Valley secures boys track and field state championship for third time in six years

AUSTIN — The Valley Patriots are Class 1A state track and field champions once again.

Following a three-year hiatus, Valley scored 51 points on Saturday to win the team championship by one point over second-place Cross Plains — marking the program's first team title since going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

"These guys do everything we ask them to do," Valley coach John Stanaland said. "They went out there and every boy that we brought contributed tonight and got a point. Track is in my opinion, and in our opinion, a team sport and that's the way we approach it. We're excited to have gold medals around our necks and to hold a state championship trophy."

Valley totaled 40 points during the evening by breaking previous program records in the 400 relay and 800 relay.

More: Medaling Mustang: Wildorado's Bryant defends long jump gold, claims bronze in triple jump

The lightning-quick quartet of Adrian Valdes, Parker Hartman, Jaxon Edwards and anchor Blake Beard won the 400 relay by .003 seconds (43.037) over Cross Plains. Beard took the handoff from Edwards with about 100 meters to go and exploded down the home stretch to grab the narrow win which brought the crowd to a fever pitch.

There was extended suspense when the video board did not reveal the winner at the completion of the race, meaning the Patriot runners were unsure of the results.

"I was like, 'Oh crap, we didn't win. There goes our chance of winning it'," Beard said when reflecting on the tense moment. "It felt great because there was so much suspense and the whole team just looked up there and we all got to celebrate out there on the field. It was an amazing experience."

A little more than an hour later, the same four sprinters returned to the track and clinched gold, once again, with a time of one minute, 29.68 seconds.

Valley was sitting in a good position and had a strong idea of what they would need from their final competitors of the day in their respective events.

Beard ran hard and found himself on the podium with a bronze medal in the 400 (50.42 seconds) to earn the Patriots six more points. With junior discus thrower Gunnar Bowles earning four points with a fourth-place finish earlier in the day, Valley sat with 50 points with one event left.

Hartman's sixth-place finish in the 200 (23.06 seconds) was enough to get the job done.

"I just wanted to run as hard as I could and try to finish," Hartman said. "I knew I was tired, but I still needed to finish for my team. I tried and I did it."

Valley has won three team boys track and field state championships in the last six years and returns three of its core athletes in Beard, Hartman and Valdes for next season.

More: UIL STATE NOTEBOOK: Three Panhandle athletes win bronze at 2022 UIL state track meet

"These are phenomenal kids, and I would put these kids up against anybody that I've ever seen," Stanaland said. "I'm gonna back these kids no matter what and they're gonna do phenomenal things. … There were some amazing track teams that were at Valley prior to me, but these guys are second to none and I would roll with them without a doubt."

Defending her titles

Miami's Anna Hudson made her return trip to the UIL state track and field meet and left with two more gold medals as the sprinter defended her 2021 state titles in both the 100 and 200.

The junior bested her time in the 100 from last year with a mark of 10.24 seconds to win over the second-place finisher. She ran slower than her winning time last spring in the 200 with a 25.48-second sprint that gave her the win by more than half a second.

Even with two gold medals draped around her neck, Hudson was more concerned with her inability to beat her personal best times.

"It was pretty important (to defend my titles)," Hudson said. "Honestly, the place matters to me, but the time is more important. I'd rather have better times than the gold medal."

A performance to smile about

Emily Berry ended her high school athletic career at Happy with a bang.

The senior followed the advice of a former Happy legend and won the 400 from lane nine on the outside edge of the track in 58.90 seconds. Berry had worked hard since district to get her time under one minute and she succeeded when the stakes were the highest.

"I knew I just had to give it my all," Berry said. "I was so close, and I just needed to finish. … One of my old teammates, her name is Rylee Johnson, she's one of my biggest role models and she told me to imagine somebody is 20 yards ahead of you the whole time and that's a good mentality that will lead to a gold medal."

Berry followed that advice and ended up at the top of the podium.

When running the third leg of the 1,600 relay, Berry helped the Cowgirls team of Brittney Gibson, Ashlyn White and anchor Bailee Baggerman improve from sixth to second with 200 meters remaining in her leg. Baggerman used her running strategy and finished the job for Happy to claim silver (4:13.64) in the mile run.

