Class 1A UIL state track roundup: Springlake-Earth's Taytum Goodman adds to gold medal haul

AUSTIN — Taytum Goodman wouldn't agree with those who say it's lonely at the top.

The Springlake-Earth standout added to her impressive résumé Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium — at times looking like she was the only one on the track.

Goodman improved her record time in the 800-meter run and picked up another gold in the 1,600 at the UIL state track and field meet, a repeat performance from her debut last year.

The sophomore shaved 0.19 seconds off her 2021 mark to win the 800 in a Class 1A girls state-meet-record 2 minutes, 17.26 seconds. It was the realization of one of her biggest goals entering the day.

But most of all, it was fun.

"It gets more fun every time I go to state, to me," Goodman said. "It's just something that's a goal I want to get every year through my high-school career, especially so I can break my own record in the 800. That was major for me.

"Next year I just want to keep going and break it every year, and hopefully break it again in the (1,600)."

Goodman later breezed to a victory in the 1,600, an event in which she holds the record at 5:06.78. The two-time cross country state champ was never pushed, finishing in 5:20.31. That was almost 14 seconds ahead of silver-medalist Sydney Partin of Priddy.

It’s a position the sophomore is used to, and fortunately for her, one she enjoys.

"That's probably what pushes me more," Goodman said. "I'm up there by myself, and I can just push myself harder and harder. It makes me want to come back better and stronger for the next years."

Despite four gold medals in two years, it's clear Goodman has more aspirations for track. She hopes to keep trimming down her records, in addition to improving in the 400. A two-time state qualifier, Goodman finished sixth (1:01.49) in the event Saturday.

"That one wasn't my best race of the whole year," Goodman said. "… It just makes me want to come back faster and stronger and prove that I deserve to have a medal in that race."

Howard shows off improvement en route to bronze

It amazes Neihmaya Howard how far she’s come in the shot put.

The Klondike junior said it was only a year ago she started getting serious about the event, thanks to the push from a friend and teammate.

Howard finished third at regionals last season. She’s now a state medalist.

Howard threw 36 feet, 4¾ inches on her first attempt, which was good for third place in the 1A girls competition Saturday. Nordheim’s Emagen Styra took gold at 39-10, and Paint Rock’s Ashlynn Hall was runner-up (38-8¼).

It wasn't a personal-record for Howard, who owns the school record at 37-2, but now she has another goal to try and out-do.

"All I wanted to do was beat the school record," Howard said. "So I think that's what I was aiming for every single track meet. … Eventually I did it right before district. That was a huge push in shot put for me."

South Plains running medals

Deflton Flemons closed his Paducah career in style, walking away with three medals Saturday.

The senior won the 1A boys 110 hurdles and ran on the silver-medal 800 relay and bronze-medal 400 relay.

Flemons, who finished in 14.53, was joined on the medal stand by teammate Cord Piper. Piper also ran on the two relays and placed third in the 110 hurdles in 14.74.

Paducah, the reigning state champions, finished third in the team standings with 48 points. Valley won with 51 to edge Cross Plains (50).

Springlake-Earth's Braxton Ethridge was just behind Flemons in the 110 hurdles, running a 14.59. Ethridge later took gold in the 300 hurdles in 39.18.

Klondike earned gold in the 1A boys 1,600 relay. Caden Barron, Alexis Serrano, Stephen Arismendez and David Boschman ran a 3:27.10. Serrano also medaled with a second-place finish in the 400.

Guthrie's Brandon Passmann earned gold medals in the 3,200 and 1,600.

The Hart girls won a pair of relay medals, which helped the Lady Longhorns tie Miami for fourth in the 1A team standings.

More: Sands repeats as Class 1A track and field state champions

Paizlie Reyna-Mata, Mia Minjarez, Elycia Gonzales and Toree Jo Evans teamed to run a 50.78 for a silver medal in the 400 relay. A late push by Cross Plains’ Katie Goains gave the Lady Buffaloes a win in 50.63.

The same Hart four placed third in the 800 relay in 1:47.69.

Nazareth junior Caroline Myrick, who competed in three events, took bronze in the 1A girls 100. A seventh seed entering the competition, Myrick finished in 12.63.

She placed fourth in the 200 and eighth in the long jump.

Whiteface's Lilliana Guerrero ran a 59.04 to earn silver in the 1A girls 400.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Class 1A UIL state track: Springlake-Earth's Taytum Goodman adds gold medals