Lions Walker and Sanchez perform well at regional meet
From staff reports
Lockhart High track coach Scott Hippensteel said only about 1 percent of the athletes at the regionals qualify for state, and Lockhart failed two get either of its two athletes in. However, as underclassmen, Lady Lion sophomore Rakaia Walker and junior Lion Zeke Sanchez came very close to being among the state’s elite.
Only the top two in each regional event reach the state meet, and Walker was 5th in the 200-meter dash and 6th in the 100-meter dash, just barely missing out. Sanchez ran among the leaders for much of the 1600-meter run in the boys’ field but dropped back in the final 600 meters to place 13th.
Walker was .69 of a second out of qualifying in the 200, while she was just .52 of a second shy of qualifying in the 100. It was her personal-best time in. the 200-meters and her second-best time in the 100.
“Rakaia is our best basketball player and has spent little time in track,” Hippensteel said. “Next year, she’ll get out there and really get after it.”
Sanchez was not expected to battle for the regionals, but when senior James Franco suffered a stress fracture, Sanchez stepped up, not unlike a backup quarterback in football, Hippensteel said.
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Lockhart athletes at the Region IV Track Meet at San Antonio’s Heroes Stadium:
BOYS
1600-Meter Run
1 — Ayden Granados, McAllen Memorial, 4:17.85
2 — Joseph White, SA Alamo Heights, 4:21.28
3 — Jackson Lovvorn, Corpus Christi King, 4:22.42
4 — Anthony Zapata, Southwest Legacy, 4:23.83
5 — Henok Hagos, San Antonio Jefferson, 4:24.47
6 — Valdemar Meza, Mission Sharyland, 4:25.48
7 — Diego Canto, Corpus Christi King, 4:27.36
8 — Nathan Aguilar, Comal Canyon, 4:27.97
9 — Daniel Alamilla, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:28.13
10 — Brian Caloca, San Antonio Memorial, 4:28.34
11 — Diego DeLeon, McAllen Memorial, 4:29.66
12 — Alexander Marquez, Leander, 4:32.41
13 — Zeke Sanchez, Lockhart, 4:33.76
14 — Manuel Flores, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:36.09
15 — Ryan Servantes, Sharyland Pioneer, 4:39.08
16 — Nolan Keenan, SA Alamo Heights, 4:45.81
GIRLS
100-Meter Dash
1 — Daisha Shular, Seguin, 11.44
2 — Vanesa Gonzalez, Boerne Champion, 11.70
3 — Sophia Flores, McAllen 12.15
4 — Emily Loredo, Laredo Cigarroa, 12.20
(tie) — Gentry Boykin Comal Pieper 12.20
6 — Rakaia Walker, Lockhart 12.22
7 — Dixa Bhakta,Gregory-Portland, 12.44
8 — Jaymie Flores, Mercedes, 12.59
200-Meter Dash
1 — Alyssa Jones, Smithson Valley, 23.78
2 — Mariela Gonzalez, Boerne Champion, 24.47
3 — Emily Loredo, Laredo Cigarroa, 24.93
4 — Harmoniey Rector, San Antonio Wagner, 24.96
5 — Rakaia Walker,Lockhart, 25.16
6 — CNiaha Randle, Victoria East, 25.57
7 — Tara Madrid, Mission Veterans Memorial, 25.64
8 — Jada Dennis, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 25.82
