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

AUSTIN — The second day of the 2022 UIL state track and field meet is underway with athletes from Class 2A and 5A competing at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.

On a busy morning of action that included 10 local athletes from throughout the Texas Panhandle, three male athletes fought for their place on the podium and will head back home as bronze medalists.

McLain claims bronze, new personal record

Following a disappointing freshman performance, Pratt McLain had been waiting all year for his chance to make amends at the state meet.

The sophomore made the most of that opportunity Friday morning with a new personal record of 15-feet that was good enough to earn him the bronze medal in the Class 2A pole vault.

"I came in just a little nervous after last year after no height," he said. "That first jump at 13-6.00 really relieved some stress I had been building up all year. Finally, just went out there and had fun with it and jumped. I PR'd and there's nothing better than that."

McLain earned six points for the Greyhounds while fellow sophomore teammate, and first cousin, Michael McCloy finished in sixth place with a jump of 14 feet to add one more point to the team total.

The bronze medalist had missed his first two jumps at 15 feet before realizing what adjustments he needed to make in order to improve toward his personal best jump.

"Those first two jumps were real frustrating because I was over (the bar)," McLain said. "I knew I just needed to do the same thing and fix a little bit when I was in the air. Then it was all good."

Woodsboro senior Anthony Meacham clinched his third Class 2A state pole vault title with a high mark of 15 feet, six inches.

Back-to-back bronze medals for McGill

Amarillo High senior Isaac McGill knew early on that Friday morning's 3,200 was not his race to win.

The pace throughout the first 100 meters was "too slow" for McGill's liking and may have contributed to a performance he was not satisfied with after he crossed the finish line.

The Portland State commit was near the front of the pack throughout the entire race and slipped just slightly in the last two laps before finishing with a time of nine minutes, 15.53 seconds.

He placed behind gold medalist Walker St. John from Grapevine (9:07.78) and silver medalist Ayden Granados from McAllen Memorial (9:08.91).

"To be honest, when we went out in like 23 seconds in the first 100 it was just so slow," McGill said. "I figured that probably wasn't my race to win. I tried to take the lead a little earlier than I thought and I did try. I'm a little disappointed but I know I tried and gave it my best. It was just not my race to win. I needed something fast from the gun if I was gonna win and that just didn't happen today."

McGill finished with his second straight Class 5A bronze medal in the 3,200 at the UIL state track meet and is still set to compete in the 1,600 later in the day.

The Amarillo High Class of 2022 salutatorian is normally very strategic when planning his runs and some overthinking heading into and during the 3,200 on Friday morning may have caused McGill to try a new style during his one-mile race.

"The strategy kind of messed with my head," McGill said. "I'm not as nervous anymore. I could hardly eat this morning. The mile is a fun race for me. It's the cherry on top and I just want to go out there and have fun. That's all it's going to be tonight. I don't know how much strategy I'll have going in. I might just not overthink it."

Frosh Braden finds podium in 2A boys discus

It takes a special athletic talent to make the UIL state track and field meet as a freshman.

Stratford freshman Bryce Braden checks all the boxes.

The future quarterback for the Elks showed off his arm strength Friday morning with a throw of 157 feet, nine inches, to take his spot on the podium as the bronze medalist.

"It's been a great year with winning state in football and everything," Braden said. "Our coaches are awesome. Those guys out there are all way bigger than me."

Braden was the only freshman in the field of competition for that event and finished behind two seniors in new 2A state meet record holder Zach Courtney from Post (186 feet, six inches) and Douglas Brooks from Shiner (161 feet, two inches).

He qualified alongside his older brother Luke — a junior high jumper who finished in seventh with a jump of six feet, two inches — as the only Elks to make it to the state meet this year. The previous experience of playing in front of a large crowd at the state football championship back in December helped Braden calm his nerves when he was in the circle.

"I was pretty nervous, and I was afraid I was going to choke," Braden said. "That ended up not happening at all."

Other results for Panhandle athletes

► Sunray sophomore Mia Gray finished in seventh in the 2A girls discus with a throw of 109 feet, two inches.

► West Texas High senior Lula Nolen placed sixth in the first race of the day in the 2A girls 3,200. Nolen completed her two-mile run in 12 minutes, 17.58 seconds.

