Here are the boys area track bests through March 26 (top 15 in each event):
Category: Track & field
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde hurler takes this week’s award
Clyde softball has been overdue for landing a Big Country Preps Player of the Week award and senior pitcher Kaycee Bingham has just ended the drought.
The Lady Bulldogs have been posting big numbers on a weekly basis, falling just short of the top spot. But Bingham has landed the spotlight with a 26-0 mercy rule perfect game win over San Angelo Grape Creek last week. She followed that with a three-hit 11-0 shutout of Merkel.
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde hurler takes this week’s award”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gordon’s Stryker Reed earns this week’s accolade
At the Class 1A level, where it is common for athletes to participate in multiple sports at the same time due to a lack of numbers, individuals who excel in different disciplines are invaluable.
At Gordon, junior multi-sport star Stryker Reed falls into this category, and our Big Country Preps Player of the Week is now demonstrating it on the heels of an amazing effort.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Hailie Cauthen earns this week’s spotlight
Fresh off a successful basketball season, Eula’s Hailie Cauthen has transitioned to softball as though she were in mid-season form.
In fact, the senior shortstop was good enough through five games last week to take our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the Week ending March 8.
SIGNING DAY 2025: Top area athletes sign on the dotted line
National Signing Day is typically a busy one in the Big Country Preps’ coverage area and 2025 was no exception with several players inking and/or confirming their commitments to play at the next level.
At various signing ceremonies held throughout the area, athletes celebrated their final choices to pursue a degree while competing collegiately.
FALL SIGNING DAY: Area athletes put pen to paper, make college decisions official
The fall national signing period opened Wednesday, and a number of athletes throughout the Big Country Preps coverage area either made their college decisions official at signing day ceremonies or have announced plans to do so in the near future.
Here’s a list of those area seniors and where they’ll be competing next season:
2024 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS DREAM MEET: Boys field
While the UIL state track meet provides a fun and exciting end to the high school track season every year, giving the best athletes in each part of the state an opportunity to compete against the other top athletes in their classification, we here at Big Country Preps have an additional way to honor the top athletes in our area.
After introducing the inaugural All-Big Country Preps Dream Track Meet in 2021, we continue that tradition this year.
As with our All-Big Country Preps teams for other sports, our Dream Meet is our way of honoring some of best athletes the Big Country Preps coverage area had to offer this past school year. Our method, however, is a bit different.
Rather than being presented as a team, we’re treating this like a track meet with an area-wide field in each event. There are no distinctions made for classification, just a collection of the top performers from across the BCP coverage area.
So without further ado, we present our All-Big Country Preps Dream Meet boys field. We hope you enjoy reading through our selections.
2024 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS DREAM MEET: Girls field
While the UIL state track meet provides a fun and exciting end to the high school track season every year, giving the best athletes in each part of the state an opportunity to compete against the other top athletes in their classification, we here at Big Country Preps have an additional way to honor the top athletes in our area.
After introducing the inaugural All-Big Country Preps Dream Track Meet in 2021, we continue that tradition this year.
As with our All-Big Country Preps teams for other sports, our Dream Meet is our way of honoring some of best athletes the Big Country Preps coverage area had to offer this past school year. Our method, however, is a bit different.
Rather than being presented as a team, we’re treating this like a track meet with an area-wide field in each event. There are no distinctions made for classification, just a collection of the top performers from across the BCP coverage area.
So without further ado, we present our All-Big Country Preps Dream Meet girls field. We hope you enjoy reading through our selections.
SIGNING DAY: Fourteen Cooper athletes, Wylie’s Salada make college decisions official
It was a special afternoon on Wednesday inside the Cooper and Wylie gyms as 15 local athletes from a variety of sports made their college decisions official in a pair of signing ceremonies.
Cooper had nearly all of the signees as 14 seniors signed for their future with their families, friends, coaches and community members filling the bleachers of Cougar Gymnasium.
At Wylie, meanwhile, Garrett Salada was the lone signee, taking a brief break from his prep for this week’s Region I-5A quarterfinal series against crosstown rival Abilene High to solidify his pledge to Luna Community College in Las Vegas, N.M.
