The Levelland Lobos and Loboettes track & field programs competed at the 4A District 5 & 6 Area Championships this past Friday at the Abilene ISD Auxiliary Stadium, resulting in several hard-fought placings, highlighted by Saul Hernandez qualifying for Regionals in two events.
In the boys 800-meter run, Hernandez placed runner-up with a time of 2:00.50, and in the 1,600-meter run, Hernandez placed third with a time of 4:40.74.
In the boys pole vault, Adden Luna tied for seventh place after a no height.
“I’m really proud of Adden Luna and Saul Hernandez for making it to the Area track meet,” Lobos Head Track & Field Coach Pete Richardson said. “Anytime that you’re able to compete in the Postseason is always grateful. We had some obstacles, but we’re grateful for Saul will be representing the Lobos at the Regional track meet in Lubbock.”
The 4A Region 1 Championships will take place at Lowrey Field on May 1-2.
And while the Loboettes didn’t qualify anyone for Regionals, they still posted some gutsy performances at Area.
In the girls shot put, Sydnii Joyce placed sixth with a throw of 32’-6.75”, narrowly missing a Regional qualification (top four) by less than a foot and a half.
In the 4x200-meter relay, the Loboettes team of Darlene Pina, Hannah Murillo, Analiya Avitia and Zanity Sanchez placed eighth with a time of 1:55.59.
“Sydnii had a great year of shot put in a stacked field anytime you can throw or run in the postseason is always great to see and achieve, I thought the girls ran well for the 4x200-meter relay,” Loboettes Head Track & Field Coach Justin Turner said. “The girls put in a lot of work during the off week, and it showed we made a tremendous jump. We are just in the hardest district, and an area that has a lot of defending state championships, and the girls didn’t back down. Things didn’t go our way, but we gained a lot of experience and trending in the right way for next year.”