AUSTIN – While it all didn’t come together like Panhandle wanted during the UIL Class 2A state track and field championships Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium, the Ettes were still able to put on quite the display.
A quest for a repeat team state championship did fall short as powerful Refugio scored 72 points to win the state championship, however, the Ettes were able to shine tallying 60 points for a second place overall finish.
On a day where gold medals were at a premium for Texas Panhandle athletes, the Panhandle mile relay team of Lexi Durst, Ell Robinson, Annie Pahl, and Carly Land, saved their best performance for last, winning the Amarillo-area’s lone gold with a fantastic showing in the most exciting race of the meet.
The Ettes’ foursome led wire to wire capped off by a stellar final leg by Land to run an impressive time of 3:59.81 to get that coveted gold medal and hold off Falls City (50 points) for second place.
“We like to think when we run the mile relay it’s going to mean something, and it did again this year,” Panhandle head track coach Corby Mauer said. “We had to beat Falls City to get second as a team. The girls are probably little disappointed they didn’t win state because I know what we come here for, but we were up a really good challenge in Refugio.”
The Ettes also continue to carry the torch in the exciting race winning a fourth gold medal in the mile relay over the past six years.
“It’s definitely a good way to end the meet,” Durst said. “It was also a good way to end the year. We worked hard and leaned on each other all season and it was so fun to see it all come together.”
For Land, it was extremely special to win another gold and follow in the footsteps of her older sisters, Mackie and Leah. The youngest of the three sisters, Land watched her sister Mackie break state records from the Mike A. Myers Stands, and won team titles with middle sister Leah.
“It’s always awesome to share something like this with your family” Land said. “It’s a big tradition to run the mile relay. This is just always special especially to win gold.”
Panhandle was solid throughout the running events getting medals in all three relays. To open the running finals, the sprint relay of Robinson, Land, Durst and Nelly Thiessen, won silver earned a silver medal with a time of 48.21. Later in the evening, the 800-meter relay squad consisting of Thiessen, Robinson, Durst and Susana Thiessen took home a bronze running a 1:48.82.
Nelly Thiessen also started the morning for the Ettes breaking her own school-record in the shot put with a silver medal throw of 45-2 3/4 on her final attempt.
“I like how we responded to end the meet,” Mauer said. “I loved that Nelly (Thiessen) broke her own school-record once again in the shot put. I’m very proud of this group. They don’t have to win a team title to earn my respect. These girls always have that from me.”
CHECK OUT THE RESULTS
For a look at the complete results from Friday’s state track and field meet, please visit https://www.milesplit.live/meets/746342/schedule