Marble Falls track performs well leading into district meet

CAPTION: Sophomore Madison Cuplin and Marble Falls track and field jumping coach Jamie Graham after the athlete sets a new personal best in the triple jump at the 97th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School track and field program ended a busy week at the premier event of the southwest.

Sophomore Madison Cuplin and senior Tyler Hamblin made their way to the 97th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays March 28-29.

Cuplin set a new personal best in the triple jump with a mark of 39 feet and 2.5 inches to finish eighth in the standings a day after long jump of 16-8.75 to finish 21st.

Jumping coach Jamie Graham said the results of the triple jump go back to her training.

“Her hard work and dedication to getting better each time she steps on the track,” he said. “It’s fun to coach her.”

“She was off by two feet from her (personal record in the long jump),” Lady Mustangs head coach Brenda Gonzalez said. “She was nervous going into it. There are a lot of people in the stadium, and the Texas Relays is a different environment. She was definitely better in the triple jump. She settled in and came back with a different mindset. Every competitor has an off night. She changed that.”

Hamblin finished the 3,200 meters in 9 minutes and 38.03 seconds.

“It was a good experience,” he said.

“It wasn’t the greatest of races,” said Gonzalez, who also serves as the middle-distance running coach. “He wasn’t himself in that race, but he did well.”

Cuplin and the rest of the runners competed at the Johnny Lam Jones Relays hosted by Lampasas March 27. Weather forced officials to cancel field events and the hurdles.

“The safety of our athletes will always be the top priority, which is why the decision was made to cancel the field events,” Gonzalez said. “With (the) district (meet) just around the corner, the risk of injuries due to unsafe conditions wasn’t worth it.”

Cuplin won the 100 meters in 12.71 seconds.

“Madison had an incredible 100-meters,” Gonzalez said. “She has put in a lot of work this season, and it was great to see her come out with the win. She’s a competitor, and this sets her up well for district. I’m proud of her.”

Senior Nashla Crott earned a silver medal in the 200 meters in 27.93 seconds.

“I’m very proud of Nashla,” the coach said. “She ran a season-best time and looked fantastic. She has worked hard all season and has been a great leader for our team. I’m excited to see what she can do at district.”

Chloe Ellis was fourth in the 3,200 meters in 13:22.51.

“Chloe had a strong race, running a season-best time,” Gonzalez said. “I believe the 3,200 meters is her strength, and she showed that. She’s been putting in the work, and it’s paying off.”

The 400-meter relay team of sophomore Kenley Virdell, Crott, senior Kenadie Cotton and Cuplin earned a silver medal in 51.17 seconds.

Gonzalez noted this was Virdell’s first time to run in this relay.

“Finishing in the top three in the 4×100 is a big deal, and I’m extremely proud of these girls,” she said. “They work hard, and we have a phenomenal anchor in Maddie Cuplin. This was also our fastest time of the season, which is a great sign heading into district.”

The Mustangs also had impressive performances.

Freshman Graham Goggans set a new personal record in the 400 and 800 meters in 52.42 seconds and 1:59.88 for double silver.

Sophomore Owen Martin finished the 1,600 meters in 5:05.20 for eighth place and the 3,200 meters in 10:49.46 for seventh place to set new personal bests in both.

Connor Yaklin was eighth in the 800 meters in 2:08.78 for a new personal record, while senior Matthew Ozuna was 14th in the 1,600 meters in 5:17.40 for a new personal record.

“Overall, I’m extremely proud of my middle and long-distance crew,” Gonzalez said. “They put in the work and their dedication showed at Lampasas. They continue to show up, push themselves and improve. I’m excited to see what they accomplish at district.”

The district meet is Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3, at Cougar Field at Jarrell High School.

CAPTION: Marble Falls senior Tyler Hamblin with his grandmother, Linda Hamblin, at the 97th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Courtesy photo

RESULTS

Johnny Lam Jones Relays

BOYS

Varsity

100 – 5, Joaquin Aguilar (Marble Falls), 11.87, 9, Derek Gonzalez (Marble Falls), 12.01, 9, Caden Farmer (Burnet), 12.07, 10, Matthew Williams (Burnet), 12.08; 200 – 3, Derek Gonzalez (Marble Falls), 23.79, 5, Caden Farmer (Burnet), 24.12, 7, Branson Bunting (Marble Falls), 24.24, 9, Lyndon Harycki (Burnet), 24.30, 10, Matthew Williams (Burnet), 24.41; 400 – 2, Graham Goggans (Marble Falls), 52.42, 6, Hector Vega (Burnet), 53.33, 10, Charles Edwards (Burnet), 55.56; 800 – 1, Victor Aviles (Burnet), 1:58.96, 2, Graham Goggans (Marble Falls), 1:59.88, 4, Isaias Zarate (Burnet), 2:02.84; 7, Jovanny Ramirez (Burnet), 2:07.69, 8, Connor Yaklin (Marble Falls), 2:08.78; 1,600 – 1, Victor Aviles (Burnet), 4:27.50, 5, Clark Yanez (Burnet), 5:00.92, 8, Owen Martin (Marble Falls), 5:05.20, 10, Brazos White (Marble Falls), 5:08.21; 3,200 – 1, Victor Aviles (Burnet), 10:14.57, 3, Clark Yanez (Burnet), 10:33.99, 7, Owen Martin (Marble Falls), 10:49.46, 10, Gustavo Vega (Burnet), 11:01.34; 4×100 – 3, Burnet, 45.14, 6, Marble Falls, 45.55; 4×200 – 5, Burnet, 1:36.08, 6, Marble Falls, 1:38.98; 4×400 – 1, Burnet, 3:34.82, 5, Marble Falls, 3:44.10

