The Smyer Lady Cats, Ropes Eagles and Lady Eagles, Whitharral Panthers and Lady Panthers, Whiteface Antelopes and Sundown Roughettes track & field programs all com peted at their respective State Championship meet last weekend at the Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, resulting in an individual State Champion and eight other local athletes earning top five finishes.
In the 2A girls triple jump, Ashtyn Burriss of Smyer was the State Champion with a jump of 39’-1”, edging out second place by 0.75 inches and entering rarified air at Smyer.
"That's our first state track gold in over 50 years for Smyer,” Smyer Athletic Director Scott Funke said. “Ashtyn’s consistent work, both physically and mentally, paid off in the end.
It’s going to be exciting to see her compete at Lubbock Christian University next year.”
Adalyn Falls of Ropes finished as the State Runner- Up in the 2A girls 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. In the 100mH, Falls ran a 14.33, and in the 300mH, she ran a 43.30.
“Addie Mae has had such an amazing track season. From beginning to end she has excelled and progressed,” Lady Eagles Head Track & Field Coach Charles Carter said. "With the finale being her placing runner-up at State in both races. She competed at the highest level. She has such a great future and accomplishments to look forward to. I’m so very proud, go Eagles.”
In the 2A boys 100-meter dash, Kolter Dockery of Ropes ran a 10.67 to finish as the State Runner-Up.
“Kolter earned his right onto the podium in back-toback years as the silver medalist at the UIL state track meet in Austin,” Eagles Head Track & Field Coach Beau Riker said. “He ran his best time of 10.67 seconds to break his own school record set last year at state of 10.70 seconds. He really showed a lot of grit and determination to get back to the state meet this year. He is a talented young man with great work ethic. I couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments.”
In the 1A boys triple jump, Brent Robinson of Whitharral placed as the State Runner-Up with a jump of 45’-1.75”, followed by his teammate Greg Johnson in fourth place with a jump of 44’-0”. Johnson would also place ninth in the 1A boys long jump with a jump of 19’-10”.
In the 1A boys discus, Nate Sansom of Whitharral placed as the State Runner-Up with a throw of 153’-7”.
Panthers Head Track Coach Josh Watson would reflect on Robinson and Sansom’s runner-up efforts, “Those two are phenomenal athletes and even better young men. They competed well at state both came close to securing a State gold medal. We are super proud of them and look forward to seeing their bright futures.”
In the 2A boys shot put, Victor Saenz of Ropes placed fourth with a throw of 51’-5”, and in the 2A boys 300-meter hurdles, Isaak Soliz of Whiteface placed fifth with a time of 40.02.
In the 1A girls 100-meter dash, Kalyn Bates of Whitharral placed fifth with a time of 12.57, and in the 2A girls 200-meter dash, Elexis Robinson of Sundown placed eighth with a time of 25.99.
(Photo provided by Smyer ISD)