► Randall senior Ariyah Gomez wrapped up her high school running career with a ninth-place finish (11 minutes, 46.13 seconds) in the 5A girls 3,200.

► Panhandle junior Landyn Hack followed right behind Braden in the 2A boys discus with a throw of 154 feet, one inch, that earned him a fourth-place finish.

► The third Gruver pole vaulter of the day was sophomore Cadance Holland, who earned a fourth-place spot and four points for the Lady Greyhounds with a jump of 11 feet, three inches.

► Vega junior girls triple jumper Kami Drinnon placed in ninth with a distance of 34 feet, 1.5 inches.

► In the boys wheelchair shot put, Borger freshman Nathan Orcutt clinched an eighth place finish after tossing the shot 12 feet, 3.75 inches while Pampa freshman Sam Watson finished right behind him in ninth with a throw of 10 feet, 10.25 inches.

UIL STATE TRACK AND FIELD MEET

Friday's partial results

Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin

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

Coverage: Follow @byStephenGarcia, @ShawnMoranNews and @annierice_photo on Twitter for full coverage of Lubbock and Amarillo-area athletes throughout the weekend.

Class 2A

GIRLS

3,200 meters – 1. Cassidy Bilsing, Normangee, 11 minutes, 27.20 seconds; 2. Margaret Bartlow, San Antonio Stacey, 11:42.80; 3. Cameron Belcher, Windthorst, 11:48.58; 4. Cassity Turner, Malakoff Cross Roads, 11:52.19; 5. Brianna Leek, Hamlin, 12:10.52; 6. Lula Nolen, Stinnett West Texas, 12:17.58; 7. Autumn Smith, Wink, 12:25.31; 8. Emma Walterscheid, Muenster, 12:44.49; 9. Mattie Burns, Martin’s Mill, 12:46.18.

Long jump – 1. Logan Prater, Eldorado, 18 feet, 1 ¾ inches; 2. JaToryia Barnes, San Augustine, 17-10 ½; 3. Victoria Byrd, Joaquin, 17-9 ½; 4. Whitley Carter, Evadale, 17-6; 5. Jordan Rae, Coleman, 17-1 ½; 6. Brooklyn Lamprecht, Three Rivers, 17-0 ¼; 7. Sloan Spenrath, Harper, 16-7 ½; 8. Cortland Mehaffey, Hamilton, 16-4 ½; 9. Bree Kirk, Windthorst, 16-4 ¼.

Discus throw – 1. Ali Janecka, Flatonia, 132-11; 2. Lauren Olson, Mason, 128-1; 3. Brylee Stewart, Junction, 127-0; 4. Martie McCoy, Muenster, 124-11; 5. Kylie Pugh, Lovelady, 121-6; 6. Mollie Norman, Smyer, 110-6; 7. Mia Gray, Sunray, 109-2; 8. Haylie Warrick, Hawkins, 106-3; 9. Campbell Corcoran, Lindsay, 51-11.

Pole vault – 1. Ella Strickland, Junction, 13-9 ¼ (State meet record, old record 13-9, Desiree Freier, Northwest, 2013; Nastassja Campbell, New Caney, 2018; Emily Fitzsimmons, Austin Lake Travis, 2021; Conference record, old record 13-0 ¼, Ella Strickland, Sunray, 2021); 2. Calle Minter, Bi Sandy, 11-6; 3. Tristin Keller, Mason, 11-3; 4. Cadance Holland, Gruver, 11-3; 5. Reagan Bruner, Cisco, 10-6; 6. Seely Metting, Yorktown, 10-0; 7. Scout Lovell, Lovelady, 10-0; 8. Heaven Chappell, Christoval, 9-6.

High jump – 1. Sarah Cotter, Albany, 5-6; 2. Meredith Magliolo, Schulenburg, 5-3; 3. Amber Harris, Beckville, 5-3; 4. Aerin Thompson, Cayuga, 5-2; 5. (tie) Tylee Jo Bevel, Stamford, 5-0; Jordan Rae, Coleman, 5-0; Alesha Jackson, Price Carlisle, 5-0; 8. Kelyn Gass, Ozona, 5-0; 9. Chesney Machacek, Shiner, 5-0.

