Category: Track & field

by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: Minus their senior seasons, three Lady Lions will press on with their track careers

The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

The Brownwood girls track team didn’t shy away from lofty expectations this year. 

Aleyia Cotton, Trinity Jackson and Alyssa Couey competed at the sport’s grandest stage in 2019 and expected to qualify for state again.

While they didn’t get to finish their senior seasons, the trio of Lady Lions can take solace in the fact they’ll be competing at the next level together.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: Ballinger senior saw dreams of state evaporate

The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

Photos courtesy of Ballinger ISD

Nearly every high school in America has at least one of them — an athlete with dreams of competing for a district, regional or state title that have come to a grinding halt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ballinger is no different. 

Tucked away in the southwestern corner of the Big Country, some 56 miles south/southwest of Abilene, this quiet community of roughly 3,700 had high hopes for a productive athletic spring. 

Senior track standout Elyssa Korn-Flores was one of the top reasons why. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: New Dublin facilities and spring momentum will have to wait

The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

Bob Cervetto is patiently awaiting a return to normalcy.

Dublin’s athletic director and head football coach misses the hectic spring sports season. He misses watching his athletes competing and working out daily.  

“It scares me to death because you never know where your kids are going to be,” Cervetto said. “I’m just like every other coach in the state — I hope they are doing something.”

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Mike Lee, Special to Big Country Preps

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: Trips to state in multiple sports stopped suddenly for HHS Gonzales

The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

Makia “Kiki” Gonzales claims she knew nothing about the shot put when she began throwing it in the seventh grade.

“I knew nothing except the slide, you know where you move sideways across the ring to throw it,” the Hermleigh senior said. “My coaches tried to get me to try another release like the spin, but I was comfortable with the slide. So we worked on getting lower in the ring so I could use all my strength from my arms and legs when I threw.”

Gonzales blossomed into a 5-foot-11 athlete with plenty of quickness, strength and power — all key ingredients for the shot put. She qualified for the UIL Class 1A State Track and Field Meet in the shot put as a freshman, sophomore and junior — finishing eighth, fourth and fourth, respectively. She threw her best of 39 feet, 7 inches at the 2019 regional meet.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

EVAN REN: Virus may teach us some appreciation (for a while)

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
— Voltaire 

There’s a barbeque place near my home that I don’t like. In fact, I seldom go there — deliberately bypassing it whenever the BBQ craving hits me in favor of better choices. 

But Friday, after two months of COVID-19 exile, I decided to make a quick run to bring home some brisket for the wife and I and elected to go to the very place I try to avoid because it was convenient. 

Funny how one’s perspective can change while in isolation.

Abilene’s worst barbeque was suddenly good. In fact, it was beyond good. It was like freakin’ nirvana. 

I suspect that’s the way it’s going to be with virtually everything I had taken for granted before the lockdown. And I’m already experiencing some of it.

Continue reading “EVAN REN: Virus may teach us some appreciation (for a while)” →

by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Trio of Wylie athletes make college decisions official

Wylie seniors Cason Hanna (football) and Austin Green (track) will be continuing their athletic careers in town at Hardin-Simmons while Dayton Barnes will be traveling a little farther after signing to play football at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

The trio made those college decisions official Friday during a signing day ceremony in the Wylie High School cafeteria.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

BREAKING: UIL announces new districts for 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years (five videos attached)

The University Interscholastic League announced the new athletic districts for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years Monday morning during its biennial reclassification and realignment.

Here are all the football and basketball districts including schools in the Big Country Preps coverage area. 

Continue reading “BREAKING: UIL announces new districts for 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years (five videos attached)” →

by Evan Ren

BCP BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND SUPER DOZEN: Yeager claims top spot

On the heels of announcing our first-ever Big Country Preps Girls Athlete of the Year, it’s now time to announce our first boys winner.

Again, our Athlete of the Year and subsequent “Super Dozen” represent the Big Country Athletes who contributed the most to their athletic programs — most often over a broad range of disciplines. 

So, at this time, Big Country Preps proudly announces its Boys Athlete of the Year: Kevin Yeager of De Leon. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

BCP GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND SUPER DOZEN: Masonheimer takes top spot

An Athlete of the Year award for the Big Country has been a long time coming, and Big Country Preps is officially ending the wait. 

What better way to end our first school year than by honoring our top all-around athletes. By that, we mean those athletes who competed at a high level over a broad range of disciplines and had the biggest overall impact on their athletic programs (as nominated by area athletic directors). 

