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Abilene, Big Country athletes to watch at state track and field meet

joey d. richards, abilene reporter-news
·8 min read

CLASS 5A

BOYS

RYAN BLAKE, WYLIE

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): Discus, 172-3 (4)

Previous state meet: First state appearance.

Notes: Blake will need a big throw to catch the top three seeds – Ennis senior Heath Vernor (195), Mission Sharyland senior Chukwubueze Ikondu (193-2) and Midlothian sophomore Kyen Purser (181-8). Blake is the only representative of Abilene’s three Class 5A schools.

Snyder's Jay Castillo, left, races Dumas' Oliver Ortiz to the finish line in the 400 meters at the Region I-4A track and field meet Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. Castillo won the race in 48.65 seconds, followed by Ortiz in 48.92.
Snyder's Jay Castillo, left, races Dumas' Oliver Ortiz to the finish line in the 400 meters at the Region I-4A track and field meet Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. Castillo won the race in 48.65 seconds, followed by Ortiz in 48.92.

CLASS 4A

BOYS

JAY CASTILLO, SNYDER

Grade: Junior

Regional mark (state seed): 400, 48.13 (1)

Previous state meet: Castillo finished eighth (49.82) last year, after taking sixth as a freshman in 2021 (50.19).

CREECE BRISTER, STEPHENVILLE

Grade: Junior

Regional mark (state seed): Shot put, 56-8 (1)

Previous state meet: Brister finished seventh in the shot put last year (50-9¾).

Notes: Brister goes into the state meet with a throw more than 2 feet better than any other 4A region mark. Ingleside senior Eric Edison is seeded second (54-4½). Brister also will compete in the discus.

Stephenville's Victoria Cameron, left, battles Argyle's Keira Inman in the 100 meters at the Region I-4A track meet last year at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. Cameron won the race in 12.26 seconds and Inman (12.38) was second.
Stephenville's Victoria Cameron, left, battles Argyle's Keira Inman in the 100 meters at the Region I-4A track meet last year at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. Cameron won the race in 12.26 seconds and Inman (12.38) was second.

GIRLS

VICTORIA CAMERON, STEPHENVILLE

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): 100, 11.49 (1); long jump 17-11¾ (6)

Previous state meet: Finished second in the 100 last year, running a 11.78 while Terrell sophomre Ja’Naria Jackson ran a 11.74 to win it. Cameron won both the 100 and 200 her sophomore year. She also runs the anchor leg on the Honeybees’ 400 and 800 relays.

Notes: Cameron was also a standout player on the Honeybees’ soccer team, which reach the state finals this year. She will play soccer at Tarleton State in the fall.

TOREYENA SADDLER, SWEETWATER

Grade: Junior

Regional mark (state seed): Shot put, 40-5¼ (4)

Previous state meet: Saddler finished sixth in the shot put last year (40-1).

Notes: Saddler has a chance to medal, but she has three seniors ahead of her – two who qualified with throws over 45 feet. Huffman Hargrave’s Amori Pierson is third (42-6¼).

Breckenridge's Chase Lehr, right, battles Canadian's Lucas Rizo while Jim Ned's Chris Saling trails both in the 800 meters. Lehr, Rizo and Saling finished 1-2-3 in the event at the Region I-3A meet April 29 at ACU's Elmer Gray Stadium. Saling ended up getting a wild-card spot to state. The trio have the top three qualifying times at state.
Breckenridge's Chase Lehr, right, battles Canadian's Lucas Rizo while Jim Ned's Chris Saling trails both in the 800 meters. Lehr, Rizo and Saling finished 1-2-3 in the event at the Region I-3A meet April 29 at ACU's Elmer Gray Stadium. Saling ended up getting a wild-card spot to state. The trio have the top three qualifying times at state.

CLASS 3A

BOYS

CHASE LEHR, BRECKENRIDGE

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): 800, 1:52.03 (1)

Previous state meet: Lehr won the 800 last year with a 1:55.41, followed by Crane’s Lucas Rizo (1:57.44), while Jim Ned’s Chris Saling was fourth (1:58.13).

Notes: Lehr, the defending state champion, leads a Region I-3A contingent that goes into the state meet as the top three seeds followed by seniors Rizo (1:54.65) and Saling (1:55.52).