SIGNING DAY: Four Abilene High girls make college decisions official
Four Abilene High athletes from three girls programs celebrated with family and friends Wednesday as they made their college decisions official during a signing day ceremony at Eagle Gym.
Volleyball players Yasmine DeLaGarza (Vernon College) and Amelia Carr (Arlington Baptist), track athlete Adriahna Peeples (Hardin-Simmons) and soccer player Laila Brown (McMurry) all announced where they’d be continuing their academic and athletic careers, adding to a successful athletic year for AHS girls programs that will continue this weekend when the Lady Eagles softball team meets Wylie in the Region I-5A quarterfinals.
Wednesday’s four signees bring the list of Abilene High seniors who will compete collegiately to 16 for the school year after nine signed on Feb. 7 and three more did so on April 30.
Continue reading “SIGNING DAY: Four Abilene High girls make college decisions official”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gordon’s Reed claims final award of 2023-24 school year
The end of the state track meet traditionally marks the end of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week awards for each school year.
So who gets this year’s final accolade?
How about Gordon’s Stryker Reed, who helped the Longhorns claim a 1A boys state title with a remarkable performance at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin last week.
To begin with, the son of Gordon Athletic Director-football coach Mike Reed won the 1A state title in the 110 hurdles at 14.60. He also took the top spot in the 300 hurdles at 38.60 for two individual golds.
STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Roby girls, Gordon boys claim state titles as area competitors dominate the medal podium
AUSTIN — Taking two medals in the first event of the day set the stage for Big Country Preps athletes to shine on the final day of the UIL Track & Field State Meet on Saturday at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Area competitors claimed 16 medals in the field events (3 gold, 8 silver, 5 bronze) on their way to 38 on the day. Big Country girls athletes accounted for 23 medals, almost singlehandedly eclipsing the area’s total of 25 medals from the 2023 state meet.
The Roby girls were able to defend their 2023 team title as they finished with 60 points, while Throckmorton (44 points) and Gordon (42 points) finished in second and third place as a team. The Gordon boys completed the banner day by winning the team title with 83 points, while Jayton finished in third place as a team with 34 points.
STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Hico’s Hunt, Goldthwaite’s Jernigan headline 18-medal day for area athletes
AUSTIN — After area Class 3A and 4A competitors opened the UIL Track & Field State Meet with a combined 10 medals on Thursday, Big Country Preps athletes took partial ownership of the medal stand at Mike A. Meyers Stadium at the University of Texas on Friday in the Class 2A and 5A portions of the event.
Area athletes combined to claim 18 medals on the day, with Hico junior Kaylee Hunt joining Goldthwaite seniors Lainey Jernigan and Hope Hermesmeyer in a dominating performance.
The trio combined for six medals on the day as Goldthwaite, Stamford and Hico all posted top-five finishes in the 2A girls team competition.
STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Stephenville’s Brister, Brownwood’s Hall and Brock’s Foster claim gold medals at 3A/4A meet
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. Continue reading “STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Stephenville’s Brister, Brownwood’s Hall and Brock’s Foster claim gold medals at 3A/4A meet”
Big Country Track & Field State Qualifiers List (w/ seed ranking, time/mark)
Here is a complete list of the state track and field qualifiers from the Big Country Preps coverage area with seed ranking and time/mark:
Continue reading “Big Country Track & Field State Qualifiers List (w/ seed ranking, time/mark)”
FEATURE: Stephenville’s Brister overcomes knee injury to land two state berths
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.
FEATURE: Gordon’s track teams ready to finish off special year
It’s been a special year for Gordon’s athletics program.
The Longhorns captured their first state football title in more than two decades. The boys basketball team advanced to state, while both track programs won regional titles. Baseball has a chance to make a run, too.
This Saturday potentially could be the cherry on top as the Longhorns will enter as the favorite at the Class 1A Meet, while the Lady Longhorns should also be in the mix thanks to their relays.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cisco hurler takes the top spot after remarkable turnaround
Coming off a subpar performance in Game 1 of last week’s 2A bi-district series with Hawley, Cisco pitcher Hannah Rogers did something few expected: a complete about-face.
