LJHS Track runs circles around District

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

The Lockhart Junior High School Lions and Lady Lions gave championship performances, earning several individual gold medals and one team District Championship as they hosted the District Track and Field Meet at Lion Stadium last week.

The Eighth Grade Lions plowed the road for LJHS, dominating near

ly every event to amass 124 team points and earn the District Championship. Runners up the Barton Bobcats earned 99 team points over the course of the two-day district championships.

Devin Hester stacked up three gold medals during the meet, including back-to-back wins in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, and a dominant performance in the high jump. He also took third in the long jump.

Fabian Leija followed Hester in the 110-meter hurles, with a fourth place finish.

Julian Ramirez was the district champion in the 400-meter dash, and Gabriel Franco outgunned the competition to win first place in the 800-meter run.

Joe John Colurciello won the shot put by several inches, making a final mark of 40’9”. He also added points to the team score by taking fourth in the discus.

Marshall Grimm earned silver for the Lions in the pole vault, and Luke Hippensteel brought in a silver medal in the 1,600-meter run.

Hippensteel also competed, and placed fourth, in the 2,400-meter run. Ulises Lopez rounded out individual scoring with a sixth place finish in the 100-meter dash.

The three Lion relay teams also performed strongly, with the 4×400-meter relay team (Joseph Trival, Ramirez, Franco and Hippensteel) earning a second place finish, and the 4×100-meter relay team taking fourth, with a team consisting of Austin Garcia, Dillon Hazelett, Trival and Lopez.

Jacob Gonzales teamed with Garcia, Hazelett and Lopez for a fifth place finish in the 4×200-meter relay.

The Eighth Grade Lady Lions were District Runners-Up, as Barton squeaked out 158 team points to edge past Lockhart’s 147.5.

Alex Hedspeth and Xavia Thompson were the team’s heavy hitters, both earning multiple gold medals and participating in award-winning relay teams.

Hedspeth took first in the 100-meter dash and the shot put, and along with Thompson, Aiyana Pearson and Sierra Ramos, won the 4×100-meter and 4×200 meter relays.

Thompson also took first in the long jump, second in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the high jump. Jessica Jaramillo placed second in the 2,400-meter run, and third in the 1,600. Katelyn Tull also competed in the 2,400, completing the race in sixth place.

Bonnie Cole took second in both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, with Jailee Martinez close behind in fifth and fourth, respectively.

Brooke Eskew earned third in the pole vault, and Trinity Castillo took fifth in the discus. Sophia Santamaria rounded out individual scoring with a sixth-place finish in the 800-meter run. She also teamed with Amanda White, Jaramillo and Ramos for a second place finish in the 4×400-meter relay.

The Seventh Grade Lions also took a spot as District Runners-Up, with 117 team points. Competitors included:

First Place:

Dillon Leath – 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles; and

Ethan Schuessler – discus.

Second Place:

Jesus Aldana – 300-meter hurdles; and

4×400-meter Relay Team (Cameran Jackson, Jesus Aldana, Johnny Castanon and Dillon Leath).

Third Place:

Simon Strickland – pole vault;

Jesus Aldana – long jump;

4×100-meter Relay Team (Darion Shannon, Daequan Ellison, Jarred Galindo and Jesus Aldana); and

4×200-meter Relay Team (AJ Acosta, Cameran Jackson, Jarred Galindo and Daequan Ellison).

Fourth Place:

Cameran Jackson – 200-meter dash; pole vault;

Johnny Castanon – 800-meter run;

Isaiah Armstrong – 110-meter hurdles;

Jesus Aldana – triple jump; and

Janero Reyna – shot put.

Fifth Place:

Michael Gonzales – 2,400-meter run.

Although putting up a number of gold-medal performances, the Seventh Grade Lady Lions put together only 88 team points, finishing fourth in the district. Athletes earning points were:

First Place:

Faith Herman – discus; and

Charisma Magallanez – 2,400-meter run.

Second Place:

Jollean Vasquez – 2,400-meter run;

Sydney Shaw – long jump, high jump; and

Tye Beggs – pole vault.

Fourth Place:

Karen Chavez – pole vault;

Mykelti Altier-Burditt – 100-meter dash; and

Jollean Vasquez – 1,600-meter run.

Fifth Place:

4×400-meter Relay Team (Abbe Rougeou, Karen Chavez, Imani Flores and Jollean Vasquez).

Sixth Place:

Abbe Rougeou – 300-meter hurdles;

Angelina Toomey – 2,400-meter run;

Liberty Wright – 100-meter hurdles; and

4×100-meter Relay Team (Erika Balderas, Abbe Lopez, Mykelti Altier-Burditt and Sabrina Moseley).