Marble Falls track has several top finishes at the Taylor Ducks Relay

CAPTION: Marble Falls sophomore Anthony Griffin (left) earned medals in both hurdle events. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School track and field teams competed at the Taylor Ducks Relays March 8 and encountered more than the competition.

Wind gusts were as high as 25 mph.

“The 25 mph winds were definitely a factor at our meet, especially in the final 100 meters of every race where runners had to push through a strong headwind,” Lady Mustangs head coach Brenda Gonzalez said. “Some athletes handled it well, while others found it more challenging. However, the key takeaway is that they controlled what they could — effort and execution. They didn’t let the conditions dictate their performances, and I’m proud of the way they competed despite the challenge.”

“We will always have wind during track season,” Mustangs head coach Austin Silva said. “It’s just that time of the year, unfortunately. As a competitor, you just have to embrace it and understand that everyone is running in the same wind.”

Derek Gonzalez finished in the top 10 of the 100 and 200 meters and the triple jump, which pleased his coach.

“Derek has always been very passionate about the sport, and his commitment to his craft is unmatched,” Silva said. “I am happy for the success he has had so far this year and excited to see him progress.”

Meanwhile Kaden Langbein was ninth in the 100 meters and Branson Bunting was sixth in the 200 meters.

“The sprints are always going to be tough to have success in,” Silva said. “So to see our guys in the mix this year is very exciting. I know they will be looking and working towards top 3 finishes in future.”

Graham Goggans earned silver in the 400 meters and bronze in the 800 meters.

“As a freshmen, Graham has definitely put himself on the map this year,” Silva said. “He is similar to Derek when it comes to passion for the sport. He trains year round and he still has a long way to go so we have to make sure he stays healthy. But obviously very proud of the year he is having so far.”

Anthony Griffin is continuing to attack the hurdle races, taking gold in the 110-meter hurdles and silver in the 300-meter hurdles.

“Griffin is ridiculously flexible which obviously helps him get over hurdles,” Silva said. “Also, his speed is deceiving because it doesn’t seem fast but he covers a lot of ground with each stride. His start out of the blocks and endurance are two things we are focusing on moving forward.”

The Mustangs also had a few top 10 finishes in two field events.

Joaquin Aguilar and Gregory Lemon impressed in the triple jump after requesting to compete in the event for the first time.

“… based on Thursday’s performance, I don’t think they’re going anywhere soon,” Silva said. “That’s kind of the beauty of track during the regular season. You mix and match guys in different events and see how they stack up against the competition, then by district you know where everyone needs to be to have success.”

Logan Chapa, LT Gurganus, Tyler Leverett and Kaleb Bielfeldt all placed in the top 10 in the throwing events.

“I have been very pleased with our throwers performance so far this year,” Silva said. “I was interested to see how they would respond to losing coach (Richard) Scales but coach (Anthony) Bargas and (Lance) burns have done a great job of keeping the momentum going.”

In the girls division, Madison Cuplin continues to attack any event she’s in. This time the sophomore took gold in the 100 meters and the triple jump and was on a relay.

“Maddie is a versatile athlete who competes in both horizontal jumps and multiple running events,” Gonzalez said. “Each week, we adjust her events to keep her fresh and to determine where she’ll be most successful during the championship season. We don’t want her doing the same events every meet — we want to maximize her potential and have her at her best when district arrives. She adapts well to any event she’s in, which makes her tough to compete against.”

Another double-gold Lady Mustang was Kylie Roberts. The senior won both throwing events by at least 5 feet each.

“Kylie is a fierce competitor who hates to lose,” Gonzalez said. “She wasn’t happy with her discus performance last week, and that motivated her to step up this week. She responded by winning both throwing events convincingly, setting a new personal best in shot put at 39-4 and improving in discus with a throw of 108-6. While it wasn’t her best mark in discus, it was a solid improvement from last week. It was great to see her back to her usual self.”

Reese Massey finished in the top 10 of the 800 and 1,600 meters after rehabbing an injury she sustained while leading the cross country team.

“Reese ran more middle-distance events this week as we continue figuring out her best races for track,” Gonzalez said. “Given that she’s coming off an injury and not yet at peak fitness, we focused on shorter distances last week. This week, she ran the 800 for the first time and performed well. In the mile, she found herself leading the pack early but wasn’t quite able to hold the lead at the end. Still, for her first time racing it this season, she competed hard. Reese is a natural competitor, and the goal is to build her fitness and have her ready for district in less than four weeks.”

Gonzalez, who also serves as the middle-distance running coach, was happy to see Graham Goggans earn silver in the 400 meters and bronze in the 800 meters as well as Brazos White, Connor Yaklin and Owen Martin finish in the top 10 of the mile and two-mile races.