Shot put – 1. Meadow Gallentine, Anson, 43-11 ¼; 2. Ciara Tilley, Refugio, 39-10 ½; 3. Kiana Roberson, Albany, 38-4 ¼; 4. Catherine Green, New Deal, 38-0 ½; 5. Harley Medford, Haskell, 37-8 ½; 6. Aleen Nelson, Forsan, 37-7 ¼; 7. Cayla Albers, Falls City, 36-5 ¾; 8. Ariana Neal, Douglass, 33-7 ¼; 9. Saniya Suiters, Marlin, 31-2 ½.

Triple jump – 1. JaToryia Barnes, San Augustine, 40-1 ¾; 2. Logan Prater, Eldorado, 38-7 ½; 3. Kiana Bennett, Shelbyville, 37-11 ¼; 4. Brooklyn Lamprecht, Three Rivers, 36-10 ¼; 5. Lanayah Green, Haskell, 36-9 ¼; 6. Livi Whitehall, Cisco, 35-11 ¾; 7. Jada Johnson, Hearne, 35-11; 8. Jordan Rae, Coleman, 34-10; 9. Kami Drinnon, Vega, 34-8 ¼.

BOYS

3,200 – 1. Caleb Lengefeld, Hamilton, 9:27.20; 2. Abraham Morales, Brackettville Brackett, 9:44.91; 3. Alan Baez, Ganado, 9:46.07; 4. Connor Bartek, Goldthwaite, 9:47.54; 5. Dawson Melde, Hamilton, 9:51.16; 6. Jose Garcia, Cushing, 9:57.15; 7. David Cruz, Fort Hancock, 10:12.42; 8. Noah Godde, Timpson, 10:44.50; 9. Austin Magness, Forsan, 10:51.53.

Long jump – 1. Izaha Jones, Normangee, 23-3 ¼; 2. Jamarquis Johnson, Rosebud-Lott, 23-2 ¾; 3. Colton Deckard, Muenster, 22-4 ¾; 4. Dalton Brooks, Shiner, 21-11 ½; 5. Devinar Roberson, Coleman, 21-7 ¼; 6. Teaghan Knight, Hawley, 21-4 ¼; 7. Jordan Kelley, Refugio, 21-3; 8. Lane Smith, Ozona, 20-8 ¾; 9. Aubrey Woodard, Gladewater Union Grove, 20-5 ¾.

Pole vault – 1. Anthony Meacham, Woodsboro, 15-6; 2. Billy Eaton, Bruceville-Eddy, 15-0; 3. Pratt McLain, Gruver, 15-0; 4. Jaxson Bray, Bosqueville, 14-6; 5. Cade Gayle, Cisco, 14-6l 6. Michael McCloy, Gruver, 14-0; 7. Ty Edgar, Albany, 13-6; 8. Landen LeBlanc, Lovelady, 13-6; 9. Layton Nieman, Woodsboro, 13-0.

Discus throw – 1. Zach Courtney, Post, 186-6; 2. Douglas Brooks, Shiner, 161-2; 3. Bryce Braden, Stratford, 157-9; 4. Landyn Hack, Panhandle, 154-1; 5. Grant Hess, Muenster, 151-8; 6. Erik Castillo, Lovelady, 150-4; 7. Mason Guinn, Hamilton, 146-5; 8. Stryker Leschber, Thorndale, 143-1; 9. Praiyer Jones, Marlin, 119-3.

High jump – 1. Weston Griffin, Era, 6-6 (fewer misses); 2. Jeremy Dezelle, Big Sandy, 6-6; 3. Isaac Jonson, 6-4; 4. (tie) Brennan Anderle, Chico, 6-4; Devinar Roberson, Coleman, 6-4; 6. Ryan Harris, Beckville, 6-2; 7. Luke Braden, Stratford, 6-2; 8. Brody Comey, Mason, 6-0; 9. Keanu Anthony, Schulenburg, 6-0.

