Previewing San Antonio District Meets

The last week of the regular season started slowly with many meets canceled due to the weather, but all was forgotten by the end of the week thanks to some stunning performances by San Antonio athletes at the Texas Relays. It is also time to preview the 5A and 6A district meets in the area.

The Best Thing I Saw

Normally, when I am looking at results I like to write down anything that looks good and then I go back through the meet and star the outstanding results. The Texas Relays results are littered with stars in my notebook and hard to choose just one. I originally thought I would pick the Smithson Valley girls distance medley relay as the best thing of the week since they set a new Texas Relays meet record while dominating the event in 11:47.15. However, Randolph's Taylor Nunez won her fourth straight 100m title at the Texas Relays in a nation-leading time of 11.13. Nunez heads into the final month-plus of her senior season in top form as she will try to set the State record for most gold medals at the State meet. She currently has 12 in her three years.

Magic Jumping Beans

Wimberley has been loaded with great jumpers in recent years and this year is no different. Their 1-2 duo of Nolan Waida and Ethan Talley were flying at the Wimberley Texan Relays this past week. Waida jumped a school-record 24-0 to win the event while Talley went 23-6.5. Talley has been improving by leaps and bounds all season long. He started the year going 20-8, then 21-9 and 22-3.25 before Thursday's result. The 24-foot jump for Waida was a personal record by over a foot. He also set a PR in the triple jump going 45-8 at the same meet.

The Intermediate Hurdles

Three of the top San Antonio area girls 300mh went head-to-head at the Tivy Antler Relays. It ended up being a great race that was won by Davenport's Kendall Fallon in 45.20. Earlier in the meet, Fallon also won the 800m in 2:20.56. Fredericksburg's Rilyn Grona finished second in the 300mh in 45.80 after also taking runner-up honors in the 3200m in 11:49.55. There have only been 10 girls in Texas who have attempted both events this year. Grona is by far the best hurdler of the group and she has the fourth best 3200m time. Finally, Boerne's Prisca Igbo t ook third in 45.81 after winning the 100mh in 15.75 to open the meet.

District Previews

District 27-6A Girls - In the preseason, I picked Reagan to win the title and I will be sticking with that choice. The Rattlers have three strong relay teams and a sprint corp that is led by Nnenna Opara. Their depth should be the deciding factor and Aryiel Sherman could be an X-factor at the meet. Johnson has strength in the distance events and Brandeis is outstanding in the 800m and has one of the top individual athletes in the district, London Graham. Both could challenge for the title.

District 27-6A Boys - Johnson was my preseason pick and I will keep them as my choice, but Reagan should put up a big challenge. The Jaguars are strong in the jumping events and nearly every running event. Thomas Bucks is one of the top pole vaulters in the State and they boast four runners who have gone under 1:58 in the half-mile. Reagan is stronger in the sprints and has the top distance runner in San Antonio, Gavin Chapa.

District 28-6A Girls - Brennan is my pick to win this 10-team district that has a lot of talent spread throughout the teams. The Bears will rely upon Caila Lyons and Kailyn Brunson to win everything from the 400m up through the 3200m and Gianna Brown should place highly in both throwing events. Their biggest strength comes in the relays. The most anticipated events of the meet will likely be the 100mh and 300mh where Warren's Syenna Lara, Madisyn Jackson of O'Connor and Taft's Mya Robinson will battle it out.

District 28-6A Boys - Brennan has been the top team in the district for the past few years and should be again. Their top individual is distance star Zachary Miller and they have depth throughout most events. They have the top relay times in all three events this year. Harlan sprinter Tate Taylor and Taft hurdler Ja'Dan Keiler are both threats to be State medalists and O'Connor's Jake Grullon can challenge Keiler in both hurdle events.

District 29-6A Girls - Prior to the season, I picked Steele to be the district favorites, but I have changed my pick to Judson. Darinasia Taylor, Jenesis Cordero and Julianna Dodson give the Rockets a trio of sprinters and jumpers that will be tough to beat. They also have three strong relay teams. Steele should be very competitive and still has a chance to win the title. Kassia Kozarski is the top distance runner in the district and they have a few jumpers that could provide big points.

