Photo of Reagan's Sam Abati
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The outstanding performances continued to come in this week with the Area meets. Heading into the Regional meets this weekend the competition will get even tougher. A few local schools have put a large amount of entries into the Regional meet but that does not necessarily mean that we can expect big point totals. The teams with the best of the best athletes will be the teams that prevail with Regional titles this week.
Packing a Punch
There are not a lot of 2A schools in the San Antonio metro area, but two that fit the bill are in good shape for the Regional meet in Kingsville, Falls City and Stockdale. The Falls City boys had all three relay teams advance and the 4x400m team won the gold at their Area meet with a time of 3:23.34. Individually, they are led by Jacob Swierc who advanced in the 200m and 400m and he won the 400m in 49.64. Stockdale has three individuals to follow this weekend: Camden Derricoatte, Xavier Hernandez and Taylor Warrick. Derricoatte won the 110mH, long jump and triple jump while also advancing in the 300mH. His best event is likely the 110mH in which he ran 14.74 last week. Hernandez took third in the shot put with a heave of 45-2.5. Warrick is the team's top distance runner and he advanced in both the 1600m (4:32.74) and 3200m (10:05.94) while posting solid times.
The Falls City girls also had all three of there relays teams advance as the 4x100m and 4x200m teams each took gold while the 4x400m team finished in second. All three have a chance to make the State meet. Cayla Albers appears to be at the top of her game for Falls City after winning the discus with a throw of 144-10 and the shot put with a toss of 41-11.25. Stockdale's top qualifiers were Haven Williams in the 100m (12.95), Sydney Wyrwich in the 400m (58.54) and Peyton Keller in the 300mh (47.64) and high jump (5-0). They also had their 4x100m and 4x400m teams advance.
AAA in Name Only
The Randolph girls have won the last two 3A State titles and appear set to go for a third straight title, but they are not the only top competitors at that classification in San Antonio. Cole's Maddison Kitson ran a qualifying time of 46.39 in the 300mH while Marion's Maggie Rudisaile moved on in the pole vault by clearing 11-6. For Randolph, Sophia Bendet and Taylor Nunez are the stars. Bendet flew through the 800m in 2:10.13 and the 1600m in 4:54.24 and will hope to defend both State titles in a few weeks. Nunez did not have her best performances of the season, but it was still enough to win the 100m, 200m and long jump and put her in position to win all three events for the third straight year. Both Bendet and Nunez run on the Randolph 4x400m team that is ranked #1 in the State and ran 3:54.00 last week.
The Randolph boys will also be hoping to make some noise at the State meet this year. They are led by Josh Howard who ran 9:39.60 in the 3200m this past week but he will have to deal with district-rival Isai Moran of Great Hearts Northern Oaks who ran 9:33.89 and led the GHNO to a State Cross Country title in the Fall. Randolph's 4x200m team will be tough to beat and they ran 1:28.00 last week. Cole's James Livingston posted a huge personal best in the triple jump going 45-3.5 as well. GHNO's Joshua Cornelius only went 6-2 in the high jump last week but is ranked first in the Region with a best height of 6-6 this year.
Preparing for Fireworks
San Antonio has some outstanding 4A teams in the area with Boerne, Canyon Lake, Davenport, Fredericksburg and Wimberley all looking to at potential team Regional titles. Right now, the favorites would be the Fredericksburg girls and the Boerne boys who each won Area titles last week. Fredericksburg received a few outstanding field event performances this past week with Madison Wright and Reese Sagebiel dominating the shot put as both threw over 37-feet and Addie Schoessow posted a mark of 37-5.75 in the triple jump. They also feature a trio of outstanding runners in Ann Claire Cop, Rilyn Grona and Taylor Grona. Canyon Lake boasts sprinter Savanna Oberholtzer in the 100m (12.17) as well as one of the top distance runners in the State in Cadence Patterson. Both teams have top-level 4x100m relay teams.
There are also some other girls who should be aiming for podium finishes this week. Kendall Lemm of Boerne cleared 5-8 in the high jump while Wimberley's Juniper Daniel went 5-4. Bandera's Kinlee Lawlis has been coming on strong to close the season and ran 12.19 in the 100m and 24.79 in the 200m. The triple jump is also a loaded event with YWLA's Ava Romero and La Vernia's Tyler Miles each jumping over 36-feet to join Schoessow at the Regional meet. Davenport posted wins in both the 4x200m and 4x400m last week.
