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UIL 5A Boys 800m
Defending state champion Kepler Huntress (Austin LASA) won the Region 3-5A championships and wanted to end his season in the best way . . . with another state title. However, several top ranked boys were ready to challenge him and they did.
Aaron Crittenden (Killeen Ellison), the third place finisher at last year's 6A state meet led through the firs 300m. Top seed Andrew Lutkenhaus (Justin Northwest) pulled up side- by-side and the duo came through the 400m at 54.0.
Crittenden kept the lead through 500m and 600m with Lutkenhaus still on his hip at 1:24 at 600m.
Lutkenhaus took the lead on the final curve, but it was soon relented to Anthony Zapata (San Antonio Southwest Legacy). Trenton Burningham (Humble Kingwood) and Kepler were closingon strong in the last 100m.
When it was all said and done, it was Zapata taking the win in 1:51.95, Huntress second in 1:52.24, and last year's runner-up Burningham taking third in 1:52.29.
UIL 5A Boys 1600m
The fastest time coming into the meet with a time of 4:16 was Joseph Weinen, a junior from Georgetown.
The pack strung out pretty quickly due to the pace at which they were moving through the first 400.
Adam Burlison, a junior from Grapevine and the winner of the 3200m from earlier in the day had the lead through the first 400 with a split of 1:03.45. David Mora, a senior from Lubbock Monterey and OSU commit, was in second place with a time of 1:03.86 and Ayden Granados, a senior from McAllen Memorial also an OSU commit rounded out the top three with a 1:04.22 split.
Those three separated from the rest and continued to dominate the race pushing the pace. With a time of 2:39 at the 1K mark for Burlison turned on the power.
All three of the front runners were within 3/10 of each other for their qualifying marks. They were definitely on another plane.With 400 meters left Grandos pulled into the lead and tried to hold off Burlison who eventually took the lead back with around 120 left and never looked back.
Burlison won the gold medal with a 4:08.64, Granados captured the silver with a 4:10.83 and Mora came through in third place for the bronze with a 4:13.61.
Adam Burlison smiles after capturing the 5A boys 1600m, his second state title of the day
Photo Credit: Shelton Jolivette/MileSplit TX
