Amarillo High’s Jameson Garcia, left, edges out Tascosa’s Tayden Barnes to win the 400 meter relay during the 66th Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions on Saturday at Dick Bivins Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Amarillo High dominated the 66th running of the Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions in front of an estimated crowd of 3,000 fans on a beautiful Saturday at Dick Bivins Stadium.
AHS scored an eye-opening 168 points, which was 55 points better than second place Tascosa’s 113.50.
The Sandies showed their depth throughout the meet especially in the relay events, sweeping the 400 meter, 800 meter and 1600 meter relays.
AHS junior Jameson Garcia was a huge part of the Sandies banner afternoon walking away with three medals. Garcia started the meet with maybe his best and gutsiest performance. Anchoring the sprint relay, Garcia went toe-to-toe with Tascosa’s Tayden Barnes down the back stretch. As the two edged the finish line, Garcia leaned at just the right time to squeak past Barnes in a thrilling finish to give his team the win by .5 of a second. AHS finished with a time of 41.72 to the Rebels 41.77.
“When I got the stick we were 5-yards knew i had to go. I just wanted to make up ground and do whatever I could to get the win.”
The 41.72 is a new season-best for the Sandies 400 meter relay.
Garcia earned a bronze in the 100 meter dash thanks to a time of 10.83, but then came the 800 meter relay. With Garcia as the anchor, and his team of Xavian Landry, Tyreese Molden, JQ Ervin, the Sandies not only set a new team mark, but also made history breaking Caprock’s 2015 record of 1:27.31., blazing to a 1:26.79.
“We knew we had a chance at the record but we weren’t sure,” AHS boys track coach Steve Bergeski said. “Caprock had such an outstanding relay, but we knew we were comparable. Being able to break it was awesome. Those guys just put it together. I’m so proud of Jameson. He had missed some previous seasons with injury, so he has never competed at this meet. This is his first true track season. He’s still learning, but he takes coaching well.”
AHS went on to make it a clean sweep setting another season-best time in the 1600 meter relay. The squad of Karsten Leathers, Hagen Harper, Ervin, and Cooper Clawson, won to cap off a stellar day with a 3:26.49.
Tascosa senior and TCU football signee, Major Everhart, sprints to a 100 meter dash championship during the 66th Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions on Saturday at Dick Bivins Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Amarillo Relays Meet of Champion notes
Tascosa senior and TCU football signee, Major Everhart, defended his 100 meter dash crown, speeding to a 10.56. Everhart, who was also part of the silver medal 400 meter relay team, attempted to run in the 200 meter race, but pulled himself out with a minor injury.
Isaac McGill of Amarillo High capped off an amazing weekend with his second gold medal on Satuday. After breaking the meet record in the 3200 meter run Friday with an impressive time of 9:27.57, McGill took gold in the 1600 meter run clocking a 4:25.05.
River Road’s Crawford Kiser set two school-records at the Amarillo Relays on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Kiser set the new school mark in the 3200 meter run with a silver medal run of 9:33.52. On Saturday, the senior found the gold medal stand for his second school-record winning the 800 meter run with a 2:00.41.
Tascosa’s Ke’Mauri Pinkard won a very competitive triple jump competition, leaping to a 43-5 on Saturday. Pinkard held off Vega’s Diego Martinez (43-1 1/2) and Wildorado’s Dustin Bryant (43-0).
On a junior varsity note, Amarillo High’s John Holloway made it a clean sweep in all of the JV distance events. Holloway, a junior, clocked a 10:14.04 for a gold in the 3200 meter run Friday, then on Saturday won the 800 meter run with a 2:05.79, and claimed the 1600 meter title thanks to a 4:41.72.
For a full look at the boys 66th Amarillo Relays Meet of Champions results, please click the link below.