Rogers, who had been beaten up in an 11-4 loss on Friday afternoon that saw her allow 14 hits, quickly regained her form for Game 2 that evening. Limiting Hawley to seven hits, she led Cisco to a series-tying 5-2 win.
FEATURE: Reel’s non-stop work paying off for Jayton junior
Photos contributed by Bobby Brown
Griff Reel didn’t want a break.
A couple days after helping Jayton win its first state basketball title, Reel turned his attention to track.
Motivated by a second-place state finish in the 400 last year, Reel was looking to carry his junior season success over to the next sport.
FEATURE: Bronte’s Jackson ready for busy state weekend
Photos contributed by Amy Bohensky/Bronte Yearbook
Emily Jackson knows a thing or two about state track.
The Bronte senior’s trip to Austin for Saturday’s Class 1A Meet will be her fourth and final appearance.
In every year, she’s increased her state event total. After participating in both hurdles and the long jump as a junior, it’s only fitting Jackson is a five-event qualifier in her last trip.
FINAL Big Country Regular Season Baseball Statistical leaders for 2024 (through April 25)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 25.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
REGION I-3A TRACK MEET: Brock boys claim fourth straight team title; area athletes show well
ABILENE — The Brock boys track team claimed its fourth consecutive region title Monday, headlining a strong showing by area athletes at the rain-altered Region I-3A meet at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium.
Led by Dylan Foster, who claimed gold medals in both hurdle events, earned bronze in the long jump and ran a leg on Brock’s gold medal-winning sprint relay team, the Eagles finished with 99 points, edging runner-up Holliday by 13 points and topping third-place Wall by 44 points.
The Brock boys scored in 10 events and claimed nine medals on their way to the team championship, capping a meet that saw athletes from the Big Country Preps coverage area combined to earn 32 medals and claim 23 automatic berths to the Class 3A state meet May 2 in Austin.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Cauthen takes our weekly award through three sports
There is very little that Eula’s Halie Cauthen isn’t good at athletically. Already an Honorable Mention All-Big Country Preps basketball player, the EHS junior showed her full range of versatility last week with three big performances in three different sports.
To begin with, Cauthen opened the week by qualifying for the 1A state golf tournament as an individual at the regional tournament, closing with rounds of 103 and 105.
Then, after playing 54 holes of golf in three days, Cauthen rushed back to compete for the district championship in softball against Cross Plains.
With a game time of 7:30 p.m., she arrived from the golf tournament at 7:25 and went 4 for 4 with three triples, three RBIs and four runs scored to help Eula clinch the district title in a 10-1 victory.
But Cauthen wasn’t finished quite yet.
CLASS 2A/1A REGIONAL TRACK RECAP: Big Country sending multiple athletes to Austin
Big Country athletes are no strangers to the state track meet, carrying long tradition of success at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin.
The area’s small schools have been particularly successful and 2024 will again offer an abundance of Big Country talent shooting for the medal stand in Austin, courtesy of several regional wins over the weekend.
REGION I-4A TRACK RECAP: Stephenville boys win team title to headline successful meet for area
LUBBOCK — Big Country athletes made a strong showing at the Region I-4A track meet Friday and Saturday at Lowrey Field, combining to earn 19 medals and 12 automatic bids to the state meet May 2 in Austin.
Between the boys and girls competitions, area entries accounted for eight gold medals, four silvers and seven bronzes, while the Stephenville boys did enough to edge Canyon by two points for the team title.
The Yellow Jackets finished with 59 points, headlined by double gold medalist Creece Brister, who won both throwing events. Brownwood, meanwhile, had the highest girls finish, taking third with 48 points, led by gold medals from Kaya Phillips in the 200 and its 800-meter relay team.
REGION I-5A TRACK RECAP: Cooper long jumper Hatcher, AHS boys sprint relay earn trip to state meet
LUBBOCK — Cooper girls long jumper Jazlyn Hatcher and the Abilene High boys sprint relay team of Bryson Perez, Jaden Jackson, Brayden Henry and Ryland Bradford both earned trips to the state track meet May 3 in Austin with strong performances at the Region I-5A meet on Friday at Saturday at Lowrey Field.