The Boerne boys were led by sprinters William Freeman and Charlie Stahl. Freeman won the 100m in 10.70 while Stahl took the 200m in 21.72. Each were part of their winning 4x200m team that ran 42.13. Giovonni Borjas of Fredericksburg also ran a great time of 22.00 in the 200m. Wimberley's long jumpers Ethan Talley and Nolan Waida should both compete for a Regional title in the event this week. In the triple jump, both Jeremiah Conaway of YMLA and Gianni Evans-Williams of Davenport went 45-3. Unfortunately, the Region boasts a pair of 48-foot triple jumpers.
5A Boys Region Preview
I spent a lot of time this weekend poring over the results to come up with my Region previews for the 5A and 6A boys and girls starting with the 5A boys. Boerne Champion were the Regional champs last year and they should once again be in the fight for a title after qualifying eight individuals and a pair of relays. Their 4x200m team is ranked third in the Region while Hayden Brace has the top triple jump of 45-11.25 and made the State meet last year. They are expected to score in 10 events, but I don't think it will be enough.
Seguin could also be in the mix for the Regional title despite only qualifying two individuals and two relays for the meet. They come in with the top 4x100m and 4x200m teams. They have run 40.64 and 1:26.66, respectively this year and would be in the mix if they can win both events. Nik Henry is rated highly in the 100m after running 10:48 this year while Ocean Moreno is expected to pick up some points in the 200m.
It looks like Flour Bluff is the choice to win the title. They have a great sprinter in Zachary Dewalt who has the top times in both the 100m and 200m and they boast the top 4x400m relay team that has run 3:17.73. Trenton Garces is one of the top high jumpers in the Region and has cleared 6-6 this year. Wagner could also be a contender thanks to a pair of strong relay teams and the top 400m runner in the Region, Kevon Carter.
Alamo Heights qualified 16 individuals and three relays while Medina Valley had 14 individuals and two relays advance to the Regional meet. Smithson Valley's 4x100m team and senior discus thrower Jaxson Maynard are each seeded second in the respective events. Southwest Legacy has one of the top individual athletes in the entire meet in Anthony Zapata who is favored to win the 800m and 1600m. Pieper's Kahdyn Freeman is seeded second in the triple jump behind his district foe, Brace.
5A Girls Region Preview
The 5A boys project to be a close team title race, but the 5A girls should be even closer with Smithson Valley, last year's champ, and McAllen separated by a single point after doing my projections. Pieper, Seguin, Boerne Champion and Wagner are each projected for over 30 points but will not have enough to really challenge for the team title.
Smithson Valley is led by their 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams that are each ranked tops in the Region and have run 47.56 and 3:54.18, respectively. Senior Jazmyn Singh is expected to win the 400m to give her four straight appearances in the event at the State meet. Ella Pickron, Avianna Miller and Mia Perez will also need to have strong performances for the team to get a second straight Regional title.
McAllen will have far more numbers at the Regional meet with 19 individuals and three relays entered. They have a strong 4x400m team that could challenge Smithson Valley in a race that could decide the team title. Dariana Luna is ranked first in the 300mH and second in the 100mH while Dana Rojas Vasquez is second in the 3200m and third in the 1600m. Lauryn Menchaca is seeded second in the discus and they are likely to score in 12 different events.
Boerne Champion's Beth Leachman should be the top individual star of the meet since she ranks first in the 800m (2:10.24), 1600m (4:40.47) and 3200m (9:43.74). The 800m should be her toughest race with Isabel Conde de Frankenberg of Cedar Park in the field. Lockhart has a pair of athletes to follow in Jade Selmon in the 100mH and Rakaia Walker in the 100m and 200m. Both have a chance to qualify for the State meet. Medina Valley qualified 22 individuals and three relays for the meet but are only projected to score eight points.
Pieper is led by Caroline Peterson and their 4x100m team. Peterson cleared a personal best 5-9 in the high jump last week and already has a 4A State title under her belt. The relay will challenge SV and has run 47.86. Seguin's Daisha Shular is ranked first in both the 100m (11.65) and 200m (24.03) and second in the long jump (18-4). Nyima Williamson of Veterans Memorial is the heavy favorite to win the long jump and is the only athlete in the Region to jump over 19-feet this year. Wagner's 4x200m team has the top time in the Region this year with a mark of 1:41.55.
6A Boys Region Preview
Brennan has not lost a meet all season long, but they will be hard pressed to keep that going at the Regional meet. Round Rock is the favorite while Steele and Harlan are both projected to score more points than the Bears. Round Rock enters the meet with the top seed in the 4x400m relay, 1600m, 400m, 800m and triple jump.
Steele enters as the top San Antonio team with eight individuals and three relays competing. Their 4x200m team has the top time coming in, 1:27.19. Zaire Cunningham cleared 6-7 in the high jump last week and is now ranked first in the Region. They should score in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays and they expect Jaylon Jones and Abdon Mata to get them points in the throws.