"She's an incredible athlete," White said. "She's one of the best and I love her to death."

UIL STATE TRACK AND FIELD MEET

Saturday's partial results

Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin

EDITOR'S NOTE: For full results, visit www.amarillo.com/sports

Class 1A

GIRLS

Team totals (Top 10) – 1. Ackerly Sands, 44 points; 2. Cross Plains, 40; 3. Mertzon Irion County, 30; 4. (tie) Miami, 28; Hart, 28; 6. Happy, 27; 7. Earth Springlake, 21; 8. Turkey Valley, 20; 9. (tie) La Sara, 18; Moran, 18; Fayetteville, 18; Priddy, 18; Veribest 18.

3,200 meters – 1. Kaylee Bezio, Graford, 11 minutes, 59.51 seconds; 2. Mariana Sanchez, Imperial Buena Vista, 12:03.97; 3. Estefania Colchado, Moulton, 12:19.28; 4. Bailey Neal, Sulphur Bluff, 12:24.35; 5. Abigail Huffines, Aquilla, 12:30.75; 6. Daylee Chisum, Jayton, 12:34.28; 7. Gaby Sanchez, Buena Vista, 12:57.40; 8. Sydney Partin, Priddy, 13:07.25; 9. Kamryn Nail, Jayton, 13:39.34.

Discus throw – 1. Xiomara Rodriguez, La Sara, 128 feet, 10 inches; 2. Payton Conner, Sterling City, 123-5; 3. Amanda Harrell, May, 123-5; 4. Claire Burleson, Rocksprings, 119-7; 5. Sierra Tower, Lometa, 111-5; 6. Danielle Wilson, Nordheim, 108-0; 7. Avery Blount, Paducah, 107-9; 8. Aly Macias, Lingleville, 101-5; 9. Elizabeth Gorecki, Miami, 99-6.

Long jump – 1. Kaegen James, Mertzon Irion County, 17-3 ½; 2. Brenna Francis, Silverton, 17-1 ¼; 3. Ilse Salinas, Round Top-Carmine, 17-0 ¼; 4. Ryleigh Bryant, Richland Springs, 16-8 ¼; 5. Brooklyn Jaeger, Fayetteville, 16-6 ¼; 6. Abigail Vansbuskirk, Perrin-Whitt, 16-2 ½; 7. Audrey Tillman, Mertzon Irion County, 16-0 ½; 8. Caroline Myrick, Nazareth, 15-11 ½; 9. Tristan Burns, Henrietta Midway, 15-8 ¾.

High jump – 1. Caina Sneed, Tilden McMullen County, 5-3; 2. Andi Holland, Claude, 5-3; 3. Emily Jackson, Bronte, 5-2; 4. Coulter Reel, Guthrie, 5-0; 5. Ashtyn Warren, Rocksprings, 5-0; 6. Rianne Hurst, Priddy, 5-0; 7. Mercedes Hartwig, Miami, 4-10; 8. Alli Scott, Moran, 4-10; 9. Brissa Baugh, Cherokee, 4-8.

Shot put – 1. Emagen Styra, Nordheim, 39-10; 2. Ashlynn Hall, Paint Rock, 38-8 ¼; 3. Neihmaya Howard, Lamesa Klondike, 36-4 ¾; 4. Payton Conner, Sterling City, 36-2 ¾; 5. Claire Burleson, Rocksprings, 35-10 ½; 6. Eadee Turman, Bluff Dale, 34-3; 7. Elida Uvalle, Brookesmith, 33-4; 8. Braylee Hood, Robert Lee, 33-0; 9. Rexie Sanders, Gail Borden County, 32-4 ¾.

Pole vault – 1. Sydney Gonzales, Lenorah Grady, 10-10; 2. Makenna Byrd, Wildorado, 10-0; 3. Ava Grooms, Rocksprings, 10-0; 4. (tie) Reagan Hale, Westbrook, 9-6; Camdyn Childs, Barksdale Nueces Canyon, 9-6; 6. Kayle Nichols, Gorman, 8-6; 7. Milly Hughes, Strawn, 8-6.

