Rylee Hampton will look to defend her 2023 UIL 6A hurdle championship
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The Region 3-6A track and field championships will be must-see-tv. Luckily, we'll have the live stream for you to watch.
What you'll want to keep an eye out for is basically the entire meet. However, there are some can't miss events.
The boys 4x100 relay has the fastest team ever looking to qualify for state. Atascocita will have to fend off a field that has four teams under 41-seconds on the season.
The hurdle events will have one of the best on both the girls and boys side to ever run in Texas and state meet team title chances are hanging in the balance at this meet.
Check out the events, teams, and names we have listed for you to keep track of.
6A Boys 800
The 6A Boys 800m is looking to be stacked just like all of the other regions in the state. Everyone will be looking for the wildcard spot for their chance at the state meet.
For perspective, the time for the wildcard last year was 1:55.70, I expect it to be much faster this year.
Returning region champ Jack Musgrave (Clear Lake) is looking to lock up another trip to state. However this year might be his biggest challenge yet. He is going into regionals with a 1:52.74 SB
Ryan Du Plessis (Katy Cinco Ranch) is looking to compete for the win coming into the race leading the region currently in 1:52:32. Ryan is coming into regionals off a near season best of 1:52.77 at area.
Chris Creedon (LC Clear Creek) and Shawn Freeman (Pearland) are also major factors in this race, running 1:52.84 and 1:52:90 respectively. With everyone being so close I truly believe this race will be too close to call. Just know it is going to be fast, as these gentlemen are racing to be in the state meet.
6A Girls 400
The 6A Girls 400m is looking to be the Brook LLoyd (Humble Summer Creek) show with her 52.76 PR speaking for itself. Her 52.76 personal best is currently ranked No. 3 in the country. Last year she ran to a bronze medal at the state meet.
Cailey Duren (Stephen F. Austin High School) is in the fight for a state spot running in the high 54's for both district and area.
OSU commit Madisyn Jackson (Humble Summer Creek) is looking to match Duren for silver. Running with LLoyd through district and area, she is ready to show out for Summer Creek and try to secure state.
If Summer Creek could get both ladies into state that would be huge for their team in points.
6A Boys Sprints
LSU commit Jelani Watkins (Humble Atascocita) is definitely the favorite going into the 100m and 200m races with 10.22 and 20.75 being his season bests. The LSU commit is looking to show out for the Atascocita Eagles in the quest for the state title.
Kevin Bello (Katy Cinco Ranch) could be a factor in with his performances last week at his area meet. He is a forced to be reckoned with running a 10.45 in the 100, 46.04 in the 400m and 21.07 in the 200m.
Jhase McMillan (Katy Tompkins) is the current region leader in the 100 running 20.74. It will be fun to watch McMillan and Watkins face off for the regional crown.
6A Girls Distance
The Girls Distance Field is looking to be stacked with multiple athletes within a seconds of each other.
The favorite in these races is Madison Peters (Pearland) with her 4:51 in the 1600 at Texas Distance Festival and her 10:35 3200 at Texas A&M Bluebonnet she currently leads both events in the region.
Jamie Klander (Katy Mayde Creek) currently sits at 2nd in the 3200 with a 10:41. Coming for the tough Katy area she as proved she can hang with the best in the region.
Still, the bid for the last state spots will be a close one. Rowan Saacke (Katy Tompkins) is going into regionals with a 4:55.86 which she ran last week at area and an 10:43 in the 3200. That ranks her 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the 1600, Katherine Valentine (LC Clear Falls) should not be counted out. She has gone sub 5 twice this season. Once at Texas Distance Festival going 4:57.51 and another at Texas Relays 4:59.57.
Not to go unnoticed Mary Van Dyke (Humble Kingwood) Went 4:57.69 At Texas Distance Festival and also went 4:33.96 in the 1500 at Victor Lopez.
Boys 400m
All-World 400m runner and 2023 UIL 6A 400m champ Jonathan Simms is out for the season. That has the Houston boys smelling blood in the water.
There are five boys in the region who have run 47.72 or better and that will make this perhaps the best event of the weekend.
Kevin Bello (Katy Cinco Ranch) and Elijah Ferguson (Katy Mayde Creek) have two epic races in the last two weeks. The two are sniffing 45-seconds and that could happen this weekend. Ferguson is looking for a return trip to Austin.
With Atascocita teammates Jordan Parker (47.05) and Landon Fontenot (47.08) look for the paces in the prelims to be 47-mid at the least. Fontenot is also looking to make his second straight trip back to state.
Senior Todd Woods (Fort Bend Elkins) ran his 47.72 at the UIL District 19/20 6A Area Meet and he looks ready to compete.
Boys Distance
The boys distance field has been tough from district for many of these competitors, most of the top times coming out of the Katy district. The next three gentleman I am about to mention have been battling every week.
In the 3200 Griffen Saacke (Katy Tompkins) is the region leader with a 9:11.89. He also ranks 2nd in the 1600 with a 4:16.51
Matthew Montgomery (Katy Seven Lakes) enters region with a 9:13.65 ranking 2nd for the 3200. He also ranks 4:18.87 for fourth place in the 1600
Ryder Darcey (Katy) Rolls into region with a 9:18.00 which would put him at 3rd, and a 4:20.20 1600 which ranks him 5th.
Benjamin Pearce (Houston Stratford) leads the 1600 with a 4:16.18, I think him having fresh legs will give him the best shot to make the State track Meet
Chris Creedon (LC Clear Creek) also is seeded 3rd in the 1600 with a 4:17.93, which he preformed off of a triple. He could be some major trouble depending on how he's feeling after the 800.
Girls 800m
This is setting up to be a fantastic race.
