STEPHENVILLE — Creece Brister could have very easily chosen to feel sorry for himself in the aftermath of a devastating knee injury suffered during the football season. 

He instead chose to count his blessings and to get back to work. 

Track season was right around the corner and moping wasn’t going to help the defending Class 4A state shot put champion prepare for the event. So the 6-foot-5, 310-pounder (who also earned state silver in the discus last year) put his nose to the grindstone and began prepping in earnest in November. 

The effort has now paid off with regional titles in both the shot put and discus, giving him two state berths despite being less than 100 percent. He will compete in both events in the 2024 UIL State Track & Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Thursday in Austin.