Randall senior Cameron McConnell advanced to the area meet by winning the 3200 meter, 800 meter, and 1600 meter races during the District 3-5A Track and Field meet at Dick Bivins Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
It was quite the team and individual performances during the District 3-5A Track and Field Meet on Wednesday and Thursday at Dick Bivins Stadium.
The Amarillo High boys and Randall girls both came away with the district championships, as the each squad had stellar showings from their respective athletes.
AHS totaled 207 points, which was 62 points better than Tascosa.
The Sandies dominated the long distance events. AHS went first, second, and third place in the 3200 meter run, and the 1600 meter run. Senior Isaac McGill won the 3200 with a time of 9:49.17, and earned gold in the 1600 clocking a personal-best 4:23.53. Teammate Noah Watt went for gold in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:00.45.
AHS Sprinter Tyreese Molden had a banner day. Molden found the gold medal stand with a personal-best time of 21.49 in the 200 meter dash. Molden was also part of the Sandies 400 meter relay (41.99) and 800 meter relay (1:27.88) that were victorious.
Tascosa’s Ashraf Barsham shined by winning double gold in both the triple and long jump events. The senior and Clarendon College basketball commit leaped 21-7 in the long jump, followed by a personal-best 44-2 in the triple.
The Randall Lady Raiders tallied 215 points yo hold off rival Amarillo High (207) by eight points to claim the 3-5A title.
Senior and Oklahoma State commit Cameron McConnell highlighted the Lady Raiders by sweeping the long distance events. McConnell clocked a 10:57.23 on Thursday to claim the 3200 district championship. On Friday, McConnell came back strong running away from the field with a 2:11.86 in the 800 meter run, then ended her afternoon with a third gold medal in the 1600 timing a 5:08.28.
Teammate Kailee Benton gave Randall another huge boost. Benton scored 35 points on her own qualifying for area in five events. Benton went double gold in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles. Benton leaped a 17-5 in the long jump, and ran a 46.69 to win the 300 hurdles.
Benton was also second in the triple jump (36-2), earned silver on the 400 meter relay (49.89), and a bronze in the 800 meter relay (1:44.27). Teammate Leah Garcia had quite the day. Throwing the discus for the first time competitively since the eighth grade, Garcia won district in the discus event tossing a 113-9. Garcia then put the cleats on in the evening and went 1-for-2 with two RBIs for the Randall softball team that beat Plainview 8-4.
Amarillo High’s Bri Mixon showcased her speed finding the gold medal stand three times. Mixon ran down Randall’s Tenera Gray down the stretch as the anchor leg to help her team win the 400 meter relay with a time of 48.83. Mixon then set a new personal-mark blazing an 11.96 in the 100 meter dash, and once again took the stick as the anchor and sped past Juanti Williams of Palo Duro the Lady Sandies win the 800 meter relay (1:43.84).
The District 3-5A/ 4-5A Area Track and Field meet is set for Thursday, April 21 at PlainsCapital Park at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.
For full results of the District 3-5A Track and Field meet please visit, https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/445388/results
District 4-4A
The Canyon Lady Eagles cruised to a District 4-4A Track and Field championship, while the Dumas boys team edged Canyon in thrilling fashion to claim a district title on Wednesday and Thursday in Borger.
On the boys side, Dumas and Canyon battled both days with the Demons taking the 1600 meter relay Thursday that lifted Dumas to 195 points. Canyon finished with 189 points.
The stellar 1600 meter relay team of Oliver Ortiz, Brayden Boggs-Rushing, Juan Romero, and Emmanuel Ibanez — who have run as fast as a 3:18.76 this season — clocked a 3:23.39 to take gold and help the Demons win district.
The relay events was key as Dumas swept the 60 points in all three races.
On top of helping the mile relay to first place, Romero, Ortiz and Ibanez had days to remember. Romero left Borger with three gold medals winning the 110-meter hurdles with a new personal-best 15.13. Later in the afternoon, Romero claimed a 300-meter hurdles district championship grabbing another PR of 39.81.
Ortiz also nabbed three golds as part of the 400 meter relay, and blazed a 49.88 in the 400 meter race. Ibanez qualified in five total events. Ibanez was on the 400 meter relay, won the pole vault clearing 13-6, and got silver in the 400 meter run (51.94) behind Ortiz.
Pampa had a trio of athletes qualify with gold medal performances in the field events. Justin Martinez, a prolific goal scorer on the Harvesters soccer team, won the triple jump with a mark of 43-7 3/4. Jordan Lacy took long jump gold leaping a 21-8 1/2, and Madox Jones tossed a 49-8 for a shot put title.
The Canyon Lady Eagles stormed the competition racking up an eye-opening 278 points. The Lady Eagles massive number was 176 points better than second place Dumas (102). Canyon was so dominant the team won a district championship in 13 of the 17 events.
Defending UIL Class 4A state champion pole vaulter, Kashlee Dickinson, continues to make history by the week. Dickinson broke her own Texas Panhandle record set last week of 13-feet 2 inches, vaulting 13-feet-3 inches helping the junior cruise to a gold medal. Junior Abree Winfrey, a three-time state champion last season, put a firm grip on gold winning both the 800 meter run (2:16.94) and the 300-meter hurdles (47.89). Winfrey won a third gold medal as a part of the 1600 mile relay (4:05.76).
Senior Whitney Willeford qualified for area in five total events. Willeford and the 400 meter relay team (50.82) found the gold medal stand. Willeford clocked a 26.12 in the 200 meter dash for a gold, and popped off a 35-4 1/2 in the triple jump for a win. Willeford also took a silver in the triple jump (17-7 1/2).
Dumas’ Karina Puentes advanced to area taking home two golds. Puentes won the 100 meter dash (12.49) and was awarded gold in the long jump leaping a 17-10 1/2.
District notes
District 3-3A
The Denver City boys team and Friona girls are the District 3-3A champions.
Denver City racked up 157 points, while Friona totaled 132 points.
Yvonne Legarreta swept all the distance events for the Squaws. Legarreta first won the 3200 meter run pacing a 13:17.62, she then won the 800 meter run (2:34.32), and ended her day grabbing a gold in the 1600 meter race (5:54.89).
On the boys side, Muleshoe’s Daniel Sianez ran a 50.62 to advance in the 400 meter dash, and Friona’s impressive 800 meter relay team of Alan Martinez, Kade Crosby, Bryan Chavira, and Adrian Bautista won gold with a 1:32.60.
District 3-1A
The Happy boys and girls team swept the District 3-1A championship at Dick Bivins Stadium on Wednesday.
Cowgirl sprinter Emily Berry highlighted the event winning the 400 meter run with a time of 1:02.70, and was second in the 200 meter dash (29.68). On the boys side, Wildorado standout Dustin Bryant, a defending state champion, won three gold medals Wednesday. Bryant set a new PR or 22-5 in the long jump, leaped a 41-11 in the triple jump and cleared 6-foot to win the high jump.