AUSTIN — The UIL Track & Field State Meet kicked off Thursday with Classes 3A and 4A competing at Mike Meyers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas, and Big Country athletes made their presence felt to start to the three-day affair.
Area competitors didn’t quite match the 14 medals accrued on the opening day of the 2023 state meet, but they still made a solid showing with 10 combined medals.
Headlining the list of medalists were Brock’s Dylan Foster (300-meter hurdles), Stephenville’s Creece Brister (shot put) and Brownwood’s Ike Hall (triple jump), who all left Austin with gold medals.
CLASS 3A
The Brock boys finished in fourth place as a team with 32 points, just four points behind co-champions Yoakum and Hallettsville — and three points ahead of fifth-place Wall.
One of the biggest surprises came in the boys pole vault where Brock’s Cade Bramblett failed to clear any of his three attempts at 14 feet, leaving him as one of two vaulters to post no height a year after he won the silver medal by clearing 14 feet, 6 inches. That same height at regionals had him seeded third coming into the state meet this year.
Fellow Eagle Hunter Fay, who entered the discus as the fifth-place qualifier, had a throw of 160 feet, 11 inches on his second toss, but couldn’t find more distance and managed a fifth-place finish in the event.
Wall’s Briggs Jones had a good day, following a sixth-place finish in the long jump (21-7) with a silver medal effort in the triple jump on a leap of 46-5¾.
The only other boys medalists from the Big Country Preps coverage area in Class 3A Thursday were Foster, who took silver in the 110 hurdles with a time of 13.89 seconds before winning gold in the 300 hurdles in 37.39 seconds, and the Wall 800-meter relay team of Evan Boehle, Ruben Rivas, Hagyn Barbee and Jones, which took bronze in 1:27.14. Brock’s team of Coty Farmer, Cannon Stephens, Colt Matlock and Brett Tutter finished 0.24 seconds behind the Hawks to take fifth in the relay.
On the girls side of the Class 3A competition, the only medals of the day went to a pair of Coahoma Bulldogettes.
Junior Baylor Wright’s height of 11-6 in the pole vault earned her a silver medal, while sophomore Bree Lewis claimed a silver medal in the shot put with a throw of 40-8¾. Lewis was in position for a gold medal until Whitesboro senior Olivia Hildebrand, who entered as the sixth seed, had a throw of 40-10¼ — which was nearly two feet longer than her qualifying mark.
SILVER MEDALISTS- Congratulations to Baylor Wight. She won silver in the 3A State pole vault competition this morning. She cleared a height of 11-6. PERSONAL RECORD. SCHOOL RECORD. @Terrytom77 @chris_MRTsports @BigCountrySport @cbs7sports @KaylerSmithTV @EliqueJenna pic.twitter.com/sDFny2w8PS
— Coahoma ISD (@CISDBulldogs) May 2, 2024
Let's celebrate another BULLDOGETTE MEDALIST — Bree Lewis won SILVER in the 3A shot put competition. She recorded a 40-8 3/4 best throw today in Austin. @Terrytom77 @chris_MRTsports @BigCountrySport @cbs7sports @EliqueJenna @KaylerSmithTV @ARNareaSports @BrooksJair pic.twitter.com/qRjg9OGAQw
— Coahoma ISD (@CISDBulldogs) May 2, 2024
Wall junior Lexi Slaughter narrowly missed a medal in the 400-meter run, as her time of 57.07 left her just off the podium with a fourth-place finish.
Other athletes to finish in points positions for their team were Brock triple jumper Gracie Stephens (5th, 36-4¼), the Breckenridge 1,600 relay team of Karsyn Smalley, Ruthie Valdez, Lane Bartoskowitz and Haylie Mendoza (5th, 4:00.39) and Clyde discus thrower Kate Watts (6th, 113-1).
CLASS 4A
It was a relatively quiet day for the area in the Class 4A competition as no girls competitors finished in points positions, while Hall was the most successful male competitor with two medals.
Hall went 48-11¾ on his third attempt in the triple jump, an effort that easily stood up against the rest of the competition as El Campo’s Oliver Miles was more than nine inches behind Hall. The long jump was a different story for the Brownwood senior, who took an early lead with a first jump of 22-9 — which had him tied with Stafford junior Bradley Lowman heading into the final jump — but Lowman held the tiebreaker based on best second jump.
They were both bested by Frisco Panther Creek sophomore Jalen Lott who went a quarter-inch farther than them. Lowman then had another jump of 22-9 to earn the silver while Hall’s tiebreaking jump wound up being 22-3¼ on his final attempt.
Congratulations to Ike Hall who won gold and is the State champ in the Triple Jump! Hall also earned bronze in Long Jump! #BwdPride pic.twitter.com/jfeAA6vgOt
— Brownwood Athletics (@bwdathletics) May 2, 2024
Brister had a more drama-filled day, going into the final round of the shot put, trailing Kilgore’s Braydon Nelson by nearly six inches. But the TCU-bound offensive lineman, who had briefly held the lead earlier in the event, unleashed a throw of 57-3¾ to finish nearly a foot ahead of Nelson.
