Springlake-Earth’s Taytum Goodman, Silverton’s Brenna Francis and Hart’s Toree Jo Evans all walked off the track for that final time closing those important chapters.
For Goodman, the Texas Tech University signee, she is heralded at Mike A. Myers as one of the best long-distance runners at any classification and she wanted to prove that once more.
Goodman, who holds all the long-distance records at the state meet, got off to a great start defending her 3200-meter crown in the morning session running an 11:04.68.
In the evening session, Goodman did run into some adversity as Menard’s Dannie Ruiz won the 800-meter beating Goodman by two seconds. Ruiz ran a 2:12.44 to Goodman’s 2:14.88 as Goodman took silver.
But Goodman was able to redeem herself in the final race of her high school career clocking a 5:03.60 to win the 1600-meter for a third straight time. Goodman ends her unbelievable run as a nine-time UIL state track champion and a four-time UIL cross country champion.
“I feel blessed,” Goodman said. “I’ve been taking it all in and this is special. This is my last state meet. This is my favorite sport and I’m so excited for it to end the way it did.”
As a sophomore Francis won a silver medal and brought home two bronze medals last year.
Competing at state for the final time on Saturday, Francis made this appearance count as one she’ll never forget earning 28 of Silverton’s 32 points by winning two gold medals and a silver medal despite injuring her leg during the triple jump event.
Francis started her day winning the long jump event with a leap of 17-2 1/2 on her final attempt. Later Saturday morning Francis won her second gold in the triple jump despite fighting a injury with a 35-7.
In the evening running session, Francis was scratched from the 400-meter relay due to that leg issue but was able to recover and shine once more getting a silver medal in the 100-meter hurdles racing to a time of 15.93.
“I was surprised at how the day went,” Francis said. “I know at the state meet I have to do my very best because the competition is so good. No matter the outcome all I can do is my best and leave everything I can out there. It was awesome to have all of my family there and run with my sister. I just hope I can set an example for the younger girls that come after me.”
Last year Evans raced in the 100 and 200-meter dash but didn’t medal. As a senior in 2024, Evan was able to make all those past memories go away by leading her Hart sprint relay team along with Adamari Morales, Tabree Worshman and Celena Gonzales, to that prestigious gold medal stand and a new school-record time of 50.24.
“It’s so exciting,” Evans said. “I’ll never forget falling two years ago so I just can’t believe I’m here now with my team getting a gold. We also beat the school-record and that means a lot to us.”
Giselle Esparza of Wildorado took bronze in both the 100-meter hurdles (16.27) and the 300-meter hurdles (46.09).
The Nazareth 800-meter relay squad of Clementine Myrick, Tatum Peterson, Emerson Moore and Maddie Brockman landed a bronze (1:49.02).
On the boys’ side, Silverton’s Sawyer Francis went double bronze in the 110-hurdles (15.12) and the 300-meter hurdles (40.21). Lazbuddie’s Zeke Kasel brought home two silvers in the hurdles clocking a 14.66 in the 110 and a 39.35 in the 300.
Happy’s Hayes Bressler medaled with a bronze in the pole vault clearing 14-feet and Groom’s Noah Wood also won bronze in the high jump with a leap of 6-2.
For a look at the full results from the UIL state track and field meet please visit, https://uil.tfresult.com/
