REGIONAL TRACK ROUNDUP: Concho Valley Sending Numerous Athletes to State

SAN ANGELO, TX — Wall’s incredible school year continued Saturday with its boys track and field team running away with the Region I-3A meet in Abilene.

The Hawks won eight events and took second in three others to rack up 141 points, which was 25 points ahead of defending state champion Holliday.

Wall won all three relays and had individual wins from Slayton Hallmark in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, Bryson McFarden in the high jump and triple jump, and Levi King in the 200-meter dash.

Gavin Sisson was second in both hurdles races, while Jager Thompson was second in the long jump and third in the 100.

The top two finishers in each event qualify for the UIL State Track and Field Meet on May 14-16 in Austin, while third-place finishers have a chance to earn a wild card if they have the best third-place mark from the four regions.

The Hawks’ relay teams were — 4x100 (Thompson, Reid Robertson, Gunner Garza and King), 4x200 (Evan Boehle, Robertson, Hagyn Barbee and King) and 4x400 (Boehle, Barbee, Robertson and McFarden).

On the girls side, Wall was the runner-up with 67 points, leaving the Lady Hawks 25 points behind Holliday.

Wall’s Jaycee White had two dominating wins in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, and she helped the Lady Hawks take second in the 4x100 relay, along with Emma Surber, Kynlee Stevens and Hannah Quesada.

Wall was also second in the 4x200 relay from the team of Marley Snowden, Surber, Stevens and Quesada.

Surber was also second in the long jump and third in the 200.

Another area athlete who had a strong day at the meet was Brady’s Samera Reed, who was third in the shot put and discus.

Menard’s Ruiz Wins 3 Gold Medals

Menard’s Danni Ruiz won three gold medals at the Region II-1A meet in Canyon on Saturday with an impressive sweep of the 400, 800 and 1600.

Ruiz is the defending state champion in the 400 and 800, and she was third last fall at the state cross country meet.

Ruiz’s big day helped the Lady Jackets tie for third place in the team standings with 49 points behind Gordon (58) and Highland (54).

Veribest’s Chloe Becker also brought home two gold medals in the 100 and 200, and Irion County’s Presley Parker won the pole vault and 300 hurdles.

Water Valley’s 4x200 relay of Jadyn Crane, Sydney Treadaway, Adalyn Luna and Janaye Coston also claimed first place.

Second-place finishers included Water Valley’s Coston in the long jump, Menard’s Taytum Chambless in the 3200, Irion County’s Harper McDowell in the 800, Garden City’s Addi Goodwin in the pole vault, and Garden City’s Natalie Crownover in the 100.

Garden City’s 4x100 relay of Crownover, Emily Easterling, Claire Eggemeyer and Sydney Tomlinson was also second.

Third-place showings included Irion County’s Scarlett Parker in the discus, Water Valley’s Treadaway in the 100 hurdles, and Veribest’s 4x100 relay of Kayden Broadway, Shaelee Leal, Aidyn Palmer and Becker.

On the boys side, Garden City’s Miles Colunga was second in the 100 and 200 to punch his ticket to state in both events.

Irion County’s Parker Kramer was second in the 3200 and third in the 1600.

Blackwell’s Jacob Rivera was second in the long jump, while Panther Creek’s Adan Wyatt was second in the triple jump.

Third-place finishes came from Bronte’s Raymond Williams in the 400, Veribest’s Tucker Cauley in the 3200, Veribest’s Bryce Martin in the long jump, and Paint Rock’s Waylon Carpenter in the discus.

Area Athletes Shine in Canyon

Christoval won a pair of gold medals Saturday to highlight the Concho Valley’s showing at the Region I-2A meet in Canyon.

Kenley Smith won the high jump and Chloe Bolander won the pole vault to lead the Lady Cougars, who also had a third-place finish from Brittnee Garner in the triple jump.

Coleman’s Victoria Guerrero was first in the 1600 and second in the 3200, and she helped the 4x400 relay take second along with Kylie Strickland, Makenna Edwards and Savannah Hurtado.

Ballinger’s Ashtyn Wilson was the regional champion in the 100 hurdles.

Second-place finishers included Sonora’s Kendall Thorp in the 800, Coleman’s Hurtado in the 300 hurdles, Coleman’s Cheyenne Moore in the discus, Bangs’ Cameryn Harmon in the long jump and Colorado City’s Jai’Anah Sims in the 200.

Winters’ 4x100 relay of Kaidence Mullins, Laila Aguero, Hannah Casey and Scarlett Betz was also second.

Forsan’s Kyndall Pritchard was third in the high jump.

On the boys side, the Concho Valley had a stellar showing in the relays.

Ozona won the 4x100 relay with the team of Graciano Garcia, Joe Jurado, Trey Ruiz and Christian Villarreal.

In the 4x200, Bangs won with the team of Braxton Wommack, Connor Bible, Brennan Mendieta and Jayden Robinson. Forsan’s team of Ashton Ellis, Coy Evans, Brady Janssen and Kameron Jordan was third.

In the 4x400, Sonora claimed the gold with the team of Eliseo Garza, Raylee Sanchez, Justin Gonzalez and Jayden Welborn. Ballinger’s team of Julio Salazar, Brody Wilde, Zach Harrison and Hunter Peacock were third.

Coleman’s Braylon Stewart was second in the 100 and third in the 200. 

Other second-place finishers included Sonora’s Jesus Garza in the 1600, Sonora’s Jaycob Ramirez in the 3200, and Eldorado’s Kember Briley in the triple jump.

Third-place finishers included Christoval’s Colt Floyd in the 110 hurdles and Bangs’ Cason Tidwell in the 300 hurdles.

Central’s Trey Steele Highlights San Angelo’s Regional Showing

San Angelo Central’s Trey Steele was third in the pole vault Saturday at the Region I-6A Meet in Arlington with a mark of 15 feet.

Despite the bronze medal he earned, he wasn’t able to secure the wild card to the state meet due to a better mark in another region.

Other Central results included the 4x400 relay of Sophie Hernandez, Emauri Vinson, Serena Cucuta and Madison Rios taking sixth place.

The Lady Cats were ninth in the 4x100 relay (Gracen Coates, Cucuta, Vinson and Rios) and ninth in the 4x200 relay (Aalyah Ramirez, Jocelyn Ruiz, Cucuta and Rios).

Cucuta was ninth in the triple jump, Coates was 13th in the 300 hurdles, and Jayla Elliott was 16th in the 100 hurdles.

Lake View had two regional qualifiers competing at the Region I-4A meet in Lubbock.

The 4x400 relay team of Nathaniel Gonzales, Gabriel Alvarez, Chris Rodela and Ernesto Ruiz was seventh, while Calvin Whitfield was 11th in the 800.