It was an unseasonably warm week in the San Antonio area this past week and the times are starting to reflect that. The athletes are starting to switch from preseason into midseason form which makes me excited because it will not be too long before the postseason comes into focus. Until then, let's take a look at what happened this past week.
The Best Thing I Saw
I made the drive to Smithson Valley on Saturday for their annual Ranger Relays meet. Even though there were only six teams competing, it gave a look at what the Region IV-5A meet could look like because McAllen, New Braunfels, Pieper and Smithson Valley were all competing and they appear to once again have some of the top teams in the Region for both boys and girls. There was no one thing that specifically stood out to me, but what I did notice was potential rivalries brewing under the surface. None of the teams loaded up for the meet, but there were glimpses. I have written many times about the distance firepower of the Smithson Valley girls and Savanah Moya of New Braunfels, but the thing I will be watching over the next two months or more is the showdown between the Smithson Valley and New Braunfels boys sprint relay teams. They are currently ranked second and fourth in the Region in the 4x100m and second and third in the 4x200m. SV took both races on Saturday in close fashion.
Something in the Water
Judson's Ron Faught Relays had many outstanding results from Saturday, but the big thing I noticed was the boys 400m and 4x400m relay races. The competition was memorable and it should only heat up in the coming weeks. In the open 400m, the first sign of things to come was Johnson freshman Braelyn Allen winning his heat in 49.06 as he held off Daniel Pinon (Seguin) and Jason Wright (Judson) who each ran low 50's. In the final heat, it was a mad dash in the final heat. Johnson's Yashiyah Griffin had the lead through the first 300m, but then Benjamin Tealer (Brandeis) grabbed the lead on the home stretch only to lose it in the final 20m to Griffin. Griffin crossed the line in 47.79 while Tealer posted a 48.06 and Abdou Ndiaye (Johnson) ran 48.11 out of lane 1. Judson's Quincy Baker finished in 49.09 making it four runners in the final heat to break 50s. The 4x400m was a fantastic race between Johnson and Judson. Johnson led through the first three legs of Jayden Lea, Allen and Ndiaye although Judson briefly led when they had a great hand off on the final leg, but Griffin immediately took back the lead for the Jaguars. Emaurie Jones of Judson looked comfortable running behind Griffin and made his move over the final 100m and passed him in the final few strides to give the Rockets the victory. Both teams set school records in the process with Judson posting a 3:13.59 and Johnson a 3:13.65. Judson's winning relay posted the following splits; Isaiah Waller (49.5), Quincy Baker (48.6), Carlwynn Young (47.4) and Jones (47.8).
Randolph Girls Team Update
In the San Antonio area we have grown accustomed to the Randolph girls team winning the State meet year after year. Last year, they graduated a pair of the best track athletes to ever come through the area in Taylor Nunez and Sophia Bendet so the question is what can be expected this year? I don't know if they will be able to get another State title this year, but they appear to still have a strong team after their results at the Karnes City Badger Relays. Their 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams both posted quality times (1:44.65 and 4:12.54) while sprinters like Ciara Hyde and Imani Spencer should be strong options to qualify individually for the State meet. Freshman Skye Thompson uncorked the third best triple jump in 3A this year with her mark of 38-0. It is not the same Randolph team as in years past, but they will still be a team to consider for the top prize when May rolls around.
Winning with a Smile
When you talk to Boerne Champion's Juliana Syroney it is hard for her not to smile and she has given the Chargers a lot to smile about this season. Heading into this season, the senior had never run faster than 12.65 in the 100m and 26.93 in the 200m. This year, she is making a case as the top female sprinter in the area. She won both events at the Joe Marsh Dragon Relays last week. She took the 100m in a personal best of 12.03 which is also the school record. At the end of the meet, she continued her string of dropping time in the 200m and won in a scorching 24.45 which is the fastest time in San Antonio this year.
Soaring to New Heights
Smithson Valley's Sofia Mitschke and Geneva's Brady Chandler each cleared some impressive heights this week in the pole vault. Mitschke went over 13-0 for the first time in her career at the Ranger Relays. The junior finished fourth in UIL 5A last year and currently has the top clearance this year. Chandler was the runner-up at the TAPPS meet last year, but like Mitschke, he is ranked #1 in the State currently. He cleared 15-0 at the Bandera Invitational which was the second time in his career to reach that height.
Small Last Name, Big Throws
Kaleb Ned of Stevens is one of a very strong group of throwers in the area this year, but he had a huge performance at the Battle of the Alamo last Wednesday. He has been consistently breaking the Stevens records in both the shot put and discus this year, but took it to a new level this week. He threw discus 161-7 to win by 18-feet over teammate Jaden Gil and then he showed a massive improvement in the shot put. He heaved the rock 61-1 which was nearly seven feet farther than his school record throw from the previous week. It will be fun to watch what he can get to this season. The junior has gone from a good thrower to a great thrower in a short amount of time.
