AUSTIN – Brownwood Lion Ike Hall saved the best performance of a stellar senior athletic season for last, capturing two medals – including the Class 4A boys triple jump state title – Thursday at the UIL Track and Field State Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.
“That’s the thing I was hoping for,” Hall said of securing the triple jump state championship. “Last year I fell a little short, came in fifth place, but this year I came back with a whole different attitude. I wanted to win it, and we did.”
With a career-best leap of 48-11.75, which immediately followed his only scratch in six attempts, Hall cemented his track and field legacy.
“After the first jump we felt like we were right on it, so on the second attempt I decided to attack the board and went a little bit over,” Hall said in regard to a strategy session with coaches Bryan Clark and Ryan Jackson. “But the next jump was just perfect.”
The Region I-4A champion, Hall entered the state meet with the second-best regional performance among state qualifiers at 48-4.25 behind Oliver Miles on El Campo. On Thursday, however, the two changed spots as Miles finished second with a best effort of 48-2.5, while Wills Point’s Joseph Rolland (46-7.5) came in third.
Earlier Thursday, Hall earned a bronze medal in the Class 4A boys long jump with a best leap of 22-9.
Hall, who also won the Region I-4A championship in that event, entered the meet with the fourth-best regional jump among state qualifiers. Hall and Bradley Lowman both jumped 22-9 on their first efforts, but Lowman had the best second leap of 22-8.5, which had Hall sitting in second place.
“Long jump isn’t my strong suit but I came in with a good attitude,” Hall said. “I jumped 22-9 first and it set me up perfectly and put pressure on the other people. I was able to set the tone.”
Jalen Lott of Frisco Panther Creek covered a distance of 22.9-25 on his sixth and final jump, which dropped Lowman to second place and Hall to third.
Reflecting on a senior season in which he also led the Lions football team to a second straight district championship and a spot in the state quarterfinals, Hall said, “It’s meant a lot to me and I wish I could do it all again, but it’s time for the next step in life. I’m going to miss it, but I’m going out on top.”
Fellow Lion senior Morsello Hooker also competed in the 4A boys triple jump Thursday as he placed sixth with a best leap 44-7.5, which came on his next to last jump. Hooker entered the state meet with the eighth-best regional performance among qualifiers.
Thursday night, the Region I-4A champion Lady Lions 4×200 relay of Icess Hall, Kaya Phillips, Aniah Hines a Kate Tindol set a new school record with a time of 1:42.79 en route to a seventh-place finish.
Paris (1:39.34) won the state championship followed by silver medalist Iowa Colony (1:39.7) and bronze medalist Alvarado (1:40.46).
Also Thursday night, Phillips returned to the track for the 4A girls 200 meters where she came in eighth in a time of 25:26. Phillips, a freshman, qualified for state by winning the Region I-4A crown.
Jasmine Franklin of Paris (24.18) claimed the state title followed by silver medalist Ashtyn Lewis of Iowa Colony (24.32) and bronze medalist Madison Holmes of El Campo (24.44).
