Tons of local Central Texas athletes competed at the 2022 UIL state track & field meet in Austin. Read our coverage here: https://wacotrib.com/uil-state-track-field-meet-2022/collection_3cfc5d76-d0f7-11ec-bd5b-5394f0ecf826.html
AUSTIN — The Marlin boys’ 4x100-meter relay team waited to go up to the medal stand at the UIL State Track Meet with steely, possibly angry looks on their faces.
AUSTIN — It’s been a painful few weeks for McGregor junior Darieus Dixon, but he fought through a finish on top.
Dixon suffered an abdominal wall strain at the area meet in mid-April while he was competing in the triple jump. He still had his best event — the 400-meter dash — later in the day, and there was no choice but to gut it up and endure the pain.
“On a scale from 1 to 10 it was like an 8,” he said. “I really couldn’t run like I wanted to. But I still ran a 53 to qualify for regionals.”
Dixon was feeling no pain as he came down from the medal stand early Thursday evening at Myers Stadium with a gold medal around his neck.
The McGregor Bulldog clocked 48.31 seconds in the Class 3A boys’ 400 to win by .64 of a second over Bryan Thomas of Palacios in second place.
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Folks in McGregor consider it a track and field town, so everyone was celebrating Dixon’s title.
“It’s been like six years since McGregor had a gold medal, so it felt pretty special,” Dixon said. “The town was behind my back the whole time, so I was able to do something to make them happy.”
McGregor got another reason to cheer as Dixon anchored the Bulldogs to a bronze-medal finish in the mile relay.
The Bulldogs team of Zach Ainsworth, Sebastian Valdez, Cooper Burgess and Dixon finished in 3:23.43, .64 behind Palacios in first place.
La Vega’s streak of relay victories ended with the first event on the track on Thursday evening. The Pirates finished fifth in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 41.81 seconds.
Melissa edged out a gold medal by a razor thin margin that separated first through third. The Cardinals got the stick around in 41.522, .006 faster than Bellville in second and .007 ahead of Somerset in third place.
La Vega had won seven straight 4A relay titles dating back to the mile relay in 2018, including all three relays in 2019 and 2021. The last time the Pirates didn’t win a relay in which they qualified for the state meet was the 4x100 in 2017 when La Vega finished fourth.
The Pirates finished fourth in the 4x200, missing a medal by .23 of a second, and took fifth in the mile relay.
Ariana Brown claimed La Vega’s only medal of this state meet as she finished second in the 4A girls’ 400. Brown posted a time of 56.64 to finish .22 behind Taylor McFarland of Godley.
Flemings boosts medal tally to seven
Cameron Yoe’s Yierra Flemings had just one bronze medal to show for her first three events at the state meet. She finished fifth in the long jump to start the day, then took third in the triple jump before anchoring the Lady Yoe 4x100 team to a fifth-place finish.
But she surged into the lead midway through the 100-meter hurdles and ran to a gold medal with a time of 14.4. She was .23 in front of Alyssa O’Malley of Merkel in second place.
Cameron Yoe sophomore Yierra Flemings won the 100 hurdles and 400-meter dash, and took bronze in the triple jump, bringing her state meet medal total to seven in two trips.
And then Flemings made it a double golden day by repeating in the 3A girls’ 400. Flemings won the 400 as a freshman in 2021 with a time of 54.98. This time around, she clocked a 55.29 and beat second-place Makki Hart of Shallowater by .71.
“It feels very good,” Flemings said “I’m a two-time state champ (in the 400). I’m trying to get four-time. That’s a little bit part of my goal.”
Cadet’s golden arches win triple jump
Connally junior Jelani McDonald saved his best for his final jump of the season. McDonald posted a mark of 48 feet, 2 inches on his sixth attempt and outdistanced second place Oliver Miles of El Campo by an inch and a half.
McDonald had the fifth best qualifying mark in 4A coming into the state meet at 46-4, but beat that by almost two feet to win the gold medal. He also broke his own Connally school record twice in his six jumps at state.
Connally’s Jelani McDonald won the 4A boys’ triple jump.
Connally junior Jelani McDonald saved his person best for his final triple jump of the season: McDonald posted a mark of 48 feet, 2 inches on his sixth attempt.
Before his sixth jump, McDonald’s best effort was 47-4.25 on his second try. He was feeling the hype with one attempt left.
“I just had some energy,” he said. “I had the crowd behind me clapping, so I can’t let them down. Gotta go. Gotta be great.”
