Just like at the district meet, the Canyon track and field teams made it a clean sweep to win the District 3-4A/ 4-4A Area Track and Field championship on Thursday afternoon at West Texas A&M.

The Canyon boys tallied 117 points to hold off rival Randall’s 91, while the Lady Eagles showed their depth with 197 points beating Randall (120) by 77 points.

Kashlee Dickinson started things off in the morning field events as one of the best vaulters in the state set a new meet record with a leap of 13-feet-4 inches to win another area championship for her team. Hannah Stuart took home golds once again in the 3200-meter run with an 11:01.98 followed by another first place finish in the 1600-meter race thanks to a 4:58.43. Sophomore Brooklyn Kinsey qualified for regional in four events. Kinsey won the long jump with a 17-feet-7 3/4 inches. She then was a part of the mile relay gold medal team that ran a season-best 3:57.85, and earned a silver in the 100-meter hurdles (16.30) and a bronze in the 300-meter hurdles (46.98).
But the highlight for Canyon as usual was team leader and University of Kansas signee, Abree Winfrey. The captain started her day by getting a gold in the 800-meter race thanks to a 2:14.06. She then defended her 300-meter hurdle title by clocking a 44.93 and anchored the Lady Eagles impressive mile relay that ran a 3:57.85.

Randall also had superb performances. Tenera Gray is headed to regionals in four events. Gray won the triple jump by popping off a 36-feet-6 1/2 inch jump. She was a part of the Lady Raiders 800-meter relay team that found the gold medal stand (1:43.35), and took silver medals in the long jump (17-feet-4 inches) and the 300-meter hurdles (45.55). Teammate Kassidy Walker showed her speed to advance in three events. Walker anchored the sprint (49.13) and 800-meter relay (1:43.35) teams to gold medals. Walker won her third gold by clocking a 12.67 to win the 100-meter dash.

On the boys side, Canyon used its long distance runners to rack up points and help earn the area title. Lathan Lewter won the 3200-meter run with a 9:52.56, and also came in second during the 1600-meter race (4:35.77). Teammate Alex Niemiec took home gold in the 800-meter race with a season-best time of 1:56.03 and won the bronze in the 1600-meter (4:42.18), and Ryan Fernandez had a time of 4:35.77 to win the 1600-meter run and placed second in the 3200-meter (9:59.75). Seth Green punched his regional ticket in three events for Canyon. Green won a strong 110-meter hurdle race with a 14.54, then took silver in the 300-meter hurdles (38.90) and the mile relay (3:21.27).

Randall’s Shaquorie Butler, Collin Miller and Nathan Baker all advanced to regional in multiple events. Butler is headed to Lubbock in four events after winning the triple jump by leaping 45-feet-10 1/4 inches. Butler was a part of the sprint relay gold medal team (42.53), took a bronze in the 400-meter race (49.78) and was a part of Randall’s qualifying mile relay squad. Miller won the long jump popping off a leap of 22-feet-9 3/4 inches. Miller was the opening leg of the Raiders gold medal winning sprint relay (42.53) and took second in the triple jump (45-feet-4 inches). Baker qualified in two events thanks to his top edge speed. Baker anchored the sprint relay to a time of 42.53, and won the 100-meter dash with an 11.05.

Dumas sprinter Oliver Ortiz had another captivating performance. Ortiz set two new season marks by first winning the 400-meter dash by blazing a 47.95, and then anchored the Demons mile relay to a season-best mark of 3:18.30. Ortiz also qualified fourth as part of Dumas’ sprint relay. Pampa’s Madox Jones also had a great day winning gold in the discus with a toss of 161-feet-10 inches, and earned silver in the shot put thanks to a 47-feet-4 1/4 throw.

The Region I-4A Track and Field meet is set for Friday and Saturday at PlainsCapital Park Lowrey Field in Lubbock.

Area 3-5A/ 4-5A

Lady Sandies win area, Pinkard puts on show for Tascosa

The Amarillo High Lady Sandies stacked up 124 points to edge Lubbock-Cooper’s 106 points to win the 3-5A/ 4-5A area championship on Friday at PlainsCapital Park Lowrey Field in Lubbock.

The Lady Sandies dominated the relay events. The sprint relay team of Madyson Castellion, Gracee May, Brittney Brantley and Memori Hibler, blazed to a 48.17 to earn a gold. The 800-meter relay took second place (1:43.29) and the mile relay of May, Keely Harper, Kennadi Payne, Sierra Cornell, clocked a new season-best time of 3:56.53 for a gold medal. May was a part of all three relays. Harper also qualified by winning the 300-meter hurdles thanks to a time of 45.95 and won silver in the 300-meter hurdles (45.95). Cornell brought home two more silvers in the 400-meter race (58.78) and the 800-meter run (2:15.70).

In boys action, Lubbock-Cooper won the area title with 132 points. Amarillo High came in second with 105 points. AHS advanced all three relays to regional. Long distance runner Noah Watt won the 800-meter run with a 1:58.29 and placed silver in the 1600-meter race (4:22.52).

However, no one put on a performance from the Amarillo-area like Tascosa’s Ke’Mauri Pinkard. Pinkard set new personal marks in all three field events. Pinkard won the triple jump popping off a leap of 48-feet-7 3/4 inches. He then won gold in the long jump with a season-best 23-feet-1 1/4 inch and won silver in the high jump clearing 6-feet-6 inches.

The Region I-5A Track and Field meet is set for Friday and Saturday at PlainsCapital Park Lowrey Field in Lubbock.