Triple jump – 1. Devinar Roberson, Coleman, 47-10 ¼; 2. Terry Bussey, Timpson, 45-10 ¾; 3. Antwaan Gross, Refugio, 44-8 ¾; 4. Caden Soliz, Three Rivers, 44-6; 5. Jaden White, Cisco, 44-6; 6. Jamarquis Johnson, Rosebud-Lott, 44-2; 7. Aidan Leamon, Winters, 43-7 ¼; 8. Leric Eaton, New Deal, 43-4 ½; 9. Cole Chapman, Albany, 42-7 ¼.

Shot put – 1. Praiyer Jones, Marlin, 56-8 ¼; 2. Douglas Brooks, Shiner, 56-0; 3. Quade West, Petrolia, 54-11 ½; 4. Ethan Hollinshead, New Home, 54-6 ¼; 5. Kenneth Cox, Cisco, 51-4 ¾; 6. Kobe Burton, Flatonia, 49-11 ¾; 7. Willy Olvera, Wellington, 49-3 ½; 8. John Hester, Hawkins, 47-3 ¾; 9. Derion Gullette, Marlin, 46-7.

Wheelchair Division

GIRLS

Shot put – 1. Abigail Counts, Lewisville Flower Mound, 17-2 ½; 2. Olivia Molnar, Lewisville The Colony, 14-7 ¾; 3. Skylar Herrera, Richmond George Ranch, 10-5; 4. Katy Broadbent, Lewisville Hebron, 10-2; 5. Ritvika Kondakrindi, Lewisville Hebron, 9-6 ¾; 6. Grace Mooney, Plano, 8-5.

BOYS

Shot put – 1. Ke’Sean Paire, Woodville, 28-2; 2. Weatherton Cason, Henderson, 22-10 ¾; 3. Jaxson Hubble, Canton, 22-6; 4. Nathan Bresee, Mansfield, 21-7 ¾; 5. Vance Ott, Coahoma, 19-9 ¼; 6. Zachary Carter, Monahans ,19-3; 7. Anthony Lara, Idea Edinburg College Prep, 16-1 ¾; 8. Nathan Orcutt, Borger, 12-3 ¾; 9. Sam Watson, Pampa, 10-10 ¼.

Class 5A

GIRLS

3,200 meters – 1. Isabel Conde De Frankenberg, Cedar Park, 10 minutes, 34.13 seconds; 2. Destiny Quintanilla, La Joya Palmview, 10:49.07; 3. Sara Morefield, Lucas Lovejoy, 11:00.99; 4. Maddie Jones, College Station, 11:07.19; 5. Amy Morefield, Lucas Lovejoy, 11:21.22; 6. Anastacia Gonzales, Boerne Champion, 11:29.25; 7. Emma Little, Montgomery Lake Creek, 11:29.74; 8. Ariyah Gomez, Canyon Randall, 11:46.13; 9. Ella Magallan, Burleson Centennial, 12:16.24.

Shot put – 1. Melanie Duron, Laredo Martin, 48 feet, 6 ¼ inches; 2. Madeleine Fey, Midlothian, 46-11 ½; 3. Glennis Woolridge, Mansfield Timberview, 45-9 ¾; 4. Lauren St. Peters, Aledo, 44-10 ¼; 5. Serina Ramirez, Rio Grand City, 44-7; 6. McKenzie Davis, Carrollton Creekview, 43-7 ¾; 7. Ava Roberts, Pflugerville, 40-2 ¾; 8. Alauna Richardson, Frisco Independence, 40-0 ¾; 9. Lauryn Jackson, Pflugerville, 37-6 ½.

High jump – 1. Hannah Pfiffner, Frisco Wakeland, 6-0; 2. Kelsey Slater, College Station, 5-6; 3. Kaci Andrus, Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill, 5-6; 4. (tie) Indiah Maroney, Abilene Wylie, 5-4; Taisha Rhone, Dallas Wilson, 5-4; 6. Jade Ferrell, Midlothian, 5-4; 7. Anaya Potter, Northwest, 5-4; 8. Zaniah Hoskins, Buda Johnson, 5-2; 9. Ava Williamson, Dripping Springs, 5-2.