McDonald claimed the silver medal in the 4A triple jump as a sophomore in 2021 with a mark of 45-4.75.
Kucera vaults to gold medal
West junior pole vaulter Laney Kucera cleared the bar at 12 feet, 6 inches, let go of the pole and seemed to be celebrating before she ever hit the mat.
Kucera let out a shout when she stood up in the pole vault pit and the West fans joined her. At that point, she was one of two competitors left in the 3A girls’ pole vault attempting 12-6.
West’s Laney Kucera cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to win the 3A girls’ pole vault.
Moments later, Kucera was standing beside Lady Trojans assistant coach Kari Sowders when San Antonio Great Hearts Monte Vista’s Joy Sherwood missed on her final attempt at 12-6. Sowders gave Kucera a bear hug as the West fans whooped it up again.
“She said, ‘I’m so proud of you, I knew you could do it this year,’” Kucera said about the moment with Sowders. “All my coaches had so much confidence in me.”
Laney Kucera of West High School won the gold medal in Class 3A pole vault Thursday, May 12, 2022 at the UIL state track and field meet in Austin. She jumped 12 feet, 6 inches.
Kucera tied her personal best mark at 12-6, previously cleared at the area meet. She attempted a state-record 13-0.25, but the pole clipped the bar after she let go and she missed it by that much.
Kucera won the 3A bronze medal as a sophomore in 2021at 12-0.
“I came in here thinking I wanted to get first and I wanted to clear 13 to beat the state record,” she said. “I said, ‘I’ll do anything I have to do to get up to first.”
Fairfield’s Shadasia Brackens clears the bar on her way to the 3A girls’ high jump state title.
A few minutes before that, Fairfield’s Shadasia Brackens won Central Texas’ first gold medal of this state meet.
Brackens cleared 5-10 to win the 3A girls’ high jump. Karnes City’s Jaiden Robinson finished second at 5-6.
Brackens was joined by McKinna Brackens and Breyunna Dowell in collecting medals in Thursday’s field events portion of the state meet. McKinna Brackens took bronze in the discus at 134-3 and Dowell earned bronze in shot put at 40-7.
West’s Makayla Pavelka won Central Texas’ first medal of the meet as she finished third in the long jump at 18-6.5.
PHOTOS — UIL State Track and Field Meet in Austin: May 12-13, 2022
Marlin won silver in the 4x100 relay and bronze in the 4x200 relay. Pictured are, from left, TraJon Butler, L'Aire Kee, Joeffrey Mims and Derion Gullette.
Marlin's Derion Gullette, right, takes the handoff from L'Aire Lee as the Bulldogs ran to a time of 42.12 in the 4x100 relay, good for the silver medal.
Marlin's Derion Gullette, right, takes the handoff from L'Aire Lee as the Bulldogs ran to a time of 42.12 in the 4x100 relay, good for the silver medal.
Marlin's Derion Gullette, right, takes the handoff from L'Aire Lee as the Bulldogs ran to a time of 42.12 in the 4x100 relay, good for the silver medal.
Marlin's L'Aire Kee takes the baton from TraJon Butler in the 4x200 relay. The Bulldogs won the bronze medal, edged for silver by just 5-hundredths of a second by Timpson. Refugio won the gold.
Derion Gullette sprints to the finish in the 4x200 relay for the Marlin Bulldogs, who won the bronze, edged by Timpson by just a lean — 0.05 of a second.
Marlin's L'Aire Kee takes the baton from TraJon Butler in the 4x200 relay. The Bulldogs won the bronze medal, edged for silver by just 5-hundredths of a second by Timpson. Refugio won the gold.
Marlin's L'Aire Kee takes the baton from TraJon Butler in the 4x200 relay. The Bulldogs won the bronze medal, edged for silver by just 5-hundredths of a second by Timpson. Refugio won the gold.
Marlin’s Praiyer Jones won the 2A boys’ shot put with a toss of 56 feet, 8.25 inches.
For Marlin's Praiyer Jones, his final heave of the shot was his best, winning the gold medal with a toss of 56 feet, 8.25 inches.
Marlin's Praiyer Jones threw 119 feet, 3 inches to finish ninth in the discus.
Marlin's Derion Gullette hit 46-7 to finish ninth in the shot put.
