WATCH LIVE: THE UIL TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
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The Texas UIL Track and Field season is quickly becoming synonymous with Refugio, Texas. It's a town that most people probably pronounce incorrectly.
The high school takes the town's name sake; as with the pronunciation the track and field program isn't what it seems.
The town, which is well known for the many Major League Baseball contributions of several players and coaches (most notoriously Nolan Ryan) and the several film directors who were all born in Refugio.
It should also become known for track and field.
In Texas UIL track and field, many area aware of programs like DeSoto, Lancaster, etc. However, Refugio should be a well-known name for the experienced Texas track and field fan or historian.
The Refugio boys program is the winningest team in Texas UIL history at the state level. They have a total of 12 track and field state championships.
The girls track program is also becoming an acclaimed track and field program.
The Refugio boys will be looking to add a third consecutive UIL 2A state title next weekend. In 2022 they won over a very good Hamilton squad 77 points > 47 points and and last year they scored 68 points to win over Mason's 42 points.
They have been pretty dominant since their runner-up team finish in 2021. Shiner took home the gold trophy that year bettering Refugio by six points 44 > 38. That is when they realized scoring over 40 points should neet them the first place trophy.
Refugio has since poured on the points in Austin after a drought where they didn't score any points from 2017 - 2019, only two points in 2016, and just three points in 2015.
The point scoring faucet has been turned on and overflowing with it looking like that trend will continue.
They carry all three relay crews into Austin next weekend including the top ranked 4x400 relay (3:22.20) along with the best UIL 2A sprinter hands down in Ernest Campbell, who also has a claim to the best overall sprinter in Texas. Camb
Add Jason Moore who carries the best mark from the Regional Championships (49.21), Kolton Taylor with his third best discus mark (157-09), and Campbell again in the long jump with his regional leading jump of 23-07.75 and the points could come in a flurry.
Not to switch pages so swiftly from the well established boys team, but the Refugion girls are just as legit this season!
They were included in the three-way tie for last year's team state title with Panhandle and Stamford and they will definitely have a hand in things next week as well.
The Refugio 4x100 relay (48.05) comes in with the top regional time. Sophomore Jazmyn Howard will be huge as she has point earning potential in three individual events (100m, triple jump, and long jump). Additionally, the top 400m seed Riley Haug (57.91) can earn big, Carlie McClain (25.83) can score in the 200m, and Ciara Tilley can also pour on the points in the throws (discus (135-0) and the shot put (40-11.75)).
Before last year's three way tie, the Refugio girls were off the awards stand in 2021 with their fifth place finish and 34 points scored.
Before COVID, they finished runner-up in 2019, were champions in 2018, and turned then third place in both 2016 and 2017.
While there is no crystal ball to tell us exactly what will happen next week, you can pretty much count on the Refugio girls and boys having their hands in the mix.