“Our distance boys also performed well,” she said. “They’re a young group, but they continue to improve each week.”

Gonzalez summed up the feelings of many of her colleagues as she reflected on the travel time and how the winds tested the athletes.

“Overall, I’m pleased with the results and the progress we’re making,” she said. “There’s still plenty to work on to be competitive at district, but it was a solid day on the track for our team.”

Marble Falls will compete at the Burnet Bulldog Relays Thursday, March 13.

RESULTS

Boys

Varsity

100 – 1, Noah Crawford (Burnet), 12.10, 7, Derek Gonzalez (Marble Falls), 12.70, 8, Lyndon Harycki (Burnet), 12.78, 9, Kaden Langbein (Marble Falls), 12.85, 10, Caden Farmer (Burnet), 12.98; 200 – 4, Derek Gonzalez (Marble Falls), 24.48, 6, Branson Bunting (Marble Falls), 24.76, 8, Matthew Williams (Burnet), 24.95; 400 – 2, Graham Goggans (Marble Falls), 53.15, 3, Isaias Zarate (Burnet), 53.30, 8, Hector Vega (Burnet), 55.55, 9, Charles Edwards (Burnet), 55.63; 800 – 1, Victor Aviles (Marble Falls), 1:58.50, 3, Graham Goggans (Marble Falls), 2:03.55, 4, Isaias Zarate (Burnet), 2:05.71, 6, Jovanny Ramirez (Burnet), 2:11.26, 7, Brazos White (Marble Falls), 2:12, 8, Connor Yaklin (Marble Falls), 2:12.82; 1,600 – 1, Victor Aviles (Burnet), 4:32.85, 10, Brazos White (Marble Falls), 5:07.60; 3,200 – 7, Owen Martin (Marble Falls), 11:20.69, 9, Hector Yega (Burnet), 11:42.64; 110 hurdles – 1, Anthony Griffin (Marble Falls), 17.84, 6, Peyton Lopez (Burnet), 19.04; 300 hurdles – 2, Anthony Griffin (Marble Falls), 45.0; 4×100 – 1, Burnet, 43.65, 3, Marble Falls, 44.78; 4×200 – 4, Burnet, 1:37.09; 4×400 – 4, Burnet, 3:46.64, 6, Marble Falls, 3:46.35; high jump – 7, David Prather (Burnet), 5-6; long jump – 3, David Prather (Burnet), 20-11.5, 4, Joaquin Aguilar (Marble Falls), 20-6.5, 6, Gregory Lemon (Marble Falls), 20-1.5, 8, Matthew Williams (Burnet), 20-1.25; triple jump – 2, David Prather (Burnet), 41-11.25, 4, Matthew Williams (Burnet), 40-4.25, 5, Derek Gonzalez (Marble Falls), 40-2.5, 8, Jalen Rogiers (Marble Falls), 36-8.25; pole vault – 9, Gregory Lemon (Marble Falls), 9-6; discus – 6, Logan Chapa (Marble Falls), 100-2, 8, Traeton Nelson (Burnet), 94-9, 8, Kalvin Hubbard (Burnet), 92-2, 10, LT Gurganus (Marble Falls), 90-9; shot put – 4, Tyler Leverett (Marble Falls), 37-0.25, 5, Kaleb Bielfeldt (Marble Falls), 36-2.75, 8, Logan Chapa (Marble Falls), 35-8.75

Junior varsity

100 – 4, Bryan Johnson (Burnet), 12.79; 200 – 6, Wesley Thiel (Burnet), 25.91, 7, Tyler Barrios (Burnet), 26.05, 9, Jace Williams (Marble Falls), 26.25, 10, Landon Campbell (Marble Falls), 26.30; 800 – 3, Logan Hargraves (Marble Falls), 2:16.47, 9, Andrew Resendez (Burnet), 2:23.87; 1,600 – 3, Clark Yanez (Burnet), 5:06.88, 6, Adan Carreon (Burnet), 5:19.81, 8, Santiago Gaytan (Marble Falls), 5:28.25, 9, Andrew Resendez (Burnet), 5:33.28; 3,200 – 2, Clark Yanez (Burnet), 11:03.61, 5, Adan Carreon (Burnet), 11:39.51, 7, Logan Hargraves (Marble Falls), 12:04.30; 110 hurdles – 5, Addison Proctor (Burnet), 19.03, 6, Hunter Bailey (Burnet), 19.37; 300 hurdles – 7, Zackary Reynolds (Marble Falls), 48.23, 8, Hunter Bailey (Burnet), 48.71; 4×100 – 1, Burnet, 45.79, 7, Marble Falls, 48.72; 4×200 – 1, Burnet, 1:37.54, 7, Marble Falls, 1:42.64; 4×400 – 5, Burnet, 3:51.06, 9, Marble Falls, 3:59.53; high jump – 1, Carlose Alvarez (Marble Falls, 5-10, 4, Rayden Skinner (Marble Falls), 5-8, 4, Landon Campbell (Marble Falls), 5-8,6, Cohen Jorpeland (Burnet), 5-8; long jump – 2, Thomas Butler (Burnet), 18-9.75, 7, Bentley Trejo (Marble Falls), 18-2.25, 10, Michael Dowles (Burnet), 17-10; triple jump – 7, Michael Dowles (Burnet),36-3.5, 8, Bentley Trejo (Marble Falls), 36-2; pole vault – 4, Rhett Eaton (Burnet), 10-0, 5, Gladen Smith (Marble Falls), 9-6; shot put – 8, Mason Calhoun (Burnet), 33-0

