Bennett makes another statement at regionals to return to state
Burnet High School junior middle-distance runner Hudson Bennett is going back to his home away from home — the Class 4A state meet — in the 1,600 and the 3,200 meters after taking double gold in both events at the Class 4A Region III meet April 29-30.
Bennett, who will defend his state championship in the 3,200 and took bronze in the 1,600 at the state meet in 2021, won the mile at the regional meet by almost three seconds over silver medalist Connor Graves of Lufkin Hudson and the 3,200 over Graves by about five seconds.
Bennett finished the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes 21.205 seconds and the 3,200 meters in 9:44.418.
The state track meet is Thursday, May 12, at Mike Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus, 707 Clyde Littlefield Drive in Austin.
Burnet freshman Victor Aviles was fifth in the 1,600 meters in 4:42.787 and the 3,200 meters in 10:16.534.
“A great season for the freshman,” head coach Ben Speer said. “The freshman had two more (new) personal records. So excited about him and his progress.”
Pole vaulters Brayden Hill and Brady Rygaard’s seasons ended. Hill was fourth thanks to clearing 13 feet, while Rygaard finished tied for sixth thanks to clearing 12-0.
“Excited about the future of these two sophomores,” Speer said. “Great things to come.”
The Lady Dawgs set many new personal bests during the meet though none advanced to the state meet.
Maya Calderon set a new personal record by 12 seconds in the 1,600 meters where she finished seventh overall in 5:41.602. Molly McPherson missed the finals of the 400 meters by one-tenth of a second after finishing her preliminary race in 1:02.083.
A fall on the last leg of the 4×400-meter relay meant the Lady Dawgs didn’t finish the race. An injury forced head coach Crystal Shipley to move runners for the final where the first two runners, seniors Kayla Gilaspie and Sydne Massoletti, kept Burnet in position to set another new personal best in the race on back-to-back days.
“As bad as it hurts to close another chapter, we still left the track proud, knowing our girls left everything they had on the track this weekend,” the coach said. “What they put their bodies through this season is just incredible. They have given so much time and effort to this sport and representing our school with so much spirit, pride and honor.”
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CLASS 4A REGION III MEET
April 29-30 at Challenger Stadium in League City
Boys
1,600 – 1, Hudson Bennett, 4:21.21; 5, Victor Aviles, 4:42.79; 3,200 – 1, Bennett, 9:44.42; 5, Aviles, 10:16.53; pole vault – 4, Brayden Hill, 13-0; 6, Brady Rygaard, 12-0
Girls
200 – 8, Jacquelyn Contreras-Green, 27.731 (26.983 in the prelims for a new personal record); 1,600 – 7, Maya Calderon, 5:41.602 (a new personal record); 4×100 Relay – 7, Burnet (Molly McPherson, Sydne Massoletti, Zaria Solis, Jacquelyn Contreras-Green), 51.515; 4×200 – Burnet (Gillaspie, Sydne Massoletti, Zaria Solis, Jacquelyn Contreras-Green), 1:49.28 in the prelims; 4×400 – Burnet (Gillaspie, Josie Teague, Massoletti, Camryn Courtney, McPherson), did not finish the race in the finals, 4:11.26 in the prelims
