Albany track teams compete at Buckaroo Relays

By Sam Waller

Members of the Albany Lions and Lady Lions track and field teams cut their spring break short Saturday, March 15 to compete at the Buckaroo Relays at Breckenridge.

The teams return to action Thursday, March 20 (today) at Haskell. Albany hosts the Roarin’ Lions Relays on Thursday, March 27, the final meet before the District 10-2 meet on Wednesday, April 2 at Cisco.

Competing against mostly Class 3A schools at Breckenridge, the Lions scored 40 points to place sixth in the team standings.

“I think when you go to a meet like that, you kind of find out where you’re at,” boys coach Rod Britting said. “We saw places with improvement and places we have to get better. We stayed the same in some places, but during spring break a lot of kids take some time off.”

Britting said the level of competition showed what Albany athletes can expect to see as they advance beyond district.

“Breckenridge and Jim ned are pretty good track schools year-in and year-out, so they were solid,” he said. “But, honestly (Class 1A) Gordon was phenomenal. The events they ran, they dominated. They just didn’t have as many kids as the bigger schools.”

Relays accounted for 20 of Albany’s points with the 400 relay placing third, while the 800 and 1600 quartets both finished fifth. Individually, Breylon Billington finished second in the pole vault and fifth in the 100. The Lions scored twice in the 400 with Jayce Tinkle finishing fourth and Wesley Gleitz fifth.

For the Lady Lions, Avery Everitt, the only varsity athlete to attend the meet, finished sixth in both hurdles races. That was enough to finish ahead of Dublin in the team standings.

“Avery’s really been working hard to get her three-step down, and she’s going to get there,” girls coach Lauren Peacock said. “That was progress for her and she gained confidence just proving to herself that she can. It was a good day for her, and I think she’s going to benefit from it.”

The junior varsity boys scored 18 points, all in field events. Braxton Henry won the pole vault, while Bennett Neece was third in the shot put and fifth in the discus.

BUCKAROO RELAYS

Varsity Boys

Team totals — 1. Breckenridge, 167; 2. Tuscola Jim Ned, 114; 3. Hawley, 101; 4. Gordon, 96; 5. Wichita Falls City View, 71; 6. Albany, 40; 7. Merkel, 23; 8. Dublin, 10.

Discus — 7. Adrian Wren, 122-0; 14. Ryan Turner, 87-0.

Long jump — 9. Jack Nail, 18-10½.

Pole vault — 2. Breylon Billington, 11-0.

400 relay — 3. Albany (Breylon Billington, Jack Nail, Jaxson Street, Wesley Gleitz), 45.75.

100 — 5. Breylon Billington, 11.91; 10. Jack Nail, 12.17.

800 relay — 5. Albany (Christian Hernandez, Jack Nail, Jaxson Street, Zane Green), 1:37.03.

400 — 4. Jayce Tinkle, 54.65; 5. Wesley Gleitz, 55.26.

200 — 8. Christian Hernandez, 26.02.

1600 relay — 5. Albany (Jaxson Street, Christian Hernandez, Chip Chambers, Jayce Tinkle), 3:35.32.

Junior Varsity Boys

Team totals — 1. Tuscola Jim Ned, 179; 2. Breckenridge, 154; 3. Merkel, 103; 4. Hawley, 61; 5. Gordon, 36; 6. Dublin, 22; 7. Albany, 18.

Shot put — 3. Bennett Neece, Albany, 35-8.

Discus — 5. Bennett Neece, Albany, 90-1.

Long jump — 15. Chase Murk, Moran, 13-7½.

Pole vault — 1. Braxton Henry, Albany, 9-6.

800 — 12. Jason Burge, Moran, 2:40.88.

100 — 8. Shawn Keen, Albany, 13.27; 13. Bennett Neece, Albany, 13.04; 17. Chase Murk, Moran, 13.92; 20. Dylan Herod, Moran, 16.38.

200 — 8. Shawn Keen, Albany, 27.92; 14. Bennett Neece, Albany, 28.36; 19. Chase Murk, Moran, 30.80; 21. Dylan Herod, Moran, 36.65.

1600 — 9. Jason Burge, Moran, 5:48.02.

Varsity Girls

Team totals — 1. Tuscola Jim Ned, 171; 2. Breckenridge, 142; 3. Hico, 118; 4. Gordon, 71; 5. Merkel, 47; 6. Hawley, 33; 7. Wichita Falls City View, 28; 8. Albany, 2; 9. Dublin, 1.

100 hurdles — 6. Avery Everitt, 18.63.

300 hurdles — 6. Avery Everitt, 56.55.

Junior Varsity Girls

Team totals — 1. Merkel, 193; 2. Tuscola Jim Ned, 140; 3. Hawley, 75; 4. Breckenridge, 31; 5. Wichita Falls City View, 30; 6. Dublin, 18; 7. Hico, 6; 8. Moran, 4.

Shot put — 4. Chelsea Thurman, Moran, 26-7.

Long jump — 8. Kielar Carr, Moran, 10-9.

100 — 8. Lizzie Creek, Moran, 15.63; 15. Jayla Bussell, Moran, 16.05; 16. Maddie Stapp, Albany, 16.36; 17. Kielar Carr, Moran, 16.63.

200 — 12. Lizzie Creek, Moran, 33.43; 14. Jayla Bussell, Moran, 34.00; 15. Maddie Stapp, Albany, 34.87; 16. Kielar Carr, Moran, 36.40.