LUBBOCK – Brownwood Lady Lion freshman Hannah Deen, who qualified for the Region I-4A track and field meet in five events, on Friday morning earned a berth to the UIL Track and Field state championships in her first effort of the weekend.
At Lowrey Field, Deen placed second in the high jump with a top height of 5-5, a new personal best which was one inch off the pace of Graham’s Emily Gordy, who cleared 5-6. The top two finishers in each region, and the best third-place performer from all four regions, move on to state.
Earlier this week on the Brownwood Lions Coach’s Show on KOXE, Deen stated she felt she had the best chance to reach state in the high jump.
“I didn’t do my best at the last meet, but on a good day I can jump pretty high,” Deen said. “Looking back I was very scared and I was not expecting to go this far in all my events, but I’m very happy I’ve been able to perform well and do that.”
Later Friday, Deen came in third place in the Region I-4A girls triple jump which puts her in the running to earn the “wild card” berth for state as the best third-place competitor from the four regions from across the state.
Deen and Midland Greenwood’s Presley Watzl both had a best jump of 36-2.25 to tie for third, but Deen’s second-best jump was 35-7.75 to Watzl’s 35-6.75, which decided the regional bronze medalist.
Springtown’s Makenzie Flaugher (37-1.25) finished first and Canyon Randall’s Tenera Gray (36-3) came in second.
In other regional action Friday, Lady Lion Jaslin Jones placed 16th in the girls discus with a best effort of 92-2.
Regional action continues Saturday at Lowrey Field.
The UIL Class 4A track and field state championships will take place Thursday, May 11 at the University of Texas Myers Stadium in Austin.