Canyon’s Abree Winfrey, left, crosses the finish to win the 800 meter run during the UIL Class 4A state track and field championships Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]AUSTIN— The Canyon girls gave it a great fight but came up just short of Kennedale from repeating as Class 4A champions at the University Interscholastic League state track and field championships Thursday in front of an electric crowd at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Canyon finished with a total of 70 points, while Kennedale won all three relays to claim the team state title with 84 points.
“I’m so proud of this team,” Canyon girls track coach Ray Baca said. “Breanna Stuart kicked us off setting a personal-best in the 3200 meter run, Danielle Burns and Whitney Willeford got us big points in the field events. And what can you say about Abree Winfrey.”
Winfrey highlighted the running finals for the Lady Eagles. The sophomore won her first gold blazing a personal-best 2:10.97 in the 800 meter run. Later in the evening, Winfrey shined again with another personal-record of 44.68 to gain her second gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles, and then won a silver as a part of the 1600 meter relay.
“It was a great day for our team,” Winfrey said. “We wanted that team title, and we gave it our best shot. But is an electric atmosphere, and running here is so much fun. It was just happy how it turned out.”
Baca echoed Winfrey’s comments.
“Abree was unreal,” Baca said. “Her 800 run was pretty special. She broke her own time by seven seconds. Then to have enough gas in the tank to win the 300-hurdles was phenomenal. She was stellar today.”
Canyon’s Breanna Stuart claimed a gold in the 3200 meter run Thursday morning during the UIL Class 3A state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Stuart got the day started off right for Canyon clocking a new season-best by nine seconds of 10:47.93. That amazing time won Stuart her second gold of her career. Stuart then grabbed 10 more points for her team with a silver in the 1600 meter run.
“I was really happy to be back after having to miss last year,” Stuart said. “It was fun to run against some great competition. This is an awesome feeling. I’m glad I could help get points for my team.”
Canyon’s Kashlee Dickinson clears 13-feet to win a gold in the pole vault during the UIL Class 3A state track and field championships Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Not to be outdone was sophomore Kashlee Dickinson. Dickinson dominated the pole vault event vaulting a new personal-mark of 13-feet for her first career gold medal.
“My adrenaline was pumping and I had been wanting to hit 13-feet all year,” Dickinson said. “I struggled a bit at 12-feet, but I pushed through it.”
For full results of Thursday’s Class 4A/ 3A state meet, please visit https://www.uiltexas.org/track-field/state/track-field-state-meet-qualifiers-results
Notes
Bushland’s Jillian Howell claimed a gold medal in the shot put during the UIL Class 3A state track and field championships Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Bushland’s Howell claims gold
Bushland junior Jillian Howell impressed in her first ever state event. The junior overcame an injured shoulder by the District 1-3A track and field meet, and ran with her opportunity. Howell tossed out a throw of 40-3 1/4 on her first attempt in the Class 3A shot put to win her first ever gold medal.
“Ever since I hurt my shoulder in basketball,” Howell said. “I’ve been trying to get back as soon as possible. I was glad to get healthy, and comeback and compete. Winning this means so much to me. I’ve worked on this for a longtime, I’m glad to see it pay off.”
Spearman’s Mia Pipkin helps lead the Lynxettes to a silver medal in the 1600 meter relay during the UIL Class 3A state track and field championships Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Spearman’s mile relay nabs silver
The Spearman 1600 meter relay team of Braylen Lusby, Candice Mackie, Maggie Davis, and Mia Pipkin found the medal stand earning a season-best time of 3:57.47 during the Class 3A state meet. Pipkin also broke the school-record in the 800 meter run with a terrific performance of 2:18.25.
“It was awesome to run here in Austin,” Pipkin said. “This is years of hard work and being pushed by our teammates. We came out here and cut off two seconds, and ran our best. This is a great way to end it.”
Bushland‘s Jessie Fowler looks up at the clock after her Lady Falcons team won a bronze medal during the UIL Class 3A state track and field championships Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Bushland sprint relay takes home bronze
Competing at the UIL Class 3A state meet for the first time in school history, the Lady Falcons 400 meter relay team of Haylee Sessions, Corley Carr, Caitlyn Culwell and Jessie Fowler, showed up on the grand stage of Mike A. Myers Stadium with a bronze medal performance of 48.59.
“This is really cool,” Culwell said. “We’ve never competed at state before so this was an awesome experience. We ran well as a team all year, and just got better and gave ourself a chance.”