Rosebud-Lott sophomore Jamarquis Johnson leapt to second place in the long jump at 23 feet, 2 3/4 inches, only half an inch shy of gold and almost a foot further than the bronze medalist.
Rosebud-Lott's Jamarquis Johnson placed second at state in the long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 2 3/4 inches.
Rosebud-Lott sophomore Jamarquis Johnson leapt to second place in the long jump at 23 feet, 2 3/4 inches, only half an inch shy of gold and almost a foot further than the bronze medalist.
Bruceville-Eddy senior Billy Eaton earned a silver medal in the pole vault, clearing 15 feet.
Bruceville-Eddy's Billy Eaton didn't miss en route to his pole vault of 15 feet, 0 inches and wound up with the silver medal when he couldn't clear 15-6.
Dawson's Isaac Johnson cleared 6-4 in the high jump to win the bronze medal at the state meet.
Bosqueville's Jaxon Bray cleared 14-6 to finish fourth in the pole vault.
Bosqueville's Jaxon Bray just missed the medal stand in the pole vault, finishing fourth with a mark of 14 feet, 6 inches.
Hamilton's Caleb Lengefeld won gold in the the 3,200 meters going away, as his time of 9:27.20 was 17 seconds better than the runner-up. He also placed second in the 1,600.
Hamilton's Taylor Long won the 800 meters by 1.63 seconds, posting a time of 1:57.02 over Kasen Jeitz of Centerville (behind left). Bulldogs teammate Caleb Lengefeld won the bronze.
Hamilton's Taylor Long won the 400 meters with a time of 49.12, edging Kasen Jeitz of Centerville by 0.02.
Hamilton's Taylor Long won the 400 meters with a time of 49.12 after winning the 800 earlier in the day.
Hamilton's Taylor Long won the 400 meters, helping the Bulldogs to 47 points and a silver medal in the team competition.
Hamilton's Mason Guinn's first throw of the day was his best, as his 146-5 mark placed him seventh in the discus.
Hamilton's Lily Emeyabbi placed ninth in the pole vault at state.
Crawford placed fifth in the mile relay with a time of 3:24.95.
Crawford placed fifth in the mile relay with a time of 3:24.95.
Crawford placed fifth in the mile relay with a time of 3:24.95.
Crawford placed fifth in the mile relay with a time of 3:24.95.
The Hamilton girls ran 4:07.17 in the 4x400 relay to finish eighth.
The Crawford girls ran to a ninth-place finish in the 4x400 relay, posting a time of 4:22.60.
The Crawford girls ran to a ninth-place finish in the 4x400 relay, posting a time of 4:22.60.
The Crawford girls ran to a ninth-place finish in the 4x400 relay, posting a time of 4:22.60.
Gruver (left) was fifth in the Class 2A 4x400 relay at 4:05.24, while Shelbyville (right) was seventh at 4:06.32. Panhandle won the event with a time of 3:55.79. Central Texas schools Hamilton and Crawford finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
Panhandle won the 4x400 relay in Class 2A with a time of 3:55.79. Haskell (front) won silver with a mark of 4:00.37 and Gruver (right) was fifth at 4:05.24. Central Texas schools Hamilton and Crawford finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
Hearne's Jada Johnson posted a mark of 35 feet, 11 inches to finish seventh in the triple jump.
Hearne's Jada Johnson posted a mark of 35 feet, 11 inches to finish seventh in the triple jump.
La Vega's Stephon Nickerson rounds the turn during the third leg of the Pirates 4x200 relay. The Pirates finished fourth at the state meet.
La Vega took fifth in the 4x100 relay to start off the state meet on Thursday, ending the Pirates' streak of seven straight 4A relay titles.
La Vega's Stephon Nickerson, left, takes the handoff from teammate Mekhi Rice for the third leg of the 4x200 relay. The Pirates just missed the medal stand by 0.23 seconds, finishing fourth with a time of 1:27.57.
Ariana Brown claimed La Vega’s only medal of the state meet as she finished second in the 4A girls’ 400. Brown posted a time of 56.64 to finish .22 behind Taylor McFarland of Godley.
La Vega's Andrea Johnson runs the second leg of the 4x100 relay on Thursday. The girls took fifth place with a time of 48.18.
West's Laney Kucera cleared 12-6 in the pole vault, easily besting the competition for the gold medal. She attempted 13-0 1/4 in an attempt to break the state 3A record, but the pole clipped the bar.