Brister also competed in the discus, placing seventh with a heave of 148-6.
TCU OL signee Creece Brister is leading the field in the shot put at #UILState track with a 54-6.00 #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/XT6so3QIKt
— Greg Powers 🏟️ (@GPowersScout) May 2, 2024
Snyder senior Jay Castillo ended his high school career with a bronze medal in the 400 with a time of 48.04. While Lindale’s Colter Maya and Wharton’s Jacorric Allen ran away with the race, Castillo led a group of four runners that finished within 0.7 seconds of each other. Castillo edged Iowa Colony sophomore Ian Hill by two-tenths of a second for the medal.
Hall’s Brownwood teammate Morsello Hooker was the only other 4A athlete to score points for his team, placing sixth in the triple jump with an effort of 44-7½.
CLASS 3A
GIRLS
Team — 1. Universal City Randolph 78; 2. Goliad 72; 3. Holliday 38; 4. Cameron Yoe 36; 5. Gladewater 34; 11. Coahoma 16; 33. Wall 4; 39. Brock 2; 42. Clyde 1.
Discus — 1. Olivia Hildebrand, Whitesboro, 150-1; 2. Taylor Wiseman, Childress, 141-7; 3. Kitzy Welch, Friona, 121-4; 6. Kate Watts, Clyde, 113-1.
Long Jump — 1. Taylor Nunez, Universal City Randolph, 18-6¼; 2. Yierra Flemings, Cameron Yoe, 18-2½; 3. Jayana Phillips, Yoakum, 18-1¼; 9. Gracie Stephens, Brock, 16-8¼.
Pole Vault — 1. Olivia Baird, Mount Vernon, 12-6; 2. Baylor Wright, Coahoma, 11-6; 3. Maggie Rudisaile, Marion, 11-6.
High Jump — 1. Abby Elmore, Gunter, 5-7; 2. Jordan Mitchell, Lorena, 5-4; 3. Jasey Campbell, Emory Rains, 5-4; 7. Preston Morgan, Jim Ned, 5-2; 8. Abby Carr, 5-0.
Shot Put — 1. Olivia Hildebrand, Whitesboro, 40-10¼; 2. Bree Lewis, Coahoma, 40-8¾; 3. Landrie Valenzuela, Jacksboro, 40-7; 8. Jamie Vassar, Early, 37-7.
Triple Jump — 1. Jayana Phillips, Yoakum, 40-4¼; 2. Yierra Flemings, Cameron Yoe, 39-9¾; 3. Kyla Hill, Goliad, 38-10¼; 5. Gracie Stephens, Brock, 36-4¼; 7. Matilda Galvan, Ballinger, 35-9¾.
400 Meters — 1. Yierra Flemings, Cameron Yoe, 54.48; 2. Kamree Wolridge, Lexington, 55.44; 3. Makki Hart, Shallowater, 56.30; 4. Lexi Slaughter, Wall, 57.07.
800 Meters — 1. Sophia Bendet, Universal City Randolph, 2:09.99; 2. Kenli Atwood, Holliday, 2:14.51; 3. Braylen Lusby, Spearman, 2:16.33; 8. Abby Carr, Clyde, 2:19.30.
800 Relay — 1. Paris, 1:39.34; 2. Iowa Colony, 1:39.70; 3. Alvarado, 1:40.46; 7. Brownwood, 1:42.79.
1,600 Relay — 1. Universal City Randolph, 3:50.19; 2. Goliad, 3:51.80; 3. Holliday, 3:56.14; 5. Breckenridge, 4:00.39.
BOYS
Team — 1. (tie) Yoakum 36, Hallettsville 36; 3. Holliday 35; 4. Brock 32; 5. Wall 29; 44. (tie) Jim Ned 2, Early 2.
Pole Vault — 1. Trevor Upton, Maypearl, 15-3; 2. Dakota Zuber, Lubbock Roosevelt, 15-0; 3. Kyler Priest, White Oak, 14-0; Cade Bramblett, Brock, NH.
Long Jump — 1. Mason Biehle, Lexington, 22-6¾; 2. Preston Neumeier, Canadian, 22-5¾; 3. Devyn Hidrogo, Franklin, 22-3¾; 6. Briggs Jones, Wall, 21-7; 8. Dylan Foster, Brock, 21-6¼.
Discus — 1. Caden Reagan, Goliad, 174-11; 2. Klein Essler, Henrietta, 173-1; 3. Reggie Johnson, Blanco, 169-4; 5. Hunter Fay, Brock, 160-11.
High Jump — 1. Kameron Plyler, Vernon, 6-6; 2. Joshua Cornelius, SA Great Hearts Northern Oaks, 6-5; 3. Devyn Hidrogo, Franklin, 6-5; 5. Camden Myers, Early, 6-2.
Triple Jump — 1. Dorian Aranda, Dilley, 46-9¾; 2. Briggs Jones, Wall, 46-5¼; 3. Ralph Miller, Scurry-Rosser, 45-8¾; 8. Carter Wood, Jim Ned, 43-8¾.