Savanna O, Two-Sport Athlete
Canyon Lake's Savanna Oberholtzer is a rare athlete that gets the opportunity to excel in two sports at the same time. She is a top sprinter and horizontal jumper for the Hawks who currently ranks first in Region IV-4A in the long jump (18-5) and she also runs on their 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams that are also ranked first in the Region. She is doing all of this while starring on the soccer field where she has scored over 50 goals for the Hawks. That is 50 goals this season and not just for her career which would also be an impressive figure.
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).
Devine Boys, 4x100m Relay, 42.77 (Enoch Hall, Rowdy Esparza, Mikey Rodriguez, Ryan Weinkam)
Cyelan Whitley, Clemens, Discus, 166-3
Marion Boys, 4x100m Relay, 42.29 (Jaylen Reese, Tanner Otis, Aaron Salinas, Kolten Rios)
Kaleb Ned, Stevens, Shot Put, 61-1
Kaleb Ned, Stevens, Discus, 161-7
Cornerstone Boys, 4x100m Relay, 42.37 (Jaylen McKane, Josiah McNeil, Deshaun Horn, Elijah Fayall)
Judson Boys, 4x400m Relay, 3:13.59 (Isaiah Waller, Quincy Baker, Carlwynn Young, Emaurie Jones)
Johnson Boys, 4x400m Relay, 3:13.65 (Jayden Lea, Braelyn Allen, Abdou Ndiaye, Yashiyah Griffin)
Canyon Girls, 4x100m Relay, 48.40 (Ellie Huf, Simac Shayen, Lillian Dubicki, Gizelle Morrow)
Theone Glosser, Reagan, 3200m, 11:16.67
Pieper Boys, 4x400m Relay, 3:19.48 (Bryce Harrison, Ben Aibel, Archer Garate, Cash Lancaster)
Connor Hinojosa, Pieper, Shot Put, 48-3
Skylar Carter, Pieper, Triple Jump, 38-9.75
Nyessa Dumas-Perry, Pieper, Shot Put, 34-3
Juliana Syroney, Boerne Champion, 100m, 12.03
Around the City
The Battle of the Alamo was won by the Harlan boys and girls this year at Alamo Stadium. Freshman Erik Garza led the Harlan boys by winning the 800m (1:58.00h) and 1600m (4:34.84h). They also had field event victories in the long jump (Damari Fields), triple jump (Noah Folks) and pole vault (Malachi Johnson). Avin Houston of Central Catholic won the 110mh in 15.21h and was second in the 300mh (41.57h).
The Harlan girls won a close match up over Taft. Nyla Folks won the triple jump (35-9) and Kiara Shaw took the shot put (34-11) for Harlan. In addition, Dessalyn Rogers took the 100m title in 11.45h while Alexa Mitchell was the 100mh champion in 14.89h. Adelyn Miller was Taft's big winner taking the 3200m (11:30.18h) and 1600m (5:22.65h).
There were a couple impressive performances at the Comfort Relays. Carter Pape of Comfort took the long jump with a huge leap of 23-3.5. Blanco's Gretchen Grosch had a big day winning the 400m in 1:02.09 while taking third in the 100m (12.92) and 200m (26.56).
The Devine boys and girls kept up their winning ways by winning the Bandera Invitational. Rowdy Esparza led the winning team by taking the 400m in 48.67 and running legs on the winning 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams. The 4x100m team crossed the line in 42.77 while Esparza anchored the 4x400m team to a time of 3:22.20 as they edged out Antonian who ran 3:22.73. Jackson Kerth (Tivy) continued to launch implements far into the air. He won the shot put (61-6) and discus (159-3). Breydan Gherman (Bandera) took both sprint titles by running 11.16 in the 100m and 22.75 in the 200. Lytle freshman Jacob Cantu was a double winner in the 1600m and 3200m.
The Devine girls were led by the 1-2 punch of Kylie Monreal and Rylie Wells. Monreal won the 100mh (16.05) and long jump (16-8.5) while Wells won the triple jump (36-6.5) and was second to Monreal in the 100mh (16.08) and long jump (16-5). Bandera's 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams were impressive in their victories. The 4x200m team finished in 1:45.63 while the 4x400m team posted a winning time of 4:11.16.