Hatcher won gold in the long jump, leaping 19 feet, 3¼ inches to edge Justin Northwest’s Levariya Pinder (19-0), while AHS’ 400-meter relay ran a silver medal time of 42.17 seconds to finish behind only Mansfield Timberview (41.94).
Those efforts headlined a solid showing by Abilene’s three largest public schools, which combined to earn points in 11 events.
PHOTO GALLERY: Region I-3A track meet Day 1 (54 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Region I-3A track meet Day 1 (54 images)”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde senior tosses no-no, takes the award
With plenty of competition for the top spot, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week goes to Clyde senior pitcher Trip Ancheta.
When in doubt, a dominating no-hitter is usually a solid choice.
Ancheta did exactly that in a 14-0 mercy rule win over Grape Creek that saw him work all five innings with 11 strikeouts — narrowly missing a perfect game by one walk.
FEATURE: Albany’s Roberson has big plans after close calls
Photos by Amanda Tabor
ALBANY — Kiana Roberson knows she can be a state champion this year.
After all, the Albany senior was close to accomplishing that feat twice last spring. Roberson was nine inches shy of gold in the Class 2A discus and a mere 2.5 inches shy in the shot put.
“When I got second last year at state, I was happy because it was better than the previous year,” Roberson said. “But with that being said, it just shows me it’s possible to win it all, and that’s my plan this year.”
FEATURE: Stamford’s Brady, relays hitting their stride
As soon as Stamford’s football season came to an end, Jared Brady wanted to know when track season started.
The senior Bulldog loves track more than any sport. He’s a returning state qualifier who runs the 100 and both sprint relays. And he’s looking forward to ending his high school track career with another trip to Austin.
“This year I’ve put in blood, sweat and tears to making it this far, and I’m not done yet,” Brady said. “Medaling in Austin would mean that I’ve proven to everyone that I am a winner and that I can push beyond my limits.”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones takes five district titles and our Player of the Week
While we normally try to share the love in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column, five district titles in one week isn’t easy to sidestep.
And while Wall’s Briggs Jones has already pulled down our award once this year, he earned a second with his showing at the District 6-3A meet in Clyde last week by sweeping the long jump (23-2), the triple jump (44-10.75), the 200 meters (21.92), the 100 meters (10.72) and assisting the 800 relay team to gold with a 1:29.68 split.
FEATURE: Tutter, Brock seniors hitting their stride
Brett Tutter is conflicted when it comes to these last few weeks of track season.
The Brock senior is excited about the possibility of getting back to state for the third time.
But he readily admits to being bummed that his days competing as an Eagle with his buddies are almost over.
Tutter and the Eagles are coming off a strong showing at last week’s District 8-3A Meet in Dublin. Not only did Tutter win the 100 with a season-best time of 10.71 seconds, but he also anchored both sprint relays to gold.
DISTRICT 4-5A TRACK MEET: AHS boys narrowly miss team title as local athletes combine to claim 48 medals
Entering the mile relay just two points down to Lubbock Cooper in the team race, the Abilene High boys track team gave itself a chance to claim team gold at the District 4-5A meet Thursday at the Shotwell Annex.
But after taking three of the top four spots in the 1,600 meters to put themselves in that position, the Eagles finished second to the Pirates in the final race of the evening to close the two-day meet with 172 points — six short of a district championship.
That 1-2 finish between LCHS and Abilene High mirrored the finish in the girls team race, which saw the Lady Pirates earn 141 points to top the second-place Lady Eagles by 29 points and the third-place Cooper Lady Cougars by 37.
The team medals, which also included a bronze for the Wylie boys (73 points) capped a successful district meet for Abilene’s three largest high schools, which combined to earn 48 medals (24 girls, 24 boys) and claim 68 spots at the Districts 3/4-5A area meet next week at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.