GIRLS

ADDISON MARTIN, BALLINGER

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): 800, 2:17.42 (1)

Previous state meet: Martin finished fifth last year (2:23.61).

Notes: This should be a whale of a race. Universal City Randolph sophomore Sophia Bendet qualified No. 2 (2:17.47), while Holliday freshman Kenli Atwood is right on their heels (2:17.68).

Merkel's Avery Holloway, left, and Llano's Gwyn Burnett leap over the final hurdle in the 300-meter hurdles at the Region I-3A meet Saturday, April 29, 2023, at ACU's Elmer Gray Stadium. Holloway nipped Burnett at the wire to win the race. Hollaway ran a 44.68, while Burnett ran 44.73.
Merkel's Avery Holloway, left, and Llano's Gwyn Burnett leap over the final hurdle in the 300-meter hurdles at the Region I-3A meet Saturday, April 29, 2023, at ACU's Elmer Gray Stadium. Holloway nipped Burnett at the wire to win the race. Hollaway ran a 44.68, while Burnett ran 44.73.

AVERY HOLLOWAY, MERKEL

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): 300 hurdles, 44.68 (2)

Previous state meet: First state appearance

Notes: Goliad junior Kyla Hill has the fastest time (44.15), while Llano junior Gywn Burnett finished second behind Holloway at the Region I meet (44.73).

JILLIAN HALFMANN, BALLINGER

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): Pole vault, 11-0 (3)

Previous state meet: Halfmann finished eighth last year (10-6).

Notes: Mount Vernon sophomore Olivia Baird is the top seed (11-9), followed by West senior Laney Kucera (11-6). After that, four others, including Halfmann, cleared 11-0 at region. Kucera won state last year with a 12-6.

CLASS 2A

BOYS

ADAM HILL, ALBANY

Grade: Junior

Regional mark (state seed): 110 hurdles, 14.53 (2); 300 hurdles, 40.31 (4)

Previous state meet: second in the 110 hurdles (14.79) behind Beckville’s J’Koby Williams (14.41). Hill didn’t qualify in the 300 hurdles.

Notes: Hill, who won a state football title in the fall, and Colorado City senior Jordan Raschke (14.70) aren’t too far behind No. 1 seed J’koby Williams, a Beckville junior, who ran 14.44 in the 110 hurdles at region. Raschke finished sixth last year. Williams, who also won the 300 hurdles last year, has the top time in the event (39.54), followed by Centerville senior Brett Wagnon (39.69) and Refugio junior Chai Whitmire (40.24) and Hill.

Cisco's Jaden White lands in the triple jump at the state track and field meet last year in Austin.
Cisco's Jaden White lands in the triple jump at the state track and field meet last year in Austin.

JADEN WHITE, CISCO

Grade: Sophomore

Regional mark (state seed): Triple jump, 46-5½ (1)

Previous state meet: fifth last year (44-6)

Notes: No one else came within a half-foot of White at their respective region meets. Timpson junior Terry Bussey is seeded second (45-10), followed by Windthorst junior Kolby Teakell (45-3¾). White also runs on the Loboes 400 and 800 relays

GIRLS

KIANA ROBERSON, ALBANY

Grade: Junior

Regional mark (state seed): Discus, 129-1 (1); Shot put, 40-6¼ (6).

Previous state meet: third in the shot put last year (38-4¼).

Notes: Roberson threw 5 feet farther than any other Class 2A athlete in the state at region. Joaquin sophomore Riley Mullins is seeded second (125-11), followed by Booker senior Tristan Bartosiewicz (124-0). Roberson also leads the pack in the shot put. Sunray junior Mia Gray (39-2½) is seeded second.

REAGAN BRUNER, CISCO

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): Pole vault, 10-9 (3)

Previous state meet: Seventh in 2021 (10-0), didn’t qualify last year

Notes: Thrall junior Avery Koonce and Hico sophomore Kaylee Hunt have the best throws from region, both throwing 11-0. Two others threw 10-6.

CLASS 1A

BOYS

JORDAN DANIEL, ROTAN

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): 100, 10.80 (1); 200, 22.20 (3)

Previous state meet: Second in the 100 (11.01) an fifth in the 200 (22.74) last year.

