Both Teams Send Strong Contingent To State Tournament This Week
Bulldog track team placed third at the 4A Regional Track meet in Madill.
“I was really proud of the team,” Coach Emile Heitland said. “We got sent to probably the toughest 4A regional site and we held our own. We had a lot of PR’s which is what we are looking for this time of the year.”
Grady Hardoin qualified for state by winning the 110 hurdles and placing third in the 300 hurdles.
“Grady has worked really hard this year to improve his technique in the 110’s and it’s really exciting to see how his hard work is paying off,” Heitland said.
Also in the hurdles, Rush Pittman qualified for state by placing fourth in the 300 hurdles.
“Going into the regional meet I knew Rush was going to have to run really well to qualify,” Heitland said. “I couldn’t be prouder of Rush. He is a tough competitor and didn’t let the pressure get to him and ran a great race.”
Kaleb Madron qualified for state in three events. He won the 800 meter and placed second in the 1600 meter.
“Kaleb is fun to watch,” Heitland said. “He always brings his A game at the end of the year in big meets and he did it again.”
Madron also had the fastest split on the 4X800 relay team, which placed third. Korbin Mayo and Calvin Downey both ran their best split of the year as the team set a new personal record for themselves. Jaxon Frehill rounded out the state-qualifying relay team.
Qualifying for state in pole vault were Eli Vinson who placed second and Landy DeArman who placed fourth while setting a personal record of 12-06.
“Eli Vinson is dealing with a hamstring injury so we only jumped him a 12-06 to qualify for state and then scratched him from the next height,” Heitland said. “I was very proud of Eli for battling through his injury and qualifying for state.”
Briar Davenport qualified for state in the long jump, placing fifth and matching his best jump of the year at 20-05.5.
“Coming into the meet I knew Briar was going to have to jump really well to qualify. 4A long jump is really tough this year but Briar is one of those kids that doesn’t get caught up in the moment and just goes out and competes,” Heitland said.
Davenport also placed fourth in the 100 meter. The 400 meter relay placed fifth with Ethan Sales, Davenport, Maddax Boyd and Hardoin.
Calvin Downey placed fifth in the 1600 meter and set a new personal record of 4:42.96.
Morgan Brown placed sixth in the 3200 meter and set a new personal record of 10:39.44.
Drew Brinson placed sixth in the pole vault. The 1600 meter relay team placed sixth and set a new personal record of 3:33.32. Runners were Davenport, Pittman, Boyd and Sales.
Girls Have Solid Showing In Regional Track Meet
The Lady Bulldogs finished fourth overall at the 4A Regional Track Meet in Madill and broke one school record.
“We took a very young team over to Madill and had a great day overall as a team,” Coach Cody Lawson said. “I’m proud of each and every girl that competed in the regional meet. We have talked all year about wanting to be at our peak at the end of the year and for the majority of the girls, they had their best marks.”
The 4X800 relay team of Jayden Lee, Paxtyn Hiser, Rory McMillan and Kate Woods placed third while setting a new Sulphur record of 10:09.45.
The 4x400 Relay placed second, running a season best time of 4:13.12 with runners Lee, Hiser, Woods and Amaurie Peters.
Lady Bulldog Amaurie Peters set a new personal record and qualified for the state meet in the 200 and 400 meter runs and in the 4x400 relay event. PHOTO BY DON COFFEY
Lady Bulldog Jayden Lee, left photo, runs for Sulphur in a relay race and the Dogs Briar Davenport, above, competes in the long jump as the two teams were in action in last Saturday’s regional tournament in Madill. PHOTOS BY DON COFFEY
Sulphur relay runner Katelyn Woods runs a leg in the 4x800 relay and the team went on to place third in the regionals and established a new Sulphur record of 10:09.45. PHOTO BY DON COFFEY
Lee also qualified for state in the 800 meter with a second place finish.
Peters also qualified in the 200 meter and the 400 meter. Her 400 meter run of 60.92 was a new personal record.
Kenleigh Johnson qualified with a fifth place finish in the shot put. Riley Priest set a new personal record of 9’6” in the pole vault to place second and qualify for state.
Other medalists included Hannah Hail placing fourth in the 3200 meter with a new personal record, Rory McMillan placing sixth in the 1600 meter, and Zoli May placing fourth in the long jump. The 800 meter relay team of Peters, Wood, May and Lee placed fifth while setting a new personal record.
Sulphur 300-meter hurdles runner Rush Pittman was a fourth place winner in that event and is now headed to this weekend’s state tournament. PHOTO BY SARAH FREEHILL
Zoli May runs a leg in the 800-meter relay team that placed fifth in the regional meet. Her team also set a new personal record in that event. PHOTO BY DON COFFEY
