5 area high schools sending athletes to Texas Relays

Perhaps the most prestigious event in the state is set to start Wednesday, and plenty of area talent will participate.

The four-day, 96th-annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays will be held at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium, and as usual, the field will be packed with elite athletes from across the country, including multiple local products, who were just recently announced as final entries.

Five area schools — Shoemaker, Chaparral, Lake Belton, Salado and Gatesville — will be represented at the event, and Eagles junior Luke Anderson will be the first to compete.

Anderson takes to the track for the 2,000-meter steeplechase Thursday at 8:06 p.m. before returning Friday for a 4 p.m. start in the 1,600.

Also on Friday, Chaparral senior Maddie Fey, who has signed with Kansas, will take part in the first of two events, throwing the discus at 1:30 p.m. The three-time University Interscholastic League Class 5A state discus champion will then compete in the shot put Saturday at 11 a.m.

Lake Belton sophomore Kendrick Jones Jr. — the defending 200 state champion — runs in the Division II 100 on Friday at 1:30 p.m., which is the same time Gatesville senior Barrett Boyd competes in the Division I 100 hurdles.

Friday’s schedule of area entries concludes with Lake Belton’s 1,600 relay team and Salado pole vaulter Jackson Bragg.

The Lady Broncos’ quartet of sophomore Nylah Berry, juniors Chelsie Miller and Maranda Armstrong and senior Emily Bachicha will race as part of the Division II field at 6:40 p.m., while Bragg will battle for the Section A gold medal beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s remaining schedule includes Lake Belton sophomores Bella Garcia, Elianna Watson and Aleya Russell joining Berry for the Division II 400 relay at 9 a.m., and 30 minutes later, Lady Broncos junior Abigail Rydberg and Boyd will each take part in the Section B pole vault.

At noon, Shoemaker senior Kareem Edmon will make the area’s final appearance, competing in the shot put.