This weekend we saw two amazing UIL athletes compete for the first time at the major outdoor varsity level. Alex Madlock and Bailey Lear are both past UIL medal winners at their former high schools. Due to personal reasons and moving both athletes ended up transferring and enrolling in new high schools for the 2016-2017 school year. Both athletes were deemed ineligible for varsity competition at their new schools and were only able to compete at the junior varsity level. Both Madlock and Lear were allowed to compete up until their district meets.
This weekend at the TTFCA Meet of Champions, both Madlock and Lear competed. This marked the first time this outdoor season either of them went head to head with varsity athletes who were at the highest level of track and field competition in the state of Texas. Their competition was made up of state champions and other top ranked athletes from the UIL, TAAPS, SPC, as well as Home School athletes.
Baylor commit Alex Madlock interviews after winning the long jump at the 2017 TTFCA Meet of Champions
Alex Madlock competed her freshman through junior years at Bangs High School. Each year, she qualified for the State meet in both the long jump and the triple jump. In 2016, Madlock won the triple jump title. She transferred from Bangs High School to Brownwood High School for the 2016-2017 school year. Madlock was ruled ineligible to compete at the varsity level in UIL. This weekend at the TTFCA Meet of Champions, Madlock won both the long jump and the triple jump competitions with a 19-6.5 and 39-8.25.
Junior Bailey Lear Interviews after winning the 400m at the TTFCA Meet of Champions
Bailey Lear competed at McKinney High School her freshman and sophomore years. As a freshman, she placed third at the state meet in the 400m and followed that up with a second place as a sophomore. This year, Lear transferred to Frisco Heritage. Lear was not approved to run varsity this season for Heritage, therefore competing all season on the junior varsity level. Lear competed in the 400m this weekend at the TTFCA Meet of Champions and won the event in 53.02. Despite not competing against varsity competition all season, Lear's performance was good enough to earn her the 5th best performance in the nation, on the season.
