AUSTIN – Khloe Washington knew she had it in her. She had been posting times around 14.2 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, which was good enough to make the City View freshman the No. 1 seed at the
UIL Class 3A State Track & Field Meet . But as she was waiting near the starting line, mere moments before the starting pistol fired to launch her down the track at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Washington felt she was on the precipice of running her best race ever. She was right. Washington torched the rest of the field, posting a personal best time of 13.96 — .18 seconds ahead of McGregor senior Allison Heiner in second place. “I felt really good today. I’ve been running in the low 14’s all season, but I just had a feeling before the race that I was going to get to 13,” Washington said. “As soon as I crossed the finish line, I saw the clock said 14.02, and I thought, ‘Yep, I just got 13.’” This moment has been years in the making for Washington, who produced some of the best marks for the Wichita Falls area in multiple events as a junior high student. She also picked up a bronze medal in the 400 meters, clocking in at a personal-best 56.42. She placed fourth in the long jump with a mark of 18-7.25. “This was such an incredible experience,” Washington said. “I’ve been so excited to get here. I really feel like this is just the beginning, and I’ll be back here winning more gold medals.”
Aydelott defends 400-meter title
With the threat of inclement weather approaching Mike A. Myers Stadium on Thursday evening, the meet moved into a rolling schedule with minimal time between the start of each event. That led to a very busy half hour for Vernon senior Jackson Aydelott, so much so, he didn’t even have time to celebrate a gold medal. Aydelott successfully defended his Class 3A boys 400-meter championship, circling the track in 47.36 seconds — well ahead of second-place Mitchell Gage of Gunter (48.1). The University of Wyoming signee also collected a pair of bronze medals, placing third in the 200 with a mark of 20.88 and anchoring Vernon’s 1,600-meter relay to the same finish with a time of 3:20.04. The rest of the relay team included Ty Scott, Jamari Chance and Kylan Jagiere. Also finding their way to the podium from Vernon was senior Key’Maria McBride and freshman Tevan Evans. McBride placed second in the Class 3A girls triple jump with a mark of 37-10, while Evans was third in the high jump, topping out at 6-6.
Holliday girls finish second in team standings
The Holliday girls track team didn’t find the same magic their male counterparts did, but still collected plenty of hardware, including the runner-up trophy for the team’s 66 total points. That total trailed only perennial track power Universal City Randolph, which won with 88 points. The Lady Eagles finished second in both the 800- and 1,600-meter relays. Senior Breagan Blowers anchored both relays and also picked up a third silver medal in the 200 meters. Joining Blowers on both relays were Emma Ellis and Kai Stockton. Sammi Kirkland rounded out the 800 relay, while Kenli Atwood filled in for the 1,600 relay. Atwood also collected two medals and 14 points for the Lady Eagles, winning bronze in the 800 meters and silver in the 1,600. Anahi Machuca earned five points over two events, finishing fourth in the 3,200 and sixth in the 1,600. Sarah Spears added two points with a fifth-place finish in the 3,200.
Other local results
Henrietta’s Ella Klyn finished fourth in the Class 3A girls 100 meters (11.95) and fifth in the 200 meters (24.57).
Jacksboro’s Eric Pizana finished his high school career with a fourth-place finish and personal best time of 38.66.
Iowa Park’s Colin Dowell placed fifth in the Class 3A boys 800 meters, clocking in at 1:57.55.
Bowie’s Russell Anderson crossed in seventh in the Class 3A boys 400 meters with a 50.58.
Bowie’s Tyler Richey placed eighth in the Class 3A boys pole vault with a mark of 14 feet.
Vernon’s Klancy Sherrill took eighth in the Class 3A girls 300 hurdles, crossing at 47.43.