Triple jump – 1. Hanna Miller, Woodson, 38-0; 2. Kaegen James, Mertzon Irion County, 37-0 ¼; 3. Coulter Reel, Guthrie, 36-3 ½; 4. Alliyah Harrison, Veribest, 36-0 ¼; 5. Ilse Salinas, Round Top-Carmine, 35-9; 6. Jenna Morris, Hubbard, 35-6 ½; 7. Brenna Francis, Silverton, 34-1 ½; 8. Alissa Shumate, Jonesboro, 33-9 ½; 9. Abigail Vansbuskirk, Perrin-Whitt, 33-7 ¼.

4x100 relay – 1. Cross Plains (Lindsey Sparks, Abbigale Shepard, Addison Long, Katie Goains), 50.63; 2. Hart, 50.78; 3. Mertzon Irion County, 50.91; 4. Miami, 51.04; 5. Turkey Valley, 51.33; 6. Calvert, 51.69; 7. Bryson, 52.36; 8. Gordon, 52.73; 9. Abbott, 52.73.

800 – 1. Taytum Goodman, Earth Springlake, 2:17.26 (Conference record, old record 2:17.45, Taytum Goodman, Earth Springlake, 2021); 2. Makayla Bowman, Aquilla, 2:20.08; 3. Selissa Gonzales, La Sara, 2:22.99; 4. Sydney Partin, Priddy, 2:24.06; 5. Alliyah Harrison, Veribest, 2:24.90; 6. Bailee Baggerman, Happy, 2:27.86; 7. Lilliana Guerrero, Whiteface, 2:29.24; 8. Emma Miller, Gustine, 2:33.05; 9. Andrea Lopez, Comstock, 2:33.26.

100 hurdles – 1. Alli Scott, Moran, 15.73; 2. Makenna Byrd, Wildorado, 15.88; 3. Rianne Hurst, Priddy, 15.96; 4. Landry Morrow, Ackerly Sands, 16.04; 5. Emily Jackson, Bronte, 16.19; 6. Camdyn Childs, Barksdale Nueces Canyon, 16.45; 7. Taylor Piper, Paducah, 16.60; 8. Mia Alvarado, San Isidro, 17.29; 9. Laura Burk, Newcastle, 17.69.

100 – 1. Anna Hudson, Miami, 12.24 (Conference record, old record 12.25, Luvly Williams, Shamrock, 2017); 2. Brooklyn Jaeger, Fayetteville, 12.61; 3. Caroline Myrick, Nazareth, 12.63; 4. Aiyana Pursley, Oakwood, 12.65; 5. Evelyn Gallegos, Ira, 12.65; 6. Salma Mondragon, Balmorhea, 12.72; 7. Ilse Salinas, Round Top-Carmine, 12.74; 8. Ryleigh Bryant, Richland Springs, 12.95; 9. Elaina Puente, Gordon, 13.00.

4x200 relay – 1. Ackerly Sands (Lili Porras, Elysa Martinez, Hayley Connell, Landry Morrow), 1:47.16; 2. Turkey Valley, 1:47.55; 3. Hart, 1:47.69; 4. Cross Plains, 1:48.56; 5. Water Valley, 1:49.00; 6. Richland Springs, 1:50.38; 7. Blum, 1:50.96; 8. Neches, 1:51.41; 9. Abbott, 1:52.78.

400 – 1. Emily Berry, Happy, 58.90; 2. Lilliana Guerrero, Whiteface, 59.04; 3. Alliyah Harrison, Veribest, 1:00.38; 4. Kayden Arrington, Blum, 1:01.02; 5. Selissa Gonzales, La Sara, 1:01.45; 6. Taytum Goodman, Earth Springlake, 1:01.49; 7. Emma Sott, Blum, 1:01.66; 8. Aby Tinerjero, Moulton, 1:01.68; 9. Aubrey Ford, Vernon Northside, 1:03.99.