Shot Put — 1. Easton Hatleberg, Grandview, 59-7¼; 2. Aiden Reed, Poth, 58-5¼; 3. Caden Reagan, Goliad, 57-7½; 7. Hunter Fay, Brock, 53-2¾.
110 Hurdles — 1. Hunter Vaughn, Pattonville Prairiland, 13.83; 2. Dylan Foster, Brock, 13.89; 3. Cash Goodman, Blue Ridge, 13.99.
200 Meters — 1. Jeremiah Durham, Wichita Falls City View, 21.55; 2. Dorian Aranda, Dilley, 21.67; 3. Christian Lee, Coldspring-Oakhurst, 21.68; 8. Sawyer Wimberley, Breckenridge, 55.25.
300 Hurdles — 1. Dylan Foster, Brock, 37.39; 2. Aiden Martinez, SA Great Hearts Monte Vista, 37.69; 3. Hunter Vaughn, Pattonville Prairiland, 37.96; 9. Braye Cantrell, Breckenridge, 39.56.
400 Relay — 1. Yoakum, 41.81; 2. Hallettsville, 41.87; 3. Troup, 41.95; 4. Brock, 42.06.
800 Relay — 1. Hallettsville, 1:26.93; 2. Yoakum, 1:27.03; 3. Wall 1:27.14; 5. Brock, 1:27.38.
1,600 Meters — 1. Noah Strohman, Holliday, 4:16.68; 2. Christopher Kopecky, East Bernard, 4:16.91; 3. Benjamin Castro, McGregor, 4:18.79; 9. Samuel Bryan, Jim Ned, 4:26.89.
1,600 Relay — 1. Muleshoe, 3:18.39; 2. Universal City Randolph, 3:19.23; 3. Gunter, 3:19.41; 4. Wall, 3:19.81.
3,200 — 1. Noah Strohman, Holliday, 9:22.42; 2. Christopher Kopecky, East Bernard, 9:23.85; 3. Carlos Jose Cortez, Troy, 9:29.19; 5. Samuel Bryan, Jim Ned, 9:43.27.
CLASS 4A
GIRLS
Team — 1. Iowa Colony 58; 2. Paris 56; 3. Frisco Panther Creek 50; 4. Canyon 48; 5. Huffman Hargrave 30.
Shot Put — 1. Valerie Hunt, Monahans, 46-0¼; 2. Kaylon Metcalf, 41-8½; 3. Mya Jones, Andrews, 39-11; 8. Toreyna Saddler, Sweetwater, 31-1½.
High Jump — 1. Kendall Lemm, Boerne, 5-8; 2. Falyn Lott, Frisco Panther Creek, 5-6; 3. (tie) Jasmine Pullins, Waxahachie Life, 5-4; Chiora R. Enyinna-Okeigbo, Sunnyvale, 5-4; 9. Aubrey Vanden Berge, Stephenville, 5-0.
100 Meters — 1. Madison Holmes, El Campo, 11.74; 2. Carde Moore, Houston North Forest, 11.74; 3. Baleigh Cashion, Paris, 11.93; 9. Marin Copeland, Stephenville, 12.42.]
200 Meters — 1. Jasmine Franklin, Paris, 24.18; 2. Ashtyn Lewis, Iowa Colony, 24.32; 3. Madison Holmes, El Campo, 24.44; 8. Kaya Phillips, Brownwood, 25.26.
BOYS
Team — 1. (tie) Gilmer, Iowa Colony 66; 3. Aubrey 52; 4. Canyon 32; 5. Lindale 22; 10. Brownwood 17; 18. Stephenville 10; 27. Snyder 6.
Shot Put — 1. Creece Brister, Stephenville, 57-3¾; 2. Braydon Nelson, Kilgore, 56-4½; 3. Nathan Edlin, Ingleside, 55-6¾.
Long Jump — 1. Jalen Lott, Frisco Panther Creek, 22-9¼; 2. Bradley Lowman, Stafford, 22-9; 3. Ike Hall, Brownwood, 22-9.
Pole Vault — 1. Jackson Bragg, Salado, 16-4¾; 2. Brady Rygaard, Burnet, 15-0; 3. Preston Pilgrim, Pleasonton, 15-0; 7. Briar Floyd, Stephenville, 13-6.
Triple Jump — 1. Ike Hall, Brownwood, 48-11¾; 2. Oliver Miles, El Campo, 48-2½; 3. Joseph Rolland, Wills Point, 46-7½; 6. Morsello Hooker, Brownwood, 44-7½.
Discus — 1. Braydon Nelson, Kilgore, 188-1; 2. Lucas Cano, Gilmer, 182-5; 3. McCager Smith, Athens, 180-3; 7. Creece Brister, Stephenville, 148-6.
200 Meters — 1. Tyler Brown, Aubrey, 20.72; 2. Austen Diggs, La Grange, 20.77; 3. Jayden Warren, Iowa Colony, 21.07; 9. Jose Quintero, Sweetwater, 22.48.
400 Meters — 1. Colter Maya, Lindale, 46.58; 2. Jacorric Allen, Wharton, 47.09; 3. Jay Castillo, Snyder, 48.04.