West's Laney Kucera won pole vault gold with a mark of of 12-6. None of her other Class 3A competitors did better than 12-0.
West's Laney Kucera tied her personal best mark at 12-6, which she had previously accomplished at the area meet.
West assistant coach Kari Sowders gives Laney Kucera a bear hug as Lady Trojans fans whoop it up after the final results in the pole vault. Kucera won gold with a mark of 12-6.
“It’s been like six years since McGregor had a gold medal, so it felt pretty special,” Darieus Dixon said after winning the 400 on Thursday. “The town was behind my back the whole time, so I was able to do something to make them happy.”
McGregor's Darieus Dixon clocked 48.31 seconds in the Class 3A boys’ 400 to win by .64 of a second over Bryan Thomas of Palacios in second place.
McGregor won bronze in the mile relay with a time of 3:23.43.
McGregor senior Valon Vickers threw 124-3 to finish ninth in the discus at the state track meet.
Connally's Simeon Childress finished seventh in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.80.
Cameron Yoe sophomore Yierra Flemings won two golds and a bronze on Thursday to push her all-time state meet medal haul to seven. Flemings won the 100-meter hurdles and defended her crown in the 400 meters, plus placed third in the triple jump.
After winning the 400 meters as a freshman in 2021 with a time of 54.98, Cameron Yoe's Yierra Flemings defended her title to repeat, clocking a 55.29.
After winning bronze in the long jump last year as a freshman, Cameron Yoe's Yierra Flemings finished fifth at 18-2 3/4.
Cameron Yoe's Yierra Flemings had a rough start to the first day of the state track meet, finishing fifth in the long jump, but ended up with two golds and a bronze.
Cameron Yoe's Yierra Flemings finished third in the triple jump at the state meet on Thursday with a mark of 38 feet, 1 1/2 inches.
Fairfield's McKinna Brackens, right, takes the handoff during the 4x100 relay on Thursday. The Lady Eagles won silver with a time of 48.08 seconds.
Fairfield won silver in the mile relay on Thursday by nearly 2 seconds, posting a time of 3:56.18.
Fairfield's Shadasia Brackens cleared 5-10 for a gold in the high jump, besting the field by 4 inches.
Fairfield's Breyunna Dowell finished eighth in the triple jump, notching a mark of 35 feet, 3 1/4 inches.
Fairfield's Shadasia Brackens finished first in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 10 inches.
McKinna Brackens won one of five Fairfield medals on Thursday with a bronze in the discus, throwing 134-3 to make the podium.
La Vega's Andrea Johnson finished eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 35 feet, 9 3/4 inches.
La Vega's Andrea Johnson finished eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 35 feet, 9 3/4 inches.
La Vega's Andrea Johnson finished eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 35 feet, 9 3/4 inches.
West's Wyatt Wolf ran 22.39 in the 200 meters to finish eighth on Thursday.
The West Trojans placed eighth in the boys' 4x200 relay on Thursday in Austin with a time of 1:30.06.
West's Makayla Pavelka missed the medal stand by just an inch in the triple jump, placing fourth with a 38-0 1/2 mark. Pavelka also won silver in the long jump.
West's Makayla Pavelka missed the medal stand by just an inch in the triple jump, placing fourth with a 38-0 1/2 mark. Pavelka also won silver in the long jump.
West’s Makayla Pavelka won Central Texas’ first medal of the meet as she finished third in the long jump at 18-6 1/2.
West’s Makayla Pavelka won Central Texas’ first medal of the meet as she finished third in the long jump at 18-6 1/2.
West’s Makayla Pavelka won Central Texas’ first medal of the meet as she finished third in the long jump at 18-6 1/2.
Layloni Watson of Lake Belton leaped a personal best 39 feet, 3 1/4 inches to take bronze in the triple jump.
Lake Belton's Layloni Watson clocked a time of 15.28 to finish seventh in the 100-meter hurdles.
Cameron Yoe sophomore Yierra Flemings won the 100 hurdles and 400-meter dash, and took bronze in the triple jump, bringing her state meet medal total to seven in two trips.
McGregor junior Darieus Dixon screams in celebration after winning the the 3A boys’ 400-meter dash on Thursday at the UIL State Track & Field Meet.
Connally’s Jelani McDonald won the 4A boys’ triple jump.
West’s Laney Kucera cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to win the 3A girls’ pole vault.
Fairfield’s Shadasia Brackens clears the bar on her way to the 3A girls’ high jump state title.
