Randall’s Cameron McConnell won three events and broke two records during the District 3-5A/ 4-5A Area Track and Field meet at PlainsCapital Park at Lowrey Field in Lubbock on Thursday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
LUBBOCK— The Texas Panhandle shined setting several new records at the District 3-4A/ 4-4A, District 3-5A/ 4-5A Area Track Meet at PlainsCapitol Park at Lowrey Field in Lubbock on a very warm Thursday.
The Randall girls team won the team title racking up 148 points to beat rival Amarillo High, which finished second with 106 points.
Oklahoma State signee and Randall senior Cameron McConnell was the highlight for the Lady Raiders. McConnell left it all on the track breaking two meet records, while sweeping all three long distance events. McConnell — who was named the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 6A-5A Cross Country Runner of the Year on Thursday— broke the 3200 meter record clocking an 11:10.47. In the afternoon, McConnell broke the 800 meter record with a 2:16.29, then ended her fantastic day thanks to another gold in the 1600 meter run of 5:14.44.
McConnell wasn’t the only one making noise for the Lady Raiders. Hurdler Alex Bettag set a new personal-best and broke the meet record in the 100-hurdles with a 14.96. Kailee Benton also had a tremendous day. Benton won gold in the 300-meter hurdles with a new season-best time of 45.80. Benton claimed a silver in the long jump event leaping a 17-6. The junior was also a part of the 400 and 800 meter relay that advanced to regionals.
Amarillo High’s Bree Mixon continues to show off her speed. For a second straight week the senior set a broke 12 seconds in the 100 meter dash, as Mixon blazed to a new meet record of 11.90.
The Palo Duro girls relay teams impressed as well. The 800 meter relay squad of Labree Henrey, Joyce Wesley, Cecilia Udoh, and Juantai Williams made it to the gold medal stand thanks to running a 1:43.71. Williams also clocked a personal-best 24.78 to get a victory in the 200 meter dash.
The Amarillo High boys stacked up 131 points to bring home the Area championship.
The 400 meter relay team made up of Xavian Landry, Tyreese Molden, JQ Ervin, and Jameson Garcia, blew the field away setting a meet and school-record time of 41.52.
The 800 meter relay team made up of the same foursome earned a gold thanks to a 1:27.55. Molden wasn’t done. Molden also won the 200 meter dash with meet record of 21.26
The Sandies dominated the long distance events as well. Isaac McGill found gold in the 3200 meter run (9:27.33), and won the 1600 meter run clocking a 4:29.77.
Tascosa’s Corbin Graham won the pole vault clearing 13-6. Randall’s Daniel Chavez took gold in the shot put with a throw of 51-2.
The top four in each event qualify for the Region I-5A Track and Field meet set for April 29-30 back at PlainsCapitol Park at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.
For a look at full results from the Area meet, please visit https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/468698/results
Canyon’s Abree Winfrey set three records during the District 3-4A/ 4-4A Area Track and Field meet at PlainsCapital Park at Lowrey Field in Lubbock on Thursday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Canyon Lady Eagles set six Area meet records
As expected the Canyon Lady Eagles continued their dominance to win the Area title with an eye-opening 228 points.
Canyon even broke six new meet records in the process on Thursday.
Junior standout Abree Winfrey was a part of three of those record-setting performances.
Winfrey ran away from all competitors to set a new record in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:15.65. A little later, the three-time state champion from a year ago set the 300-hurdles record running a 46.11. Winfrey was then part of the 1600 meter relay team with Megan Pullen, Samara Ramirez, and Thalia Solis, that broke the 1600 meter relay record clocking a 4:03.56.
As great as Winfrey’s day was, teammate Whitney Willeford was equally impressive qualifying for regionals in five total events. Willeford set the meet mark in the long jump leaping 17-7 for a gold medal. She then earned her second gold in the triple jump popping off a 35-6 1/4. In the running events, Willeford won the 100 meter dash (12.44), and was a silver medalist in the 200 meter dash (25.94), as well as a part of the 400 meter relay (50.50).
Canyon’s Kashlee Dickinson is having the best pole vault season on record in the Texas Panhandle. Dickinson, who has already broken the Amarillo-area record two three times this season, accomplished that feat again setting a new meet mark in the pole vault clearing 13-4.
Dickinson also advanced in the high jump (5-0) earning a bronze medal, and will compete at regionals in the 400 and 800 meter relay.
Lady Eagles sophomore, Hannah Stuart, joined the list of new record holders. Stuart set the new meet record in the 3200 meter run leaving the field behind for a time of 11:14.11. Stuart also won gold in the 1600 meter run (5:14.93).
Hereford’s Nickilah Whatley found redemption after missing out on regionals last year due to hitting a hurdle in the area race. There was no hiccup this time around as Whatley ran a stellar 100 meter hurdle race blazing to a 15.51. Whatley is also headed to regional earning a silver medal in the high jump (5-2), and a bronze as part of the 1600 meter relay.
Borger’s Hope Gray was a highlight in the field events. Gray won a very competitive discus event tossing a 129-6 to hold off Sweetwater’s Toreyna Saddler (126-10) for the gold medal. Gray also advanced in the shot put placing third (36-10 1/2).
Dumas led the boys side finishing second overall with 126 points. The Demons came just two points short of Big Spring (128) for the outright Area championship.
The Demons must-watch 1600 meter relay team of Emmanuel Ibanez, Brayden Boggs-Rushing, Juan Romero, and Oliver Ortiz were show-stopping once again by breaking the meet record with a time of 3:18.32.
Ortiz won another gold getting a victory in the 400 meter run clocking a 49.24, and will be a part of the 400 meter relay. For a second straight week Pampa did damage in the field event portion. District 4-4A boys soccer MVP, Justin Martinez, has come on strong in the past two weeks. Martinez won the triple jump popping off a 43-7 1-/4. Martinez also won a bronze in the long jump behind teammate and gold medal winner, Jordan Lacy’s leap of 22-7 3-4.
The top four in each event qualify for the Region I-4A Track and Field meet set for April 29-30 back at PlainsCapitol Park at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.
For a look at full results from the Area meet, please visit https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/468699/results