Long jump – 1. Sanaria Butler, Port Neches-Groves, 19-7 ¾; 2. Taylor Fingers, Mansfield Timberview, 19-6 ¼; 3. Genesis Griffin, Fort Bend Marshall, 19-4 ¾; 4. Princess Miller, Mansfield Timberview, 19-2 ½; 5. Tairah Johnson, Fort Bend Marshall, 19-2; 6. Falyn Lott, Frisco Memorial, 19-1; 7. Faith Shaw, Denison, 18-8 ½; 8. Lily Muzzy, Georgetown, 17-10; 9. Ella Lewis, Leander Rouse, 17-8 ½.

Discus throw – 1. Madeleine Fey, Midlothian, 160-3; 2. McKenzie Davis, Carrolton Creekview, 150-10; Serina Ramirez, Rio Grande City, 149-10; 4. Lauren St. Peters, Aledo, 144-0; 5. Glennis Woolridge, Mansfield Timberview, 141-8; 6. Tierrani Johnson, Marshall, 137-4; 7. Ana De La Garza, College Station, 1228-3; 8. Melanie Duron, Laredo Martin, 123-0; 9. Allison Morris, Pflugerville Hendrickson, 120-3.

BOYS

3,200 – 1. Walker St. John, Grapevine, 9:07.78; 2. Ayden Granados, McAllen Memorial, 9:08.91; 3. Isaac McGill, Amarillo, 9:15.53; 4. Nati Enright, Frisco Wakeland, 9:22.47; 5. Jace Poole, Leander, 9:27.60; 6. Garrick Spieler, Frisco Reedy, 9:32.19; 7. Kevin Hernandez, Donna, 9:37.59; 8. Zade Kayyali, Friendswood, 9:41.17; 9. Celso Pacheco, Lamar Fulshear, 9:47.79.

High jump – 1. Keandre Jones, Port Arthur Memorial, 6-8; 2. Nathanil Figgers, Bryan Rudder, 6-7; 3. Zachar Florence, Hallsville, 6-4; 4. Ricardo Leyva, Clint Horizon, 6-4; 5. (tie) Steven Runels, Lubbock Monterey, 6-4; Kameron Franklin, Frisco Heritage, 6-4; 7. Bradford Jennings, Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, 6-4; 8. Kade Stevens, Friendswood, 6-2; 9. Allen Perez, Roma, 6-2.

Shot put – 1. Alex Williams, Manvel, 56-3 ½; 2. Aiden Gay, Jacksonville, 55-6 ¾; 3. Evan Thompson, Mission Sharyland Pioneer, 55-5; 4. Brandon Schirck, Friendswood, 54-11 ¾; 5. Kevin Adams II, Cedar Park, 54-8 ½; 6. Sheldon Peters, Katy Jordan, 53-2 ¼; 7. Ka’Morreun Pimpton, White Settlement Brewer, 52-9 ¾; 8. Dealyn Evans, Pine Tree, 52-5 ¾; 9. Lucas Williams, Colleyville Heritage, 51-3.

Long jump – 1. Chris Johnson, Frisco Liberty, 24-4 ½; 2. Gavin Champ, Princeton, 23-9 ¼; 3. Ronald De Madet, Frisco Memorial, 23-6; 4. Kai Bynum, Mansfield Summitt, 22-9 ½; 5. William Williams, Magnolia West, 22-2 ¼; 6. Michael Sedwick, Georgetown East View, 21-10 ½; 7. JyAdrian Wortham, Fort Bend Marshall, 21-6; 8. J’Dohn Cannon, Seguin, 21-4 3/4; 9. Kenan Reil, Northwest, 20-10 ¾.

Pole vault – 1. Gavin Hecke, Prosper Rock Hill, 16-3; 2. Nick Loibl, North Richland Hills Birdville, 16-0; 3. Jacob Thomas, Gregory-Portland, 16-0; 4. Colton Harrison, Gregory-Portland, 15-6; 5. Seth Jacobs, Santa Fe, 15-0; 6. (tie) Reece Williams, Burleson, 14-6; Rylan Bethell, Joshua, 14-6; 8. Nathan Williams, Santa Fe, 14-6; 9. Django Segovia, Marble Falls, 14-6.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Three local athletes win bronze Friday morning at UIL state track meet