Track athletes place well at Graham meet

By Sam Waller

The Albany boys track team competed in the big school division Saturday, March 18 at the Possum Kingdom Relays in Graham, competing against Class 3A, 4A, and 5A opponents.

Albany will host the Roaring Lion Relays on Thursday, March 23 (today) at the high school track. Field events start at noon. Running events will be finals-only.

At Graham, the Lions scored 40 points to place sixth in the team standings, finishing ahead of several larger programs.

“We did some good things,” Lions coach Rod Britting said. “We only had about half of our team, but the ones who went competed well. We’re pleased with the results overall.”

Hurdler Adam Hill and  pole vaulters Tye Edgar, Jayden Lucas, and Luke Marshall accounted for the bulk of Albany’s points.

Hill won the 110 hurdles, running under 15 seconds for the second week in a row, and finished second in the 300 hurdles.

Edgar set a personal record in winning the pole vault. Lucas tied for second, with Marshall finishing fourth.

Cole Chapman was sixth in the long jump as well as making the finals in the triple jump. Also competing in finals were the 800 relay of Cason Fairchild, Jayce Tinkle, Branson Beal, and Edgar.

The Lady Lions competed in the small school girls division, placing sixth with 37 points.

“It was good for the girls to get on the track because this was really just our second real meet,” girls coach Ryder Peacock said. “We ran against a wide range of abilities. It was good to compete against somebody different.”

Kiana Roberson won the discus and placed second in the shot put with Melanie Figueroa fifth. Briley Tabor was second in the pole vault, matching her career best.

On the track, Avery Everitt was fourth in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles. The 400 relay of Ella Webb, Tabor, Madison Parrott, and Mimi Ivy finished fifth.

Albany’s junior varsity competed in the small school boys division, placing 11th with 16 points. All the scoring came in the pole vault, where Mason McCloy won and Breylon Billington finished third. Both set personal records.

Coaches agreed that attending a larger meet will help their athletes who advance beyond district competition.

“It was a long day with that many schools and divisions,” Britting said. “That takes a toll, so it gave them a taste of what that’s like.”

The Roaring Lion Relays will be a more intimate gathering with five or six schools.

“We don’t have lights, so we can’t go very long,” Britting said. “We actually scheduled to start early because we thought we’d have a few more teams, but some dropped out because we are starting early. You can’t leave school before lunch two times out of eight meets.”

Peacock said the meet comes at a key point in the season. After this week, Albany will attend the Golden Shoe Relays on Thursday, March 30 at Clyde. That will be the final meet before district.

“We should be at full strength with all our girls back,” Peacock said. “We’re trying to get prepared for district at this point.”

POSSUM KINGDOM RELAYS

At Graham

BIG SCHOOL BOYS

Team totals – 1. Brock, 121; 2. Breckenridge, 72; 3. Vernon, 64; 4. Brownwood, 55; 5. Canyon Randall, 44; 6. Albany, 40; 7. Peaster, 38; 8. (tie) Quanah, 34; Springtown, 34; 10. Cherokee, 23; 11. Wichita Falls City View, 22; 12. Stephenville, 17; 13. Graham, 15; 14. Henrietta, 13½; 15. Altus, Okla., 12; 16. Holliday, 7; 17. Jacksboro, 4½; 18. Clyde, 2; 19. (tie) Trinity, 1; Lake Worth, 1.

Long jump – 6. Cole Chapman, 19-10.

Pole vault – 1. Tye Edgar, 14-0; 2. (tie) Jayden Lucas, 12-0; 4. Luke Marshall, 11-6.

110 hurdles – 1. Adam Hill, 14.95.

300 hurdles – 2. Adam Hill, 42.18.

SMALL SCHOOL GIRLS

Team totals – 1. Canyon JV, 143½; 2. Haskell, 100¼; 3. Brock JV, 63; 4. FW Covenant Classical, 61¼; 5. Poolville, 38; 6. Albany, 37; 7. Gordon, 29; 8. Graham JV, 28; 9. Lipan, 24; 10. Weatherford Christian, 18; 11. (tie) Slidell, 15; Burkburnett JV, 15; 13. Graford, 14; 14. Forestburg, 10; 15. Windthorst, 7; 16. (tie) Vernon JV, 4; Santo, 4; 18. (tie) Peaster JV, 2; 18. Cherokee, 2; 20. (tie) Olney, 1; Godley, 1; Mineral Wells Community Christian, 1.

Shot put – 2. Kiana Roberson, 35-7½; 5. Melanie Figueroa, 28-3.

Discus – 1. Kiana Roberson, 124-0.

Pole vault – 2. Briley Tabor, 9-0.

400 relay – 5. Albany (Ella Webb, Briley Tabor, Madison Parrott, Mimi Ivy),56.86.

100 hurdles – 4. Avery Everitt, 18.38.

300 hurdles – 6. Avery Everitt, 56.34.

SMALL SCHOOL BOYS

Team totals – 1. Brock JV, 99.33; 2. Gordon, 96; 3. FW Covenant Classical, 74; 4. Breckenridge JV, 60; 5. Haskell, 51; 6. Peaster JV, 50; 7. Poolville, 32; 8. Slidell, 28.33; 9. Weatherford Christian, 23; 10. Graham JV, 16.33; 11. Albany JV, 16; 12. (tie) Colorado City, 14; Graford, 14; 14. (tie) Quanah JV, 12; Santo, 12; 16. Windthorst, 11; 17. Vernon JV, 8; 18. Mineral Wells Community Christian, 2; 19. Forestburg, 1.

Pole vault – 1. Mason McCloy, 11-6; 3. Breylon Billington. 11-0.