Ballinger Boys Win Back-to-Back District Track and Field Titles

BALLINGER, TX — The Ballinger Bearcats defended their District 8-2A track and field championship Thursday with a runaway performance.

The Bearcats claimed titles in six events and racked up 167.5 points to beat the rest of the field by 52.5 points.

Roscoe was the runner-up with 115 points, while Bangs and Coleman tied for third with 114.

Ballinger had first-place performances from Miguel Avila in the shot put, Kelton Shannon in the triple jump, Zac Harrison in the 800, Hunter Peacock in the 400, Manny Gonzalez in the 300 hurdles and the team of Julio Salazar, Harrison, Gonzalez and Peacock in the 4x400 relay.

Other top showings for Ballinger included Gavin Knight and Christian Carney going 2-3 in the pole vault, Josh Martinez taking second in the discus, Gonzalez finishing second in the 300 hurdles, Macey Wagoner taking second in the 1600, Hunter Wilson getting third in the 800, Brody Wilde finishing third in the 400, and the 4x100 relay of Salazar, Jonathan Briseno, Treyvon Lopez and Gonzales earning third.

Coleman’s Jayden Smith claimed two gold medals in the long jump and high jump. Another Bluecat, Braylon Stewart, won the 100, while teammate Micah Lackey won the discus.

The top four finishers in each event will advance to the area meet.

On the girls’ side, Coleman won the meet with 150 points, followed by Bangs with 95, Ballinger with 90.5 and Miles with 88.5

Highlights included Coleman’s Kylie Strickland winning the long jump and 100, while helping the 4x400 relay bring home gold along with Victoria Guerrero, Makenna Edwards and Savannah Hurtado.

Strickland was also second in the high jump and 200, making her an area qualifier in all five of her events.

Guerrero also won the 1600 and Hurtado won the 300 hurdles. Coleman’s Callie Callahan Campbell won the pole vault, and her teammate, Cheyenne Moore, won the shot put.

Ballinger had gold-medal performances from Lyla Aguero in the 800, Ashtyn Wilson in the 100 hurdles and Harlee Mikalik in the 400.

Winters’ 4x100 relay team of Kaidence Mullins, Laila Aguero, Hannah Casey and Scarlett Betz claimed first place.

Miles had a district-title win from its 4x200 relay team of Ximena Torres, Brooklyn Syler, Deanna Medina and Savannah Godfrey.