So without further ado, we proudly announce our first Big Country Preps Girls Athlete of the Year: Anna Masonheimer of Eula. 

From start to finish, Masonheimer was a key contributor to Eula’s athletic success during the 2018-19 school year, beginning with her helping the EHS cross country team reach the regional meet. 

She was the MVP of Eula’s district champion basketball team, earning all state honors from both the Texas Association of Basketball coaches and the Texas Girls Coaches Association. But she was just getting started at that point. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Tomlinson takes our final award for 2018-19

After a disappointing finish in the high jump Friday morning as the defending champion in that event, Early’s Trinity Tomlinson had one chance at redemption at the state track meet in the 100-meter hurdles. 

She cashed in on the opportunity, finishing in 14.93 seconds to take gold. In doing so, she also earned our final Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the 2018-19 school year. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

State Track meet updates Day 1 and Day 2 (updates throughout the day)

Check throughout the day for updates on how our Big Country track athletes are performing at the UIL State Track meet in Austin. 

BIG COUNTRY MEDALISTS 

DAY 2

— Emily Garcia of Forsan claimed bronze in the girls 2A 200 meters in 25.8 behind Refugio’s Alexa Valenzuela (25.1) and Panhandle’s Maklynn Land (25.6). 

— Brownwood’s AJ McCarty took gold in the boys 4A triple jump at 47-06. 

— Goldthwaite’s Kylee Medina has taken silver in the 2A girls 3,200 meters in 11:46.55, behind Lindsay’s Allison Hedrick (11:38.43). 

— Kyle Lindsey of Stephenville earned the gold medal in the boys 4A high jump with a leap of 6-10.25.

— Haskell’s Lanayah Green, Kara Stout, Kobie Walker and Tyreona Amos took Bronze in the 2A girls 800 relay behind San Augustine (1:43.90) and Sunray (1:43.78). 

Continue reading “State Track meet updates Day 1 and Day 2 (updates throughout the day)” →

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Edmondson takes this week’s spotlight

For Big Country sports fans, the name of Hallie Rose Edmondson is usually associated with basketball, and it will likely stay that way for some time.

An All-Big Country Preps pick on the hardwood, the Roby senior has been a part of a successful RHS varsity program dating back to 2016 when, as a freshman, she saw significant minutes with the Lady Lions in their march to the state semifinals in San Antonio.

She is now committed to play hoops at Hardin-Simmons University beginning next season and, frankly, I’m not surprised.

It is through track and field, however, that Edmondson has found her way into this week’s area spotlight, qualifying for the state meet in four events to capture our BCP Player of the Week award. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Breck’s Campbell a rare dual threat in pole vault and high jump

By Mike Lee (special to Big Country Preps)

Photos by Calvin Best, Breckenridge ISD

The pole vault and high jump often are scheduled simultaneously at invitational track and field meets because so few athletes do both events.

No problem for Braden Campbell, the Breckenridge senior who has the top marks in Region I-3A of 15 feet, 6 inches in the vault and 6-6 in the high jump.

“I normally talk to whoever is running each event and tell them that I’m in both the pole vault and high jump,” Campbell said. “Most of the time, they’re good about working with me, giving me an extra five minutes before they move up to the next height.

“A few times when they were done with the competition, they even let me vault by myself and start at whatever height I wanted.”

Continue reading “FEATURE: Breck’s Campbell a rare dual threat in pole vault and high jump” →

by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Cisco’s Hearne combines work ethic with criticism to excel at everything

CISCO — He’s a noteworthy football player. He’s one of area’s best prep basketball players. He’s a standout in the making in baseball who is also solid in track. 

Whether or not he has any time to sleep after completing his studies, only Cisco’s Gibson Hearne knows for sure. 

One thing is certain: Hearne has worked his way into elite status among the Big Country’s top multi-sport athletes. 

The best news for Cisco? He’s just a junior. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

FEATURE: From Ghana to Goldthwaite … Amponsah learning Texas culture, discus

By MIKE LEE (Special to Big Country Preps)

 GOLDTHWAITE — One of the first things Kofi Amponsah did after moving 6,500 miles from Ghana, Africa, to Goldthwaite was buy a heavy coat.

“Where I lived, it was never too hot or never too cold. You could go swimming at the beach the whole year round,” said Amponsah, who moved to Texas in the seventh grade after living in Accra, the capital city of Ghana located near the equator where annual temperatures fluctuate only from 78-85 degrees

“When I got here (Goldthwaite) it was in January. I was instantly cold. I could not feel any part of my body. We had to go to Walmart and buy a huge coat.”

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us