed by a 41.29 in the 300-meter hurdles.
Farwell girls take area meet
Farwell edged out New Deal 154 to 136 to claim the District 3-2A/ 4-2A Area championship at Floydada on Thursday.
Kennedi Richey helped the Lady Steers by winning gold in the 800 meter run (2:32.55), and won the 300-meter hurdles (49.65). Teammate Kady Urbantke earned two golds as well clocking a 5:50.82 in the 1600 meter run, and a 13:13.56 in the 3200 meter.
Vega’s Kati Drinnon qualified for regionals in four events. Drinnon went triple gold on Thursday. Drinnon was victorious in the 100-meter hurldes with a 15.57, won a silver in the 300-meter hudles (50.21), and swept then swept the long and triple jump events. Drinnon jumped a 16-7 1/4 for the long jump gold, and a 35-6 1/4 for the triple jump win.
On the boys side, Farwell’s Ramon Silva captured a gold medal in the 3200 (11:11.21), and a silver in the 1600 (5:08.28).
The Region I-2A Track and Field meet is set for April 29-30 at West Texas A&M.
Valley boys, Silverton girls win area
It was a big Thursday for the Valley Patriots and Silverton Lady Owls at the District 1-2A/ 2-2A Area Track and Field meet in White Deer.
Valley won the boys side with a total of 93 points.
Valley state champion from a year ago, Blake Beard, won the 400 meter race with a 51.80. Beard was also a part of the 800 meter gold medal relay team that clocked a 1:31.21. Silverton’s Sawyer Francis took home two gold medals in the hurdle events. Francis claimed the 110-hurdles with a 15.97, then ran a 42.87 for the 300-meter hurdles championship.
Booker’s Adrian Rosales is headed to regionals getting victories in the 3200 (11:02.87), and the 1600 (5:00.41).
The Silverton girls team won the area title with 94 points.
Brenna Francis won three gold medals on the day. Francis ran a 2:38.74 for the 800 meter title. In the field events, Francis jumped 16-8 1/4 for the long jump gold, and a 33-7 1/4 to win the triple jump.
Miami star Anna Hudson, a two-time defending state champion, is headed back to regional after winning the 100 meter dash (13.19), and the 200 meter dash (26.46).
The Region I-1A Track and Field meet is set for April 29-30 at South Plains College.