Girls

Varsity

100 – 1, Madison Cuplin (Marble Falls), 13.26, 6, Nashla Crott (Marble Falls), 7, Grace Cullison (Burnet), 14.56, 8, Sarah Cullison (Burnet), 14.69; 200 – 4, Brooklynn Daniel (Burnet), 28.60, 10, Brogan Fox (Burnet), 29.32; 400 – 3, Camryn Courtney (Burnet), 1:03.84; 800 – 4, Asah Roy (Burnet), 2:34.48, 8, Reese Massey (Marble Falls), 2:37.46; 1,600 – 5, Asah Roy (Burnet), 5:40.43, 7, Reese Massey (Marble Falls), 5:48.95; 100 hurdles – 4, Wrigley Mulhollan (Burnet), 18.23, 8, Brianne Hudgins (Burnet), 18.87, 10, Brooklynn Daniel (Burnet), 19.82; 300 hurdles – 3, Wrigley Mulhollan (Burnet), 51.67, 6, Kalora McDonnell (Burnet), 53.59, 7, Brianne Hudgins (Burnet), 54.24; 4×100 – 7, Burnet, 54.39; 4×200 – 4, Marble Falls, 1:51.80, 5, Burnet, 1:52.12; 4×400 – 3, Burnet, 4:15.94; high jump – 4, Brooklynn Daniel (Burnet), 5-0, 6, Wrigley Mulhollan (Burnet), 4-10; long jump – 8, Brianne Hudgins (Burnet), 15-10; triple jump – 1, Madison Cuplin (Marble Falls), 38-7.5; pole vault – 2, Lacie Lewis (Burnet), 9-0; discus – 1, Kylie Roberts (Marble Falls), 108-6, 8, Kalani Marks (Burnet), 72-7.5; shot put – 1, Kylie Roberts (Marble Falls), 39-4

Junior varsity

100 – 6, Kayla Delval (Burnet), 15.39, 7, Adrian Eubank (Burnet), 15.42, 10, Caydence Bielfeldt (Marble Falls), 15.58; 200 – 4, Savannah Myers (Burnet), 30.51, 6, Maycee Floyd (Burnet), 30.90, 9, Brenna Wilde (Marble Falls), 31.70; 400 – 2, Leslie Camacho (Burnet), 1:13.31, 3, Amaria Schmidt (Burnet), 1:13.38; 800 – 2, Brooklynn Dawes (Burnet), 2:49.75; 1,600 – 3, Josie McDavid (Burnet), 6:41.69, 7, Marigny Griffin (Burnet), 6:58.78, 9, Hadley Hernandez (Marble Falls), 7:07.41; 3,200 – 7, Hadley Hernandez (Marble Falls), 16:09.81; 100 hurdles – 3, Hayden McCombs (Burnet), 18.86, 5, Addie Milam (Burnet), 20.29; 300 hurdles – 6, Addie Milam (Burnet), 54.85, 7, Kayleigh Briggs (Burnet), 55.05; 4×100 – 1, Burnet, 54.58, 6, Marble Falls, 56.22; 4×200 – 1, Burnet, 1:59.63; 4×400 – 3, Burnet, 4:44.84; high jump – 3, Brenna Wilde (Marble Falls), 4-8, 4, Kayla Delval (Burnet), 4-8, 5, Cazlynn Guthrie (Burnet), 4-8, 6, Brooklynn Dawes (Burnet), 4-8; long jump – 4, Adrian Eubank (Burnet), 15-1, 7, Hayden McCombs (Burnet), 14-8.5; triple jump – 4, Brooklynn Dawes (Burnet), 31-1; discus – 5, Kate Dykes (Marble Falls), 57-2, 7, Jenna Taylor (Burnet), 55-9, 9, Payton Brandt (Burnet), 55-2; shot put – 5, Kate Dykes (Marble Falls), 25-11.5