300 hurdles – 1. Camdyn Childs, Barksdale Nueces Canyon, 46.08 (Conference record, old record 46.39, Makenna Byrd, Wildorado, 2021); 2. Alli Scott, Moran, 46.31; 3. Sydnie Bond, Cherokee, 46.36; 4. Ryleigh Bryant, Richland Springs, 48.22; 5. Giselle Esparza, Wildorado, 48.83; 6. Dayanara Torres, Iraan, 48.94; 7. Taylor Piper, Paducah, 49.43; 8. Coulter Reel, Guthrie, 49.50; 9. Brooklyn Erler, Hubbard, 51.52.

200 – 1. Anna Hudson, Miami, 25.48 (Conference record, old record 25.50, Kenzie Jordan, Water Valley, 2019); 2. Brooklyn Jaeger, Fayetteville, 26.07; 3. Alliyah Harrison, Veribest, 26.17; 4. Caroline Myrick, Nazareth, 26.49; 5. Ilse Salinas, Round Top-Carmine, 26.64; 6. Evelyn Gallegos, Ira, 26.66; 7. Audrey Tillman, Mertzon Irion County, 27.04; 8. Skylar Stanley, Sulphur Bluff, 27.12; 9. Ava Hawkins, Gordon, 27.68.

1,600 – 1. Taytum Goodman, Earth Springlake, 5:20.31; 2. Sydney Partin, Priddy, 5:34.04; 3. Mariana Sanchez, Imperial Buena Vista, 5:36.41; 4. Daylee Chisum, Jayton, 5:38.85; 5. Kaylee Bezio, Graford, 5:43.77; 6. Lilly Benson, Roby, 5:50.88; 7. Estefania Colchado, Moulton, 5:51.65; 8. Bailey Neal, Sulphur Bluff, 5:51.82; 9. Abigail Huffhines, Aquilla, 5:52.19.

4x400 relay – 1. Ackerly Sands (Elysa Martinez, Lili Porras, Hayley Connell, Landry Morrow), 4:11.05; 2. Happy, 4:13.64; 3. Cross Plains, 4:14.72; 4. Blum, 4:14.89; 5. Gail Borden County, 4:21.85; 6. Tilden McMullen County, 4:22.10; 7. Neches, 4:22.69; 8. Sterling City, 4:22.70; 9. Woodson, 4:31.15.

BOYS

Team totals (Top 10) – 1. Turkey Valley, 51; 2. Cross Plains, 50; 3. Paducah, 48; 4. (tie) Lamesa Klondike, 28; Rankin, 28; 6. Earth Springlake, 24; 7. Tilden McMullen County, 22; 8. (tie) McDade, 18; Cherokee, 18; 10. Wildorado, 16.

3,200 – 1. Brandon Passmann, Guthrie, 9:57.46; 2. Adrian Rosales, Booker, 10:13.25; 3. Ryker Haivala, Cumby Miller Grove, 10:14.00; 4. Griff Reel, Guthrie, 10:14.68; 5. Lance Davis, Cumby Miller Grove, 10:24.89; 6. Cole Fenhaus, Fayetteville, 10:27.73; 7. Tayte Cormier, Mertzon Irion County, 10:34.20; 8. Brandon Timms, Tilden McMullen County, 10:47.55; 9. Elijah Vargas, Loraine, 11:21.76.

Pole vault – 1. Michael Ryman, Hubbard, 14-3 (fewer misses); 2. Kas Johnson, Sterling City, 14-3; 3. J.D. Solis, Iraan, 12-9; 4. Carson Myer, Throckmorton, 12-9; 5. Haygen Dominey, Hubbard, 12-0; 6. Weston Blackwelder, Sterling City, 12-0; 7. Blain Walts, Garden City, 11-6; 8. Sebastian Balcazar, Garden City, 11-6; 9. Brylen Feist, Bluff Dale, 11-6.

