Brownwood, Early poised to potentially earn state track medals based on regional efforts

May 1, 2024 at 11:43 am Derrick Stuckly

Lion senior Ike Hall is making another trip to Austin, while Lady Horn freshman Jamie Vassar continues to rewrite the school’s record book.

The first wave of Brown County’s 14 entrants at the UIL Track and Field State Championships will compete Thursday as Brownwood and Early are sending a combined seven entrants to the Class 4A and 3A portions of the meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin.

Both Brownwood and Early are positioned to potentially bring home a couple of medals based on regional track meet performances.

For Brownwood, senior Ike Hall enters the 4A boys triple jump – which will start at 2:45 p.m. Thursday – with the second-best regional leap of 48-4.25. Hall, the Region I-4A champion, trails only Oliver Miles of El Campo (48-10.75), while fellow Lion Morsello Hooker – the Region I runner-up – owns the eighth-best regional performance of 44-4.5. The rest of the state field includes Austin Anderson of Needville (47-8.75), Joseph Rolland of Wills Point (47-4.25), Cade Andrews of Sunnyvale (46-0.5), Emote Cross of Center (45-4.75), Ethan Tanck of Sunnyvale (45-7.25), and Ke’Are Riley of Waco Connally (44-2.5).

Early freshman Jamie Vassar, who has re-established the school record in the girls shot put multiple times this season, is one of just 3A state competitors to clear 40 feet at regionals.

Vassar – who competes at 12:30 p.m. Thursday – hurled the shot a season-best 40-9.5 feet at regionals, which trailed only Bree Lewis of Coahoma (41-1.75). Those are the top regional efforts among the state qualifiers, which also includes Landrie Valenzuela of Jacksboro (40-5.5), Ashlyn Evans of Hondo (39-7.5), Lyndsie Bosque of Crystal City (39-0.25), Olivia Hildebrand of Whitesboro (39-0), Abby Elmore of Gunter (38-10.5), Jaycee Green of Whitney (38-1.5) and Kristen Betts of Woodville (35-9.5).

Hall is also competing in the 4A boys long jump to begin the county’s day of action at 10:45 a.m. The Region I-4A champion, Hall’s 23-2.75 leap at Lubbock ranks fourth among regional efforts behind Bradley Lowman of Stafford (24-9.75) Jasiah Rivera of Kingsville (24-1.25) and Jalen Lott of Frisco Panther Creek (23-4.75). The rest of the field features Garrett McNeil of Huffman Hargrave (22-8.25), Grant Jones of Burnet (22-7.5), Collin Miller of Canyon Randall (22-0), Cade Andrews of Sunnyvale (21-8.5), and Garrett McNeil of Huffman Hargrave (22-8.25).

Early’s Camden Myers is competing in the 3A boys high jump at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, where the entire field of nine competitors is separated by 2 inches. Myers cleared 6-4 to finish second at the Region I-3A meet in Abilene as the state field is comprised of Tatum’s Cayden Tatum (6-6), Vernon’s Kameron Plyler (6-5), Warren’s Lewis Petty (6-5), Santa Gertrudis’ Daniel Mendietta (6-4), Northern Oaks’ Joshua Cornelius (6-4), Idalou’s Houston Stark (6-4), Franklin’s Devyn Hidrogo (6-4), and Pottsboro’s Peyton Willits (6-4).

In Thursday evening’s running finals, the Brownwood Lady Lions will be represented in a pair of events.

At 7:30 p.m., Region I-4A champion Kaya Phillips will run in the 200 meters, where her 25.38 time in Lubbock ranks eighth among the state field. The rest of the competitors include Paris’ Jasmine Franklin (24.33), Iowa Colony’s Ashtyn Lewis (24.45), Houston North Forest’s Carde Moore (24.71), El Campo’s Madison Holmes (24.84), Freeport Brazosport’s Ahmasia Brown (24.85), Tyler Chapel Hill’s Aryssa Cooper (25.01), Dallas Lincoln’s Naomi Jones (25.18), and Monahans’ Adilene Gonzalez (25.46).

At 6:25 p.m. Thursday, the Region I-4A champion Lady Lions 4×200 relay team of Phillips, Icess Hall, Aniah Hines and Kate Tindol will test their mettle against the state’s elite.

Brownwood’s 1:44.73 time at regionals is also eighth-best among the state field, which is comprised of Paris (1:40.42), Alvarado (1:40.77), Waxahachie Life (1:41.62), Brookshire Royal (1:42.06), Gilmer (1:42.91), Iowa Colony (1:42.89), Little Cypress-Mauriceville (1:43.14), and Decatur (1:45.16).

May and Zephyr athletes will compete in the Class 1A portion of the meet Saturday.

Taking part for May will be the Lady Tigers 4×200 relay of Chloe Lord, Jordyn Gerhardt, Ariel Palmer and Kenleigh Williford, Ben Harrell in the boys 200 meters, Kenleigh Williford in the girls long jump, and Amanda Harrell in the discus.

Zephyr’s contingent includes Haley Eason in the girls triple jump and long jump, and Ronni McClain in the girls pole vault.