The Brennan boys won the Harlandale ISD Relays by a comfortable margin over Reagan. The 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams each won for the Bears while Quentin Jones was a double winner in the triple jump (45-9) and pole vault (14-0). Brennan's Samuel Perryman ran two quality races in the 110mh (14.54) and 300mh (39.98) but came up short against Jack Hollimon (Alamo Heights) who posted times of 14.50 and 38.19, respectively. The 200m was the headline event with Clark's Tristan Childs winning in 21.82 while teammate Preston Harrington was second in 22.24 and Reagan's Dylan Delany was a close third (22.26).
The Brennan girls also took the title at Harlandale, but only by 2.5 points over Alamo Heights. The Bears were led by their sprint relay team that each won. The 4x100m team ran 48.99 while the 4x200m team crossed in 1:43.08. Southside's Emarald Aguirre was the only individual double-winner taking the 1600m and 3200m. Clark received a strong performance from Leona King who won the 100mh (15.38) while Alzara Mysliwiec had the best win for Alamo Heights with her time of 12.30 in the 100m.
The Clemens boys looked strong again while winning the Joe Marsh Dragon Relays. Sean Gonzalez keeps on winning the 800m (1:56.87) and 1600m (4:18.22) for the Buffaloes. Gonzalez led a group of seven runners who broke 4:30 for the 1600m. Nehemiah Parson (Southwest) and Kalobe Rond (Churchill) had a spirited 100m that was won by Parson, 10.87 to 10.96. Cyelan Whitley (Clemens), Blake Stehling (Boerne Champion) and Case Dierschke (Clemens) had a great discus competition. Whitley won with a throw of 166-3 while Stehling went 164-8 and Dierschke tossed it 159-3. Stehling also won the shotput with a heave of 52-8.
Medina Valley took home the girls Dragon Relays title thanks to massive performances by Kiyana Perez, Trinity Pinto and Ella Rodriguez. Perez won the 100mh (15.30), 300mh (45.97) and high jump (5-6). Pinto took the 400m in 57.52 and three others also broke 60s. She nearly matched her school record running 25.42 to finish second in the 200m. Rodriguez, a freshman, won the 3200m in 11:31.02 and settled for second place in the 1600m (5:12.12) behind Churchill's Kallie Van Prooyen who ran 5:05.94. The 4x400m relay team of Madison Pinto, Matilda Kollie, Camia Patterson and Trinity Pinto posted a winning time of 3:59.41.
The Davenport boys won the team title at the Navarro Panther Relays by 15 points over Wimberley. The sprinters were the stars of the meet. In the 100m, Josh Johnson (Davenport), Jace Morales (Canyon Lake) and Evan Rodriguez (Navarro) all broke 11s and finished in that order. The 200m featured Josiah Saberon (Navarro) who won in 22.08 but Morales and Caden Scott (Davenport) finished close behind him. The Marion sprint relay teams also shined brightly. Their 4x100m squad won in 42.29 while the 4x200m team won by a second over Wimberley in 1:28.94.
Canyon Lake won the girls team title at the Navarro Panther Relays with 190 points. Aubrey Avey and Kennedy Grindle each won two events for the Hawks. Avey took the 200m in 26.20 and the 400m in 59.72 while Grindle won the 100mh (15.52) and 300mh (47.64) while adding in a second place in the pole vault clearing 11-0. Canyon Lake is also blessed with many strong short sprinters and they won the 4x100m in 48.65 and the 4x200m in 1:45.07. Lilia Flo (Navarro) and Corina Joyce (Wimberley) were strong in the distance races. Flo took the 3200m in 11:41.71 and was second to Joyce in the 1600m with a time of 5:14.04. Joyce crossed the line in the 1600m in 5:12.96 and she also won the 800m in 2:21.51.
The Madison boys and girls each won the Edgewood ISD Meet #2. Alejandro Quijano and Jayden Williams led them in the hurdles. Quijano won the 300mh (41.04h) and was second to Williams in the 110mh. Malakai Iverson (Somerset) was a double winner in the 100m (10.68h) and 200m (21.33h). Cyani Ingram led the Madison girls by taking both throwing events. She tossed the shot put 41-2.5 and the discus 107-0. Somerset's Kamryn Williams nabbed a pair of victories in the hurdles while Duprasia Beets (Jay) won the 200m (25.05h).
At the Jack Randall Floresville Relays, sophomore Kaden Cypert of the home squad took the gold medal in the 1600m (4:24.12) and the 3200m (9:37.04). Chauncey Moon of Cornerstone took home the 200m title in 21.96 and he also won the long jump with a mark of 20-9.75. He was also part of the winning 4x100m relay team that won in 42.76. Pierson Pilgrim (Pleasanton) cleared 14-0 to win the pole vault event.