District 29-6A Boys - I picked Clemens in the preseason, but now I see this as a four-team race for the title with Buda Johnson and Steele as co-favorites while Clemens and Judson are slightly behind. Judson has the best group of relay teams while Steele could dominate the jumps with John Williams III, Donnell Williams and Demaurie Morgan. Buda Johnson's Tanner Major is one of the best throwers in the State and his teammate, Tim Mata, is the top seed in the 100m and 200m. Clemens will rely upon their distance crew and high jumper Christian Dupree for their points.

District 26-5A Girls - Smithson Valley should be the big favorite thanks to a distance squad that delivered a State title during the cross country season. They have top-level talent across many events but will need it because Pieper and New Braunfels each have strong teams. The 800m, 1600m and 3200m should all be loaded events with some of the best 5A distance runners in the State competing. Pieper's Caroline Peterson is a three-time State medalist in the high jump.

District 26-5A Boys - I went with Alamo Heights in the preseason and they will definitely be a factor with three awesome hurdlers. However, Boerne Champion, Pieper and Wagner may all have a better chance at the team title. Champion relies on their distance crew while Pieper leans on their jumpers and three solid relays. Wagner boasts the top 4x200m and 4x400m. All four teams projected scores are within 20 points of each other. Champion projects to have the most points heading into the week.

District 27-5A Girls - Similar to the District 26-5A boys, this district is up for grabs with four teams in contention. I picked Seguin before the season and they still have the two best athletes in the district with Daisha Shular and Leah Brown, but to win they will need help from the rest of the squad. Brackenridge projects to win the meet and they have the best 4x400m team which could be the difference in the meet. The reason to pick Seguin is that they are nearly guaranteed to win at least four events and Kendra De La Garza is the top rated runner in both the 100mh and 300mh.

District 27-5A Boys - Seguin remains the easy pick to win this district. They have the top two runners in every running event and have the best relay teams. Ocean Moreno and Elliot Weaver lead the way for one of the better teams in the entire Region. The fight for second place will likely go to Lanier and a big reason for that is long jumpers Bryan Sanchez and Markeis Dixon.

District 28-5A Girls - I did not know a whole lot about what was coming back to this district in the preseason and went with Jay as my choice strictly because they have Shyniece Davis. Now that the season has happened, it looks like it will be a fight between Southwest Legacy and MacArthur with Legacy winning by a few points. Daniella Okorie and Alicia Galvez will be the main cogs for Legacy. MacArthur's strength lies in the relay teams which are all rated first in the district. Southside distance runner Emarald Aguirre is another one to watch.

District 28-5A Boys - I chose Southwest in my preseason pick but want to switch that to MacArthur. Mac has put together a strong season and should score many points in the hurdles and in the 200m-400m area. Elegant Thompson of South San will likely earn the most individual points in the meet with his wide range of events and McCollum's Jorge Vargas should be a Regional finalist in the 400m and 800m.

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).

Emanuel Francisco, Harlan, High Jump, 6-6

Abdou Ndiaye, Johnson, 400m, 48.77

Jaylin Morrow, Davenport, 400m, 49.50

Dominic Barragan, Pieper, 400m, 51.77

Logan Tennell, Pieper, Pole Vault, 14-0

Nolan Waida, Wimberley, Long Jump, 24-0

Charlie Hanle, Wimberley, Pole Vault, 15-2

Kendall Fallon, Davenport, 300mh, 45.20

Smithson Valley girls, DMR, 11:47.15 (Lilly Koenig, Izabella Sutherland, Skylar Fonseca, Mia Perez)

Boerne Champion boys, DMR, 10:22.84 (Luis Tovar, Jamarri Bowie, Caleb DeHart, Charlie Houck)

Gavin Chapa, Reagan, 1600m, 4:07.82

John Williams III, Steele, Triple Jump, 49-7.25

Kaitlyn Rackley, Marion, Pole Vault, 12-5.5

Around the City

The Pieper boys and Fredericksburg girls each easily won the 50^th Charlie Dobbs Antler Relays in Kerrville. Kahdyn Freeman had a big day jumping for Pieper winning the triple jump with a mark of 46-10 and then getting second in the long jump to Uvalde's Devere Willis by a half inch. Willis jumped 22-10 and Freeman went 22-9.5. Davenport's Jaylin Morrow (49.50) and Tivy's Christopher Buda (49.54) had an exciting race in the 400m. Tivy's Jackson Kerth continued his dominance in the throws winning the shot put with a toss of 57-7 and the discus with a mark of 152-0.