Long jump – 1. Dustin Bryant, Wildorado, 22-2 ½; 2. Jaime Mendoza, San Isidro, 22-0 ¾; 3. Cason Allen, Cross Plains, 21-0 ¼; 4. Bryce Virdell, Van Horn, 20-10 ¾; 5. Anthony Cottrill, McDade, 20-6 ¾; 6. Mason Rodriguez, Dodd City, 20-6; 7. Shamadrick Weaver, Whitharral, 20-6; 8. Adrian Valdes, Turkey Valley, 20-4 ¼; 9. Jayden Millican, Zephyr, 19-2.

Shot put – 1. Joey Bond, Cherokee, 170-10; 2. Brody White, Benjamin, 152-9; 3. Avery Williford, May, 143-6; 4. Gunnar Bowles, Turkey Valley, 142-8; 5. Ethan Gregory, Follett, 137-8; 6. Jake Bell, Rising Star, 137-0; 7. Kason Sims, Morgan, 133-7; 8. Risten Cook, Chireno, 123-11; 9. Jonaven Villarreal, Bruni, 121-7.

High jump – 1. Elijah Gaines, Van Horn, 6-10 (Conference record, old record 6-6, Latham Garnsey, Valentine, 2015, Michael Rodriguez, Rankin, 2016); 2. Noah Escamilla, Robert Lee, 6-6; 3. Shammah Stark, Westbrook, 6-4; 4. Liam Anderson, Burkeville, 6-3; 5. (tie) Gage Erwin, Gordon, 6-0; Canon Redwine, Throckmorton, 6-0; 7. Damon Kuehler, Groom, 5-10; 8. Haiden Thompson, Miami, 5-10.

Triple jump – 1. Christian Coker, Henrietta Midway, 45-1; 2. Anthony Cottrill, McDade, 43-10 ¾; 3. Dustin Bryant, Wildorado, 43-10; 4. Colter Smith, Hermleigh, 43-6; 5. Elias Marquez-Peter, Cranfills Gap, 43-0 ¾; 6. Jordan Harrison, Mertzon Irion County, 42-9; 7. David Boschman, Lamesa Klondike, 42-5; 8. Jaime Mendoza, San Isidro, 42-3 ¾; 9. Hunter White, Evant, 37-4 ¼.

Shot put – 1. Theodore Chavez, Lazbuddie, 54-3 ¼; 2. Joey Bond, Cherokee, 51-8; 3. Luis Castillo, Loop, 49-5 ¾; 4. Nike Casteneda, Meadow, 47-5 ¼; 5. Deandre Thomas, Laneville, 45-5 ¾; 6. Aiden Loper, Munday, 44-11; 7. Cole Brauchi, Imperial Buena Vista, 43-10 ¾; 8. Trenton Roberson, Cranfills Gap, 42-9 ¼; 9. Cooper Grenko, Throckmorton, 38-1 ¼.

4x100 relay – 1. Turkey Valley (Adrian Valdes, Parker Hartman, Jaxon Edwards, Blake Beard), 43.04; 2. Cross Plains, 43.04; 3. Paducah, 43.29; 4. Rankin, 43.76; 5. Calvert, 44.04; 6. Matador Motley County, 44.34; 7. Richland Springs, 44.77; 8. Oakwood, 44.96; 9. Dodd City, 45.56.

800 – 1. Isaiah Billingsley, Tilden McMullen County, 1:55.62; 2. Christian Gonzalez, Sulphur Bluff, 1:58.12; 3. Jake Ozymy, Avalon, 2:00.40; 4. Trace Goodman, Earth Springlake, 2:02.35; 5. Jett Jackson, Bronte, 2:04.46; 6. Wiley Gaskins, Ackerly Sands, 2:04.54; 7. Coy Collins, Saltillo, 2:05.20; 8. Wesley Koenig, Aspermont, 2:07.56; 9. Collin Tomas, Saint Jo, 2:08.31.

110 hurdles – 1. Deflton Flemons, Paducah, 14.53; 2. Braxton Ethridge, Earth Springlake, 14.59; 3. Cord Piper, Paducah, 14.74; 4. Quay Lloyd, Roscoe Highland, 15.37; 5. Crae Chapman, Roscoe Highland, 15.48; 6. Hayden Burt, Covington, 15.76; 7. Morgan Mahan, Gordon, 16.17; 8. Blake Allen, Cranfils Gap, 16.21; 9. Nathan Pierson, Laird Hill Leveretts Chapel, 17.86.