PHOTO GALLERY: District 4-5A Track Meet Day 1 (150 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: District 4-5A Track Meet Day 1 (150 images)”
FEATURE: Goldthwaite’s Jernigan ready to defend state hurdles titles
Photos provided by April Wetzig
GOLDTHWAITE — Lainey Jernigan is excited to begin the next chapter of her life as a member of Angelo State’s track team.
But before Jernigan moves on, the Goldthwaite senior still has her sights set on defending her two Class 2A state titles in the hurdles.
“Going out as a double state champion would mean the world to me,” Jernigan said. “It would represent all of my years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice in this sport. It would also mean so much to my teammates, coaches, family and supporters who have been with me every step of the way.”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hermleigh senior takes this week’s accolade
Sometimes the mercy rule and cheat a player a bit, limiting their number of plate appearances or the number of innings they can pitch.
But in District 15-1A, there is an added mercy rule, beyond the standard 10-run lead after five innings. There, a 15-run lead after three frames is enough to end a game early, which left our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Hermleigh’s Summer Smith) short of what may have been a staggering set of numbers.
FEATURE: May’s Amanda Harrell begins her battle for state meet return
Amanda Harrell’s senior season of track has only just begun.
But the May senior fully expects it to last until May 4. That’s the date of the Class 1A UIL state meet in Austin.
Harrell left state last year with a second-place finish in the discus, but she’s hoping for a gold this time around in what would be her third trip to state.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall junior has huge day in San Angelo to capture our award
Wall junior Briggs Jones may be on the verge of a major breakout season in area track and field.
Our Big Country Player of the Week not only won five medals at the coveted Angelo State Spring Break meet, but he broke two solo school records and helped break a third. It seldom gets much better than that.
Aside from setting school marks in the long jump at 23-9.5 (for gold) and the triple jump at 45-2 (for gold), Jones was part of the 800 relay team’s silver medal performance of 1:28.49 — another Wall school mark.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jayton’s Gentry takes this week’s award
Big moments attract big-time players and our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, certainly made the most of his opportunity over the weekend.
After scoring nine points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing four assists in a state semifinal win over Fayetteville last Thursday, Jayton sophomore Colt Gentry, saved his best for last in a 60-53 win over Benjamin in the 1A boys state title game on Saturday.
Gentry charted a team-high 19 points to go with six boards, four assists, a steal and a block to help the Jaybirds to the state title and earn state tourney MVP honors in the process.
It was his second straight week of huge performances under pressure, the first of which helped the Jaybirds win the regional tournament.
BIG COUNTRY BOYS TRACK FORECAST: Who are the top boys athletes to watch in 2024?
The Big Country loves its track and field and with dozens of team and individual state championships to its credit, the area has proven itself to be a hotbed.
Soon, we’ll begin the season-long process of seeing who will represent their schools and the entire Big Country area at the state meet in Austin.
For now, let’s have a peek at the top boys talent we have coming back.
Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of this year’s top returnees, along with their personal best times and distances from last year.
Enjoy. We’ll see you at the track.
BIG COUNTRY GIRLS TRACK FORECAST: Who are the top girls athletes to watch in 2024?
The Big Country loves its track and field and with dozens of team and individual state championships to its credit, the area has proven itself to be a hotbed.
Soon, we’ll begin the season-long process of seeing who will represent their schools and the entire Big Country area at the state meet in Austin.
For now, let’s have a look at the top girls talent we have coming back.
Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of this year’s top returnees, along with their personal best times and distances from last year.
Enjoy. We’ll see you at the track.
SIGNING DAY 2024: Multiple area athletes have now inked their commitments
With National Signing Day taking place on Wednesday, the Big Country, as always, saw a large number of athletes finalize their commitments to compete at the next level.
Headliners among this year’s signees include Albany running back Adam HIll and Hawley receiver Chandlin Myers, both of whom signed early with Texas Tech University.
Stephenville offensive lineman Creece Brister (TCU) and Comanche defensive back Kyler Beaty (Baylor) also inked their letters early. They’re joined Brock offensive/defensive lineman Hunter Fay (Navy) and standout hurdler Dylan Foster (Army) as the top signees in the Big Country Preps coverage area.