District 5-2A track meet: Day 1 results, takeaways from field events in Post
POST — The first District 5-2A titles were settled Wednesday, with field events and the 3,200 meters completed at Post Middle School.
After the opening day, the New Home girls hold a 74-62 edge over second-place Tahoka in the team standings. Ropes leads the boys division with 53 points, followed by Post with 44.
The running finals are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, back in Post.
Post's Mason Wright wins double gold while dealing with injury
Mason Wright walked away with two gold medals, but the results still didn't meet his standard.
When one has reached the heights (and distances) the Post thrower has, it's understandable. As a freshman, Wright qualified for the state meet in shot put and placed fourth in the region in discus, behind three of the top five finishers at state.
Then again, Wright did everything Wednesday following a recent injury.
Wright hurt himself in a "freak accident" while squatting the day before the March 7 regional powerlifting meet. The result was a bulging disc in his back, something doctors told him may never heal. That leaves nothing more to do than keep competing, Wright figured.
"(My back) probably won't get better," Wright said, "but I'll learn how to adapt with it better and throw with it better."
Wright ran away with both district titles, throwing 47 feet, 5 inches in shot put and 141-9 in discus. The next closest competitors were 6-9½ and 14-7 behind, respectively.
The sophomore said he's learning techniques to ease the burden on his back. His personal standards remain high, as do his goals. Wright hopes to make up for a sixth-place finish at state. He entered with the second-best qualifying throw but said nerves got the best of him. Now he's out to redeem himself — and add a state event.
"It prepared me to work to go back," Wright said of his 2023 experience, "except in both events this year."
New Home's Kristen McWhirter building confidence in long jump
Kristen McWhirter was a regular 16-foot long-jumper last season, but she lacked consistency. That hasn't been a problem her senior year, and she's hoping the upward trend continues.
New Home's McWhirter won the long jump with a leap of 17-6¼, just shy of her personal record. She marked a 17-7½ two weeks ago at Abernathy's A-Town Relays.
Those are the type of distances that could push McWhirter to state. It's a possibility she hasn't contemplated much. Right now she wants to keep improving. Wednesday was the first meet this season she didn't surpass her previous best.
The stretch has McWhirter's confidence through the roof, which she said is making the difference.
"The past three years I've just been struggling with getting on the board and not feeling confident," McWhirter said. "I think that's what has made this year be so much better."
McWhirter reached state with the 800-meter relay last season, and the Leopards will start their bid for a return Friday. McWhirter is part of all three relays, which have provided a boost for the New Home girls in the past. The Leopards won two relays on the way to the team title at last year's district meet.
McWhirter said camaraderie is a big reason for New Home's success in that department.
"By being with each other and knowing each other and just lifting each other up," she said, "that's the most important thing that can happen."
District 5-2A track and field meet
Wednesday at Post
Note: Top four finishers advance to the Districts 5/6-2A area meet Wednesday at Sundown.
BOYS
3,200 meters: 1. Sawyer Hamilton, Plains, 10 minutes, 54.97 seconds; 2. Christian Sanchez, Plains, 10:57.34; 3. Xavier Felan, Plains, 11:18.42; 4. Adrian Rodriguez, Seagraves, 11:37.73; 5. Daniel Mauldin, Sundown, 12:10.35; 6. Yandel Meza, Seagraves, 12:45.99.
Long jump: 1. Jhoan Menjivar, Plains, 20 feet, 4½ inches; 2. Colt Keys, New Home, 20-1; 3. Keyandre Jefferson, 19-11¼; 4. Coen Nevarez, Sundown, 19-9½; 5. LeRon Hamilton, Seagraves, 19-7; 6. Briar Miller, Sundown, 19-4¼.
Shot put: 1. Mason Wright, Post, 47-5; 2. Zack Sellers, 40-7½; 3. Broxton Varnell, Ropes, 40-5; 4. Victor Saenz, Ropes, 40-0¼; 5. Fernando Castillo, Plains, 38-4; 6. Brycyn Mann, Tahoka, 38-3.