For one, not many Region 3-6A races ever go without a little pizzazz or unexpected razzle dazzle.
Tiffany Mugubi (Shadow Creek) has the best time of the year in the region. At 2:09.66, she is nearly two seconds ahead Niamh Collins (Houston Stratford) and her 2:11.21. However, Collins has a win over Mugubi from Victor Lopez, which should make things interesting.
Elizabeth Brooks (Katy) qualified for the state meet last year as a freshman and ran 2:10 early in the 2023 season. However, this year has been more linear for her and she appears to be revving up at the right time of the year with a 2:13.01 season best.
Sophia Nguyen (George Ranch) and Addison Sutton (Katy Jordan) both also head into Saturday with 2:13 races on the season.
Boys 4x400 Relay
The Atascocita boys are looking to run it back for the title this weekend in the 4x400. They enter the regional meet being No.1 in Texas with their 3:11.17 at Victor Lopez.
Without any major errors they should be able take the win and have another shot at a state title at the state track meet.
The battle for the last state spot is between Gelena Park North Shore and Humble running 3:13.35 and 3:14.81. They have battled each other all season long, but now is when it matters the most.
6A District-21 is well represented with all the teams mentioned being a part of that district.
Girls 4X200 Relay
The 4x200 will have huge team implications at state so it will be important for teams to make sure they get out of regionals.
Humble Summer Creek and Shadow Creek are going to go at it. Their season best performances are only separated by three-one hundredths of a second (1:36.81 < 1:36.84).
The two just went at it at Turner Stadium for the Generations Park Inv.
The Atascocita girls could also be a factor in the race, they have run 1:37.29 and could be incentivized to get back to the state meet.
Boys Hurdles
Mason Dossett (Ridge Point) is having another exceptional year. The Baylor commit is the top ranked hurdler nationally with his 13.27; that also makes him TX No. 1 all-time.
However, that doesn't mean he can just cruise to the regional win. He'll have Jayden Keys there who won a third place state meet medal in this event last year.
Also keeping him on his toes should be Bennie Haywood (Atascocita) and Nolan Bartley Atascocita). both are under 14-seconds this year as is Ethan Judge (Shadow Creek).
In the 300-meter hurdles, Keys has the region lead at 36.31 and he medaled in this event last year at state as well.
Haywood from Atascocita at 37.01 leads five other boys who have run under 37.82.
It will take something fast to make the final and possibly even faster to make it to state.
Boys 4X100 Relay
I think it would be a crime if we didn't talk about the boys 4X100 relay.
Some of the best 4x100's in the nation are within Region 3, with Humble Atascocita national record 38.92 leading the nation.
The Atascocita district/area competitor over the last two weeks has been Galena Park North Shore. They are ranked No. 3 in the country with their 39.98 season best performance.
Checking in with the third best time in the region is Katy Tompkins. They've been pretty consistent this season and will be a factor running with a 40.01 season best at Victor Lopez.
Fort Bend Ridge Point has a season best run of 40.68 and they could earn a middle lane putting them square in the middle of the action.
However getting there will be just as tough with Fort Bend Hightower at 41.03, Fort Bend Bush at 41.07, and two others under 41.40.
The question for me is how many sub 40's will we see and who will advance? With state ambitions on the line, I think we could see three, maybe even four teams out of Region 3 alone. However, only two automatically advance and possibly three at best. who will they be?
Girls Hurdles
The 100-meter hurdles have belonged to Kelly Frederick (Humble Summer Creek) ever since the Victor Lopez Classic. She has dipped under 14-seconds ever race since then and has the best time in the region with her 13.63 seasons best.
Frederick's Summer Creek teammate Brianna Rivers is taking to the hurdles very well. She has qualified for the state meet as a freshman and sophomore in the high jump, but her 14.38 has her squarely in the mix.
Madison Ceasar (Houston Cyp. Fair) is the only other hurdler in the region who has a sub 14-second run. Her 13.85 ability that she showed at Texas Relays will keep her in contention for the finals.
Coming from the east side of Houston are Katelyn Smith (Deer Park) and Alaysha Rodriguez (Galena Park North Shore). They went 1-2 at their area meet and will be tough girls to knock out.
With that being said.... The Champ is HERE!
The reigning defending UIL 6A state champion Rylee Hampton (Houston Cyp Ridge) is back on the scene. She had to sit out the entire season, but was cleared to race at the district meet where she ran 14.05.
She followed that up with a 14.00 at the area meet to show that she is getting better and better. The Georgia signee is capable of winning another region title; we all know she is the third fastest Texas girl ever with her 13.18 personal best.
The girls 300-meter hurdles could take blood, sweat, and tears to get into the final and that race will take all the girls have to advance.
Three girls have sub 43-second races this season. Mackenzie Collins (Shadow Creek) sits at the top with her 41.69, Kalen Goodman (George Ranch) is second at 42.58, and Lailah Hudson (Shadow Creek) is the third at 42.89.
It will take their best to get through as there are seven other girls in the region with 43-second races, making this one of the best in the region.
Boys Long Jump
There should be a lot of oohs and aahs and several clap sessions going on at the boys long jump.
Region 3 has four boys who have jumper over 24 feet and another four in the competition wh are over 23 feet.
That is exceptional.
Jayden Keys (Katy Tompkins) has placed third at the state meet each of the previous three years and he has a whopping 25-3 SB.
Kade Phillips (Fort Bend Hightower) at 24-7.5, Jackson Norris (Humble Atascocita) at 24-7, and Jhase McMillan (Katy Tompkins) at 24-0.50 are all the 24 footers.
Rylee Hampton will look to defend her 2023 UIL 6A hurdle championship
Watch Regional Championship Live Streams on MileSplit