Amarillo High’s Isaac McGill broke the Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions 3200 meter record with a time of 9:27.57 on Friday morning at Dick Bivins Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
After coming so close a year ago, Amarillo High’s Isaac McGill left no doubt about putting his name in the record books during day one of the 66th running of the Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions on Friday morning at Dick Bivins Stadium.
McGill came .07 seconds away from beating Tascosa’s Briggs Wittlake’s 2016 meet record of 9:31.83 last season.
This time around, McGill came in focused and on a mission, pulling away from the field during the final lap of the 3200 meter run clocking a season-best 9:27.57 beating his good friend Wittlake’s mark, while setting a new record at the prestigious relays.
“I’ve been wanting this record,” McGill said. “I love Briggs, and we’re good friends, but I wanted to get his record. I almost had it last year, so it feels so good to be able to get this.”
AHS boys track coach Steve Bergeski echoed McGill’s comments.
“Isaac is a one of a kind athlete,” Bergeski said. “He knows exactly how to prepare for each race. He had his eyes on the meet record, and put a good game plan together and executed it. Isaac is a pleasure to coach, our distance group would not be what it is without his leadership.”
McGill ran a fantastic race. The senior turned the corner of the first mile at the 4:40 mark, then grew stronger running his last lap in just over a minute for a powerful finish to punctuate his historic race.
“I felt I had some unfinished business from last year,” McGill said. “I knew where I was on my final lap and what I needed to do. There was no way I was going to slow down. I knew I had 36 seconds left to break it in the final 200 meters. That’s where I knew I could get that record. But I can’t do this without my teammates pushing me. We have a great team and we push each other everyday to make us better.”
McGill will run in the 1600 meter run during Saturday’s finals that begin at 1:30 p.m.
Canyon’s Hannah Stuart makes the turn during the 3200 meter race of the 66th Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions on Friday morning at Dick Bivins Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Day one notes
Girls champions
Canyon sophomore Hannah Stewart ran away from the field running an 11:31 to win the 3200 meter race.
Randall’s Kailee Benton was impressive in the long jump setting a new season-best mark of 17-8 1/4 earning her a gold medal at the Amarillo Relays for a second year in a row
Bushland’s Jillian Howell found her way to the gold medal stand uncorking a season-best throw of 37-9 3/4 in the shot put.
Haalyn Munoz of Caprock cleared 10-feet-6 inches to win the pole vault event.
Tascosa’s Sieyera Emile leaped 5-feet-4 inches to win a gold medal in the high jump.
Hope Gray of Borger set a new season-mark of 117-11 to earn a gold medal in the discus event.
Boys champions
Bushland’s Kash Bradley set a new season-best mark with a leap of 22-8 3/4 in the long jump event to claim gold for the second year in a row.
Erik Gray of Amarillo High won the boys shot put event on his first toss of 52-6 1/2.
Randall sophomore and basketball standout, KJ Thomas cleared a personal-best 6-feet-2 to win the high jump event.
Tascosa’s Corbin Graham won the pole vault event with a personal-best leap of 14-feet to take gold in the event.
Amarillo High’s John Tittle won the discus event with a launch of 142-9 1/2.