The duo of Madison Wright and Reese Sagebiel led the Fredericksburg girls to the team title. Wright won the shot put with a throw of 40-6 and was second in the discus (111-9) while Sagebiel won the discus with a throw of 117-0 and was second in the shot put (36-6.5). Ainslee Gilbreath and Hattie Gilbreath went 1-2 in the 1600m for Tivy running 5:25.40 and 5:26.90, respectively. Jubilee Felder cleared 5-9 to win the high jump and she also went 5-8 at the Texas Relays.

At the Wimberley Texan Relays, Nolan Waida (long jump) and Charlie Hanle (pole vault) each set school records for the host school en route to winning their events. La Vernia's Ty Carter also had a big day jumping 22-5.5 in the long jump and running 10.78 in the 100m. As usual, the Wimberley relay teams ran well.

The Canyon Lake girls relay teams were outstanding at the Wimberley Relays running 48.90 in the 4x100m and 1:47.20 in the 4x200m. Hannah Hammer of Canyon Lake ran a great 800m in 2:15.20 and Navarro's Madison Gilliam finished second in 2:17.30. La Vernia was led by Karis Carpenter who ran 12.14 in the 100m and Zoe Breitsprecher who cleared 11-9 in the pole vault.

The Texas Relays featured many mammoth performances. Taft's Ja'Dan Keiler finished third in the 110mh with a time of 13.66 and he took second in the 300mh with a time of 36.60. Staying in the hurdles, Aiden Martinez of Great Hearts Monte Vista posted times of 14.10 in the 110mh and 37.90 in the 300mh. George Stenberg of Fredericksburg made the finals in the small school 100m and he ran a season best of 10.68. Randolph's Sophia Bendet and Smithson Valley's Mia Perez crushed the 1600m taking first and third, respectively. Bendet finished in 4:44.99 and Perez was close behind in 4:47.18. Reagan's Gavin Chapa followed them up on the track and won the boys 1600m in 4:07.82. In the 3200m, Elin Latta of South Texas Heat finished second in 10:12.54 on the girls' side and then Boerne Champion's Charlie Houck (9:09.71) and Antonian's John Boland (9:14.77) ran well on the boys' side. Marion's Kaitlyn Rackley won the girls B pole vault with a personal best clearance of 12-5.5. Steele's John Williams III was the runner-up in the triple jump with a big mark of 49-7.25. Finally, the Johnson boys 4x800m relay finished third in 7:51.14 behind the running of Manny Mood, Alexander Williams, Michael Repper-Molina and Kyle Wunderli who all ran 1:57 or 1:58.

Senior Signings

I would like to keep a running tally of all the track and field and cross country signings so please contact me if you notice someone is missing.

Taylor Nunez, Randolph, Texas A&M

Sophia Bendet, Randolph, Texas A&M

Zailey Zimmerman, Smithson Valley, Texas A&M-Kingsville

Mia Perez, Smithson Valley, Texas

Thomas Bucks, Johnson, Penn

Zac Miller, Brennan, Houston

Christopher Harris, Cornerstone, UIW

Alicia Galvez, Southwest Legacy, Houston

Gavin Chapa, Reagan, Texas A&M

Maddie Meinke, Boerne Champion, Western Colorado

Mia Stewart, Madison, Southeastern Oklahoma

Luis Tovar, Boerne Champion, UIW

Michael Repper-Molina, Johnson, Boston University

Jade Perez, Clark, Adams State

Caroline Peterson, Pieper, Texas

Aiden Martinez, Great Hearts Monte Vista, Yale

Aiden Reed, Poth, SFA

Caila Lyons, Brennan, Iowa

Taylor Fuentespina, Johnson, Army

Eli Bliss, Davenport, Trinity

Jorge Vargas, McCollum, Our Lady of the Lake

Crissangel Avitua, Southside, Our Lady of the Lake

Daisha Shular, Seguin, East Carolina

Kelsay Edwards, Taft, Trinity

Kinlee Lawlis, Bandera, Angelo State

Jake Grullon, O'Connor, UIW

Katie Burnett, Reagan, New Orleans

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