The Ascension Academy track and field team saw a fantastic track and field season come to a very strong end during the UIL Class 5A state track and field meet at Waco Midway High School on Friday and Saturday.
The Ascension boys’ team was the highlight of the meet for the Texas Panhandle racking up 51 points for a fifth-place finish with multiple trips to the medal stand.
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The mile relay team of Zachary Parker, BJ Britton, Owen Chow, and Roman Martinez, made their mark in a big way getting on the stand with a silver medal running a school-record time of 3:34.50. Chow led the team as the third leg with a 50 split.
Chow and Martinez were far from done. Chow went on to win the lone gold for the Cardinals sprinting to a 50.28. Martinez followed with his own amazing outing leaving Waco with two silver medals. In a race that came down to the wire, Martinez came up just short of gold running a 2:04.54 in the 800-meter race. Atticus Giere of Bethesda Christian held off Martinez with a 2:04.31.
Martinez then claimed his second silver of the meet in the 1600-meter event running a time of 4:43.06.
“After a successful track season last year, we dealt with a high number of transfers and graduates that made our team feel like we were heading in the direction of a rebuild,” Ascension Academy track coach David Sanders said. “Despite that challenge, our athletes refused to be daunted and worked hard to prove they were every bit as good as last year. Their tenacity made it possible to replicate the fifth-place finish on the boys side. Our coaching staff prepared them well, but the athletes deserve all of the credit for their accomplishments this season.”
Kathleen Bartley, who won state in the pole vault last season, was the lone Lady Cardinal to medal. Bartley cleared 8-feet-6 inches in the pole vault to walk away with a silver medal.
San Jacinto Christian Academy also represented the Amarillo-area well. Benton Myers won the silver medal in the shot put tossing out a 45-10 1/4 while teammate Marshall Mincher came in fifth in the 200-meter (23.07) and long jump event (20-5 1/4).
For a full look at the results from the TAPPS state meet, please visit https://live.athletic.net/meets/48669