Junior varsity

100 – 4, Wesley Thiel (Burnet), 12.30, 5, Hudson Brantley (Marble Falls), 12.35, 10, Rodrigo Valdez (Burnet), 12.80; 200 – 4, Calen Syphrett (Burnet), 24.49, 6, Landon Campbell (Marble Falls), 25.65, 8, Josiah Coronado (Burnet), 26.00, 10, Fisher Powell (Burnet), 26.19; 400 – 3, Miguel Valdez (Burnet), 55.12, 5, Logan Hargraves (Marble Falls), 56.86; 800 – 2, Logan Hargraves (Marble Falls), 2:12.44, 3, Andrew Resendez (Burnet), 2:12.65, 6, Matthew Resendez (Burnet), 2:24.16, 7, Christopher Hernandez (Burnet), 2:24.26; 1,600 – 1, Adan Carreon (Burnet), 5:15.78, 3, Matthew Resendez (Burnet), 5:22.96, 5, Santiago Gaytan (Marble Falls), 5:26.38; 3,200 – 1, Adan Carreon (Burnet), 11:19.40, 3, Santiago Gaytan (Marble Falls), 11:53.34, 7, Colton Rutland (Marble Falls), 12:51.34; 4×100 – 4, Marble Falls, 47.13, 6, Burnet, 52.96; 4×200 – 5, Marble Falls, 1:42.22; 4×400 – 1, Marble Falls, 3:49.26, 5, Burnet, 3:58.36

GIRLS

Varsity

100 – 1, Madison Cuplin (Marble Falls), 12.71, 8, Grace Cullison (Burnet), 14.13, 10, Sarah Cullison, 14.13; 200 – 2, Nashla Crott (Marble Falls), 27.93, 5, Brooklynn Daniel (Burnet), 28.39, 7, Brogan Fox (Burnet), 28.62, 8, Cheyenne Adams (Burnet), 28.68; 400 – 7, Leslie Camacho (Burnet), 1:09.36; 800 – 1, Asah Roy (Burnet), 2:30.81, 4, Journey Denton (Burnet), 2:40.31, 7, Brooke Bowman (Burnet), 2:48.11; 1,600 – 3, Asah Roy (Burnet), 5:39.38, 7, Chloe Ellis (Marble Falls), 6:14.89, 9, Brooke Bowman (Burnet, 6:28.02; 3,200 – 4, Chloe Ellis (Marble Falls), 13:22.51; 4×100 – 2, Marble Falls, 51.17, 6, Burnet, 54.06; 4×200 – 4, Burnet, 1:52.13, 6, Marble Falls, 1:56.22; 4×400 – 4, Burnet, 4:29.47

Junior varsity

100 – 2, Molly Cupitt (Burnet), 14.05, 6, Sheila Alcon (Marble Falls), 15.12, 7, Ivanna Quintanilla (Marble Falls), 15.28; 200 – 1, Molly Cupitt (Burnet), 29.10, 2, Maycee Floyd (Burnet), 29.26, 3, Savannah Myers (Burnet), 29.38, 5, Rayleigh Crim (Marble Falls), 29.87, 10, Sheila Alcon (Marble Falls), 31.06; 400 – 3, Amaria Schmidt (Burnet), 1:09.72, 6, Cazlynn Guthrie (Burnet), 1:15.06, 9, Fernanda Perez (Marble Falls), 1:23.75; 800 – 4, Brooklynn Dawes (Burnet), 2:42.90, 8, Cazlynn Guthrie (Burnet), 2:58.09, 9, Josie McDavid (Burnet), 3:00.40; 1,600 – 3, Josie McDavid (Burnet), 6:49.08, 7, Hadalye Hernandez (Marble Falls), 7:22.49, 8, Marigny Griffin (Burnet), 7:35.90, 9, Jaylee Messer (Burnet), 8:12.11; 3,200 – 6, Hadalye Hernandez (Marble Falls), 15:54.77; 4×100 – 1, Burnet, 54.12, 4, Marble Falls, 57.19; 4×200 – 2, Burnet, 1:56.78, 5, Marble Falls, 1:59.67; 4×400 – 1, Burnet, 4:33.13, 6, Marble Falls, 4:57.27