Discus: 1. Mason Wright, Post, 141-9; 2. Kaden Riker, Ropes, 127-2; 3. Jaxon Rodriguez, Sundown, 125-8; 4. Oscar Rendon, Tahoka, 114-9; 5. Victor Saenz, Ropes, 108-9; 6. Haden Brumley, New Home, 108-1.
High jump: 1. Jake Fogerson, New Home, 6-4; 2. Landon Nale, Ropes, 6-2; 3. Briar Miller, Sundown, 5-8; 4. Garrett Morgan, Ropes, 5-8; 5. Bryson Nale, Ropes, 5-8; 6. Brandon Cantu, Plains, 5-6.
Pole vault: 1. Jonathan Adams, Ropes, 13-0; 2. Mike Williams, Ropes, 10-0; 3. Maxx Cole, Post, 10-0; 4. Nathan McAdams, Sundown, 9-0.
Triple jump: 1. Jair Johnson, New Home, 42-2¼; 2. LeRon Hamilton, Seagraves, 41-11; 3. Keyandre Jefferson, Post, 41-8½; 4. Ian Vergara, Post, 41-2; 5. Elijah Soto, Post, 38.2½; 6. Gabe Sanchez, Ropes, 38-1.
GIRLS
3,200: 1. Lillian Morrissey, Tahoka, 12:59.45; 2. Kaytlin Clausen, Sundown, 13:38.17; 3. Iris Martinez, Plains, 14:16.18; 4. Kendal Franco, New Home, 14:20.88; 5. Anaya De La Cruz, Tahoka, 14:48.12; 6. Micaela Sullivan, Tahoka, 15:25.39.
Pole vault: 1. Chloe Clay, New Home, 10-6; 2. Ryleigh Matus, Post, 8-6; 3. Mikah Woodley, Ropes, 8-0; 4. Calgary Due, Tahoka, 7-0; 5. Kylee Egerton, Ropes, 6-6; 6. Kassady Rodgers, Sundown, 6-0.
Triple jump: 1. Kyler Noble, New Home, 37-3¾; 2. MaKenna Johnson, New Home, 35-7½; 3. Zoe Clay, New Home, 34-0¼; 4. Ariel Hernandez, Sundown, 32-3½; 5. Jade Guetersloh, Plains, 30-5; 6. Claire Reglin, Tahoka, 30-3¾.
Long jump: 1. Kristen McWhirter, New Home, 17-6¼; 2. Grace Reglin, Tahoka, 16-9; 3. Kyler Noble, New Home, 16-6½; 4. Lexy Mijares, Seagraves, 16-4¾; 5. Zoe Clay, New Home, 16-1½; 6. Camry Jourden, Sundown, 15-8½.
Shot put: 1. Sydney Snell, New Home, 32-5¼; 2. Malaya Garcia, Tahoka, 32-1; 3. Madelynn DeLeon, Tahoka, 31-2½; 4. Paola Gallegos, Plains, 31-1¾; 5. Madison Reyna, Ropes, 30-9¾; 6. Lacy Bloskas, Ropes, 30-6¼.
Discus: 1. Rylee McDaniel, Ropes, 93-6; 2. Lacy Bloskas, Ropes, 91-0; 3. Justyce Brown, Plains, 88-6; 4. Katie Scoggin, Tahoka, 75-10; 5. McKenzie Baker, New Home, 74-8; 6. Addison Bridges, Sundown, 74-2.
High jump: 1. Grace Reglin, Tahoka, 4-10; 2. Brooklyn Harris, Tahoka, 4-8; 3. Breana Stumbo, Ropes, 4-8; 4. Addyson Burns, New Home, 4-8; 5. Mylee Baum, 4-8; 6. Ciena Jackson, Sundown, 4-6.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: District 5-2A track meet 2024 results, takeaways from Post
