AUSTIN – Just how fast is the competition at the UIL Track and Field state championships?
How would you like to run the fastest 800-meter Relay time in the history of the Texas Panhandle and finish … drum roll, please … sixth.
That’s exactly what happened to the Amarillo High girls 800 Relay team Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium during the 2025 UIL state track meet.
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AHS sophomore Willow Cornell, junior Sofia Quiles, senior Sierra Cornell and anchor junior Memori Hibbler turned in a historic effort of running a 1:38.57, the fastest-ever time of any Texas Panhandle girls team to cover the 800 meters.
In this elite meet that time meant an AHS school record, the all-time Texas Panhandle area record, and, incredibly finishing behind first place Red Oak by more than two seconds.
The Lady Sandies quartet missed out on the medal stand by 1.25 seconds.
Despite not winning a medal, the accomplishment pleased the heck out of AHS girls track coach Jonathan Woodard and the four girls who did the running.
“It is incredible that we competed so well down here in Austin,” said a hyped-up Woodard. “To break two school records on the state of Texas’ biggest track stage is unreal! All credit to our girls and my assistant coaches on our girls running the fastest 4 X 200 in Panhandle history!
“Our girls amaze me each day with their work ethic and allow us to coach them hard. We are truly blessed to be coaches at Amarillo High.”
The AHS foursome also ran the 1600 Relay finishing seventh in 3:50.61, but like the 800 Relay came home with some bragging rights setting an AHS school record (the previous record was 3:51.51).
The sisters Cornell each were talented enough to qualify for an individual race allowing them to race three times on Saturday. Sierra Cornell was seventh in the 800-meter race at 2:15.45, while Willow was seventh in the 300-meter hurdles at 44.21.
“This feels good to close out my senior year setting two school records, beating a previous one again from my sophomore year with my sister and amazing teammates,” Sierra Cornell said.
The Amarillo ISD did not bring a medal back to Amarillo but did see six other athletes compete in Class 5A events with Tascosa junior Maggie Marhefka coming closest to the medal stand with her fourth-place effort in the discus of 136 feet, 10 inches.
Here are the remaining five AISD athletes and their efforts:
Palo Duro sophomore Kyron Brown 9th in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.31 seconds.
Tascosa junior Aaron Phares 7th in the shot put at 53 feet, 7 inches.
Tascosa junior Chester Creery 7th in the high jump at 6 feet, 4 inches.
Amarillo High senior Ava Rahlfs 8th in the shot put at 38 feet, 103/4 inches.
Amarillo High freshman Kenneth Osteen 8th in the discus at 159 feet, 9 inches.