100 – 1. LaTavion Mays, Burkeville, 10.95; 2. Jordan Daniel, Rotan, 11.01; 3. Kaden Halk, May, 11.07; 4. Jakyen Wright, Paducah, 11.11 (11.105); 5. Braedyn Woodward, Milford, 11.11 (11.109); 6. Contreal Judkins, Fannindel, 11.27; 7. Mason Rodriguez, Dodd City, 11.31; 8. Albert Esquivel, Bruni, 11.33; 9. Braxton Ethridge, Earth Springlake, 11.46.

4x200 relay – 1. Turkey Valley (Adrian Valdes, Parker Hartman, Jaxon Edwards, Blake Beard), 1:29.68; 3. Cross Plains, 1:30.78; 4. Rankin, 1:31.54; 5. Westbrook, 1:33.14; 6. Abbott, 1:33.78; 7. Leakey, 1:34.13; 8. Gorman, 1:34.28; 9. Cherokee, 1:34.54.

400 – 1. Baret Jackson, Rankin, 50.12; 2. Alexis Serrano, Lamesa Klondike, 50.41; 3. Blake Beard, Turkey Valley, 50.42; 4. Isaiah Billingsley, Tilden McMullen County, 50.72; 5. Trace Goodman, Earth Springlake, 51.40; 6. Christian Gonzalez, Sulphur Bluff, 52.25; 7. Karter Cummings, Blackwell, 52.54; 8. Laine Goode, Blum, 52.75; 9. Laussen McClaugherty, Tilden McMullen County, 53.33.

300 hurdles – 1. Braxton Ethridge, Earth Springlake, 39.18; 2. Cohan Thompson, Calvert, 39.70; 3. Jadeyn Bryant, Richland Springs, 40.12; 4. Sawyer Francis, Silverton, 40.18; 5. Trevin Coffell, Mertzon Irion County, 41.30; 6. William Jude Thompson, Petersburg, 41.57; 7. Brett Clark, Comstock, 42.19; 8. Nathan Pierson, Laird Hill Leveretts Chapel, 42.36; 9. Hayden Burt, Covington, 42.74.

200 – 1. Braylon Williams, Nordheim, 22.50; 2. Anthony Cottrill, McDade, 22.57; 3. Ryan Darcus, Sanderson, 22.59; 4. A.J. Williams, Loraine, 22.73; 5. Jordan Daniel, Rotan, 22.74; 6. Parker Hartman, Turkey Valley, 23.06; 7. Julian Pinero, Kress, 23.38; 8. Mason Rodriguez, Dodd City, 23.53; 9. Marc Matthews, Graford, 23.80.

1,600 – 1. Brandon Passmann, Guthrie, 4:16.05; 2. Isaiah Billingsley, Tilden McMullen County, 4:18.45; 3. Tayte Cormier, Mertzon Irion County, 4:43.47; 4. Ryker Haivala, Cumby Miller Grove, 4:43.69; 5. Adrian Rosales, Bookes, 4:44.67; 6. Lance Davis, Cumby Miller Grove, 4:46.60; 7. Brandon Timms, Tilden McMullen County, 4:48.47; 8. Trea Melton, Mertzon Irion County, 4:48.52; 9. Christian Gonzalez, Sulphur Bluff, 4:59.31.

4x400 relay – 1. Lamesa Klondike (Caden Barron, Alexis Serrano, Stephen Arismendez, David Boschman), 3:27.10; 2. Cross Plains, 3:28.04; 3. Garden City, 3:29.60; 4. Happy, 3:30.71; 5. Fayetteville, 3:31.23; 6. Rankin, 3:32.62; 7. Runge, 3:38.60; 8. Saint Jo, 3:39.27; 9. Gorman, 3:43.51.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Valley Patriots boys win third state track title in past six years