Notes: Milford’s Braedyn Woodward (10.98) is close on Daniel’s heels in the 100. Woodward finished fifth last year. The 200 is stacked with No. 1 qualifier Shamadrick Weaver, a Whitharral senior, leading with a 22.15, followed Paducah junior Jakyren Wright (22.19) and Daniel.

GRIFF REEL, JAYTON

Grade: Sophomore

Regional mark (state seed): 400, 50.89 (1); Triple jump, 42-8¾ (4)

Previous state meet: First appearance.

Notes: Reel has the best qualifying time in the 400, followed by Rankin junior Baret Jackson (51.07), the defending state champion, and Knox City junior Devin Guillory (51.21). Two other Big Country athletes – Munday senior Chris Garcia (52.46) and Woodson sophomore Nicholas Romo (53.36) are in the race. Reel also played for the Jaybirds basketball team, which reached the state finals this season.

AIDEN LOPER, MUNDAY

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): Shot put, 48-2½ (2)

Previous state meet: Sixth last year (44-11)

Notes: Cherokee’s Joseph Bond goes into state with the region’s best throw in 2A (56-10). He finished second last year. D’Hanis’ Ian Reyes has the third-best toss (46-5¾). Blackwell senior Kyler Cummings (45-0¼) and Gordon senior Orin Curry (43-4) also qualified.

GIRLS

KINLEY CUMMINGS, BLACKWELL

Grade: Sophomore

Regional mark (state seed): 800, 2:26.43 (2)

Previous state: First state appearance.

Notes: Springlake-Earth junior Taytum Goodman, the defending state champion, has the fastest time (2:15.21), and everybody else appears running for second. Aquilla’s Makayla Bowman (2:26.73), a runner-up last year, has the third-best time. Roby sophomore Lilly Benson (2:27.06) and Priddy’s Sydney Partin also are in the medal hunt. Partin was fourth last year.

DAYLEE CHISUM, JAYTON

Grade: Junior

Regional mark (state seed): 1,600, 5:37.21 (2)

Previous state meet: Fourth last year (5:38.85).

Notes: Springlake-Earth junior Taytum Goodman, the defending state champions, has the fastest time from region (5:04.03) in the 1,600. Jace Chisum, a Jayton freshman, (5:45.50), Priddy’s Partain (5:40.15) and Roby’s Benson (5:46.94) also are in the field. Partin was second last year, and Benson sixth.

Moran sophomore Alli Scott reacts after finishing seventh in the 1A girls' 100 hurdles at the 2021 state meet in Austin. She came back to win the event the next year.
Moran sophomore Alli Scott reacts after finishing seventh in the 1A girls' 100 hurdles at the 2021 state meet in Austin. She came back to win the event the next year.

ALLI SCOTT, MORAN

Grade: Senior

Regional mark (state seed): 100 hurdles, 15.02 (1); 300 hurdles, 48.16 (5); high jump, 5-2 (1)

Previous state meet: 1st in the 100 hurdles (15.73) and second in the 300 hurdles (46.31) last year. She also finished eighth in the high jump (4-10); She was seventh in the 100 hurdles (17.36) in 2021.

Notes: Scott is the defending state champion in the 100 hurdles. She ran a 15.73 to beat Wildorado’s Makenna Byrd (15.88). She was second in the 300 hurdles (46.31) behind Nueces Canyon’s Camdyn Childs (46.08). Scott has a chance to come home with three medals. Bronte junior Emily Jackson has the closest qualifying time to her in the 100 hurdles (15.93). Silverton freshman Maddie Francis has the top time in the 300 hurdles (46.28), while three others ran sub-48s. Scott is tied with two others – Bronte sophomore Emalyn Bohensky and Claude senior Andi Holland – for the best region mark in the high jump. Gordon junior Caitlyn Parsons and Lazbuddie Madison Tyler both cleared 5-1.

State Track Meet

At Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin

Thursday, May 11

Class 4A/3A

Friday, May 12

Class 5A/2A/Wheelchair

Saturday, May 13

Class 6A/1A

Meet begins each day with field events and 3,200 at 9 a.m., followed by the running finals at 5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene, Big Country athletes to watch at state track and field meet