Alexis Doege of Floresville was the big winner in the girls meet. She won the 800m (2:27.37), 1600m (5:30.89) and the 3200m (11:35.74) with a herculean effort. Her teammate, Carley Lang, won the long jump with a leap of 17-1. The Pleasanton 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams won both races with times of 1:48.44 and 4:13.92, respectively.
The Ron Faught Relays at Judson had many great results so it is hard to narrow it down. The Judson boys went really low in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays. They ran 41.28 in the 4x100m and won the 4x200m in 1:24.24 and Wagner finished fourth, but still ran 1:26.44. Channon Davis (Wagner) won a tough 800m race that had five runners under 2:00, but he ran 1:53.60 which is the fastest time in the area and second fastest time in the State this year. Sotomayor's Gavin Robinson cleared 6-8 in the high jump to win the event.
The girls results at the Ron Raught Relays were headlined by the 4x100m and 4x200m relays. In each case, Steele won a tight race against Brandeis. In the 4x100m they ran 47.85 and 47.91 and then in the 4x200m relay it was 1:40.88 and 1:41.55. Jenesis Cordero of Judson won both the 200m (25.01) and 400m (56.46) in a race the featured five runners under 60s. Lauren Dobbins (Steele) and Leila Smith-Harris (Brandeis) had a photo finish in the 100m with Dobbins winning in 12.28.
The Reagan girls won the Canyon Cougar Relays with 157 points. The Rattlers were led by Gabriella McHugh who was top-3 in the long jump (17-6), triple jump (36-1) and 300mh (46.39) while also contributing on relays. The 4x100m relay team won in 47.00, the fastest time in the area this year. Reagan also went 1-2 in the shot put with Isabella Green winning with a throw of 38-3.25 and Esmae Schaeffer was second with a mark of 35-0.25. Nellie Mauritz-Barboza of San Marcos had an impressive meet clearing 12-0 in the pole vault and running 1:00.27 to take third in the 400m. Johnson's Isabella Porter (11:14.30) and Reagan's Theone Glosser (11:16.67) both excelled in the 3200m.
The top performances for the boys at the Canyon Cougar Relays start with Rowdy Proctor of San Marcos. He won the high jump (6-6) and was third in the 110mh (16.20). Johnson's Angel Olmo won the 800m (1:59.02) and was runner-up in the 1600m (4:35.37). Canyon's Connor Kovalski cleared 14-6 in the pole vault to win.
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.
Kendall Fallon, Davenport, Tulsa
Tate Taylor, Harlan, Texas Tech
Mia Villanueva, Canyon, Texas Lutheran
Lauren Pardo, Canyon, Henderson State
Aryiel Sherman, Reagan, Biola
Sadie Larson, Pieper, Tarleton State
Frances Scotello, Lytle, UNLV
Lilly Koenig, Smithson Valley, Texas Tech
Jaelyn Moore, Cornerstone, Dallas Baptist
Juliet Osuna, Cornerstone, Carson-Newman
Elizabeth Leachman, Boerne Champion, Stanford
Maverick James, Steele, UIW
Aaron Garcia, Boerne, Lamar
Sadrac Castillo, Jefferson, Our Lady of the Lake
Klayre Cook, Lytle, Texas Lutheran
Next Week
With Spring Break just around the corner there are not as many local meets as there have been the past few weeks. Cornerstone hosts the Warrior Invitational on Wednesday and then Judson, Alamo Heights and Davenport host meets on Thursday. Central Catholic and Lytle will each be hosting a meet on Friday. The Alamo City Mile and Relays will be on Friday and Saturday at Antonian HS.It was an unseasonably warm week in the San Antonio area this past week and the times are starting to reflect that. The athletes are starting to switch from preseason into midseason form which makes me excited because it will not be too long before the postseason comes into focus. Until then, let's take a look at what happened this past week.
The Best Thing I Saw
I made the drive to Smithson Valley on Saturday for their annual Ranger Relays meet. Even though there were only six teams competing, it gave a look at what the Region IV-5A meet could look like because McAllen, New Braunfels, Pieper and Smithson Valley were all competing and they appear to once again have some of the top teams in the Region for both boys and girls. There was no one thing that specifically stood out to me, but what I did notice was potential rivalries brewing under the surface. None of the teams loaded up for the meet, but there were glimpses. I have written many times about the distance firepower of the Smithson Valley girls and Savanah Moya of New Braunfels, but the thing I will be watching over the next two months or more is the showdown between the Smithson Valley and New Braunfels boys sprint relay teams. They are currently ranked second and fourth in the Region in the 4x100m and second and third in the 4x200m. SV took both races on Saturday in close fashion.