Brownwood trio leads way for Brown County's 10-entry state track and field contingent

May 10, 2023 at 12:29 pm Derrick Stuckly

Brownwood’s Ike Hall, Hannah Deen, and Tyse Savage

Brown County will be represented in 10 events at the UIL Track and Field State Championships Thursday through Saturday at the University of Texas’ Myers Stadium in Austin, beginning with three qualifier from Brownwood competing in the Class 4A portion of the event on Thursday.

Kicking off the action at 9 a.m. Thursday will be Lady Lions freshman Hannah Deen, who will compete in the girls high jump after finishing second at the Region I-4A meet with a career-best leap of 5-5.

Among state qualifiers, Deen ranks tied for fifth place along with Sunnyvale’s Chiora Enyinna-Okeigbo (5-5) and Vidor’s Raegan Stephenson (5-5). Boerne’s Kendall Lemm (5-10) was head and shoulders above all other competitors at the regional level, while Graham’s Emilee Gordy (5-6), Frisco Panther Creek’s Falyn Lott (5-6), and Cuero’s Paisley Janssen (5-6) cleared just one inch higher than Deen. One inch below, and rounding out the state field are Sealy’s Ryanne Meyes (5-4) and Waco Connally’s Katrina Greer (5-4).

Next up, at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Region I-4A boys triple jump champion Ike Hall will represent the Lions.

Hall’s distance of (45-6.5) in the gusty winds of Lubbock ranks eighth among state qualifiers, ahead of Shaquorie Butler of Canyon Randall (44-10.75), the regional runner-up. The state field is headlined by Jarvis Anderson of Taylor (49-3) and Oliver Miles of El Campo (49-0.5), along with Gabriel Wray of Wimberley (47-8.75), Cade Andrews of Sunnyvale (47-2), Jelani McDonald of Waco Connally (46-9.75), Austin Anderson of Needville (46-5.5), and Ethan Tanck of Sunnyvale (45-9.25).

The second Lion to compete Thursday, Region I-4A runner-up Tyse Savage in the 200 meters, will take to the track at 7:30 p.m.

Savage was clocked at 21.46 at regionals, the fourth-best time among state qualifiers. Savage’s time trailed Lindale’s Brett Maya (21.25), Brazosport’s Xavier Butler (21.4), and Gainesville’s Ja’Vuan Hendricks (21.44), while besting Aubrey’s Tyler Brown (21.48), Palestine’s Dreylon Spurlock (21.72), La Grange’s Austen Diggs (21.88), San Angelo Lake View’s Derrick Taylor (21.89), and Stafford’s Harold Kidd (22.27).

On Friday, the action shifts to the Class 2A ranks where the Bangs Dragons will compete twice.

First, a 4×100 relay combination of Keygan Pitts, Tyson Woods, Hunter Newton, Guy Powell, Nate Stoffer, Aden Jones, and Kenny Cole will test this mettle at 5 p.m.

The Dragons, runners-up from Region I-2A, owned the ninth best regional time of 43.82, while the top time is owned by Timpson (42.7).

At 6:05 p.m. Friday, Powell, in the 100 meters, will conclude his storied athletic career as Dragon. Powell enters with the fourth-best time of 10.68 among state qualifiers, with the top spot belonging to Refugio’s Ernest Campbell (10.26).

Brown County’s Class A schools will take part in five events Saturday, with May leading the way with three entries.

May’s Amanda Harrell at 9 a.m. will compete in the girls discus, where her Region II-A championship effort of 121-1 ranks third among state qualifiers, behind only Xiomara Rodriguez of Lasara (144-9) and Claire Burleson of Rocksprings (125-5).

Also at 9 a.m. Saturday, Blanket’s Levi Vazquez will take part in the boys long jump. Vazquez, the Region III-A runner-up, leaped 20-6 at regionals which ranks ninth among the state field. The best regional effort belonged to Bryce Virdell of Van Horn (22-2.25).

Zephyr’s Ronni McClain will compete in the girls pole vault at 11 a.m. The runner-up in Region III-A, McClain’s effort of 9-3 is tied for the third-best height among state qualifiers with Natalie Immel of Robert Lee (9-3) and Ava Grooms of Rocksprings (9-3). The trio trailed only the regional performances of Iredell’s Paisley Chandler (10-0) and Nueces Canyon’s Camdyn Childs (9-6).

Harrell will return to the field at 12:30 p.m. to compete in her second event, the girls shot put. The runner-up in Region II-A, Harrell’s 35-3.5 ranks seventh out of nine state entrants. Xiomara Rodriguez of Lasara (37-6.25) owned the best regional performance.

The weekend will wrap up at 8:20 p.m. with the May Tigers’ 4×400 relay combination of Lane Goodson, Damian Salinas, Ben Harrell, Bryson Guerrero and Ryland Billadeau testing their mettle. Despite being the ‘wild card’ entrant in the field, the Tigers own the sixth-best regional time of 3:32.56. Happy possesses the best time among state qualifiers with a regional effort of 3:28.32.