Flames win regionals for third time, Lady Flames finish third

The Faith Academy of Marble Falls boys and girls track and field teams finished first and third at the South Region meet of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools on April 27.

The Flames were considered the favorites to win the meet and performed at that level, while the Lady Flames were projected to be in the top three, head coach Steve McCannon said.

“It was closer than expected and yet not unexpected,” he said. “The level of competition goes up because of field events. We missed a couple of spots here and there. We really only didn’t qualify in two spots (in the boys division). I was very pleased with third (by the Lady Flames). They did their jobs.”

Case Coleman was the big producer for the Flames. He earned four medals in five events, including being scratched in 800 meters to run in the 4×100-meter relay where the Flames won the gold medal that ensured the squad would win the team title. Athletes aren’t able to compete in more than five total events at a meet.

“He had the will of ‘whatever it takes coach, I’m ready,'” McCannon said. “He could compete in every (event). But he can’t, so we have to rely on other horses to win a state track meet.”

In addition, the Flames had two middle-distance runners — William Eppler and Jett Murphy — qualify for the state meet in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters and all three relay teams also advanced to the state meet.

McCannon commended the seniors, who won three regional track meet titles in four years. The one year they didn’t win it was when officials cancelled the meet because of the Covid-10 pandemic. Opponents thought that the Flames weren’t going to be as good this year because of the athletes who graduated. The Flames put that to rest quickly and accepted the pressure of winning one event to ensure victory in the team standings.

“When you’re trying to win state, winning regionals is cool,” the coach said. “You want to qualify in as many events as you can. We’re not going to lower our standards because some guys graduated.”

On the girls side, Faith Murphy took gold medals in the 400, 800 and 1,600. Like the boys, all three relays also advanced. Pole vaulters Claire Poage and Kaitlyn Wood finished second and third to move on to the state meet.

“Faith brought real strength to her events and left no doubts,” McCannon said. “The 4×1 pulled through, which is great. I’m happy with the girls.”

As for the state meet, which is Friday and Saturday, May 6-7, at Waco Midway Independent School District’s Panther Stadium, 800 Hewitt Drive in Hewitt, McCannon said projections show that the winning 4×400-meter relay team in the boys race will lead its squad to the team state championship.

“We are going for a state record in the 4×4 that’s been around since 1998,” he said. “It’s the dream of all dreams if you can get that state record and win that state championship and have a senior anchoring that relay.”

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SOUTH REGION TRACK MEET OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS

April 27

Class 2A

Boys – finished first overall in the team standings

100 – 1, Luke Ehrig, 11.37; 200 – 8, Cross Sanchez, 25.37; 400 – 1, Cody Owens, 51.03, 2, Case Coleman, 52.57; 800 – 3, William Eppler, 2:15.61, 5, Elijah Steele, 2:18.94, 7, Will Lewis, 2:23.21; 1,600 – 4, William Eppler, 5:20.66, 5, Jett Murphy, 5:25.07, 6, Diego Chavira, 5:31.56; 3,200 – 3, Jett Murphy, 11:26.77, 6, Diego Chavira, 12:27.22; 110 hurdles – 6, Nathan Tarver, 21.96; 300 hurdles – 2, Brendan Thames, 43.22, 8, Nathan Tarver, 53.91; 4×100 – 1, Faith Academy, 43.87; 4×200 – 4, Faith Academy, 1:38.95; 4×400 – 1, Faith, 3:35.39; high jump – 2, Brock Davis, 5-10; long jump – 7, Brendan Thames, 19-3.5; triple jump – 3, Case Coleman, 41-11, 4, Brendan Thames, 41-4.75, 6, Cross Sanchez, 38-11.5; pole vault – 1, Case Coleman, 12-0, 6, Nathan Tarver, 8-6; discus – 5, Cody Owens, 114-09; shot put – 5, Cody Owens, 38-6.75

Girls – finished third overall in the team standings

100 – 8, Charlee Ehrig, 13.98; 400 – 1, Faith Murphy, 57.50, 8 Elleson Lehmberg, 1:12.43; 800 – 1, Faith Murphy, 2:16.87, 6, Claire Poage, 2:43.53, 7, Elleson Lehmberg, 2:50.98; 1,600 – 1, Faith Murphy, 5:23.80, 5, Claire Poage, 6:23.94, 7, Audrianna Poage, 6:30.31; 3,200 – 6, Audrianna Poage, 15:10.81; 100 hurdles – 8, Avery Meredith, 23.60; 300 hurdles – 6, Kara Kwan, 1:01.28, 7, Avery Meredith, 1:06.27; 4×100 – 4, Faith Academy, 55.46; 4×200 – 4, Faith Academy, 1:58.72; 4×400 – 3, Faith Academy, 4:43.73; high jump – 6, Hanniday Shipley, 4-6; long jump – 8, Kara Kwan, 13-8.75; triple jump – 6, Kara Kwan, 30-1.75; pole vault – 2, Claire Poage, 8-0, 3, Kaitlyn Wood, 8-0, 5, Audrianna Poague, 7-0; discus – 7, Morgan Weems, 78-0; shot put – 4, Morgan Weems, 31-8