Harlan has not beat Brennan all year, but sprinter Tate Taylor and their 4x100m team are expected to tally 40 points. Taylor is ranked first in the 100m (10.34) and 200m (20.78) while the relay team has run 41.56. Brennan is right behind Harlan in the 4x100m with a time of 41.58 and their 4x200m should challenge for the title. Javyn Dolton in the triple jump and Zachary Miller in the 3200m are Brennan's best chances to score elsewhere.
Clemens could be in the mix if their 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams have banner days. They also have Joshua Jackson who has gone 24-1.5 in the long jump and their hurdlers are a threat to score points as well. Reagan was the team champion a year ago but will likely fall short this year unless they can post some surprising performances. They are led by Sam Abati who is the top pole vaulter in the State and has cleared 17-feet on six occasions. Gavin Chapa should score in the 800m and 1600m and Ryan Ramirez is seeded second in the discus.
Taft has a chance to get both of their hurdlers, Malik White and Ja'Dan Keiler, into the State meet. Whie is ranked first in both hurdle events while Keiler is #2 in the 300mH and is entered in the 110mH. They are both part of their strong 4x200m team as well.
A few others to follow include Nick Ross of Warren in the 100m and 200m, Hayden Scott of Brandeis in the 1600m and 3200m, Alejandro Rosales of Churchill in the 800m, DeAnthony Anderson of East Central in the triple jumpe, Waylon McKenzie of O'Connor in the discus and Elijah Hernandez of Sotomayor in the 400m who each have a chance to win their individual event. The Sotomayor 4x400m team is a threat to win as well.
6A Girls Region Preview
It may not seem like Reagan should be heavy favorites to win the Regional title for a sixth straight time but that is exactly where we stand heading into Friday. The Rattlers boast three excellent relay teams as well as sisters Isabella and Mackenzie Dagrosa. They are ranked first or second in each relay. Isabella is seeded first in the 100mH (13.90), 300mH (41.95) and second in the long jump (19-3). Mackenzie is ranked first in the high jump after clearing 6-0 two weeks ago and she has consistently cleared 5-10. Aryiel Sherman should also score points in the high jump and Nnenna Opara has run 24.65 in the 200m.
Harlingen is the pick to take home runner-up honors thanks to their two studs, Faith Franklin and Jazmine Thompson. Franklin is ranked first in the 200m and 400m and will be joining the Dagrosa twins at Vanderbilt next year. Thompson is seeded first in the shot put (45-3) and discus (153-3). They also have a 4x400m team that is ranked second behind Reagan.
Harlan should score a bunch of points thanks to Iyanna Webb who has been great all year but has taken her performance to another level during the championship season. She is ranked first in the long jump (20-6.5) and triple jump (42-1.25), second in the 100mH (14.26) and fourth in the 300mH (44.14). The Hawks have a strong 4x200m relay team that could challenge for the Region title and have run 1:40.09 this year.
Johnson is the only other local team expected to score at least 30 points. They should get most of those points from their 4x100m team that is the top seed with a time of 46.94. Taylor Fuentespina has cleared 12-1 in the pole vault and is seeded second. Jera Salters has a chance to score in both throwing events for the Jaguars.
Brennan boasts Caila Lyons who is the second seed in the 400m and 800m and was the State runner-up in the 800m a year ago. Giana Brown has thrown 133-9 in the discus and is ranked second for the Bears.
Steele has three entered in the triple jump and Justice Boston and Anaiya Wood are each expected to score points in the event. Boston is also ranked fourth in the long jump and will have a chance to qualify for the State meet in both events. Hailing from the same district, Judson has one of the top 4x400m teams in the Region and could score well in the hurdle events if things break the right way. Brandeis will also be in competition for the gold medal in the 4x400m.
School Records
In this section, I want to highlight the new school records that were set during the week. I need coaches to please let me know when you have a new record set. Either email me at shanemeling@gmail.com or message at me @ShaneMeling on X (Twitter).
Kinlee Lawlis, Bandera, 200m, 24.79
Malik White, Taft, 300mH, 37.88
Giana Brown, Brennan, discus, 133-9
Toryn Taylor, Harlan, 100m, 12.05
Davenports boys, 4x400m, 3:27.33
(Moses Falcone, Hayden Gloade, Cal Taylor, Jaylin Morrow)
Looking Forward
I am planning to cover the Region IV-5A/6A meet at Heroes Stadium on Friday and Saturday. The plan to have live video for the meet (FloSports (milesplit.com).