Bluebonnet Relays return Thursday, Friday after one-year hiatus

March 16, 2026 at 1:04 pm Derrick Stuckly

Judson Coalson (left) in the hurdles and Grace Sparks (right) in the pole vault will be among the Lions and Lady Lions expected to compete in Friday’s big school division {File photos}

After a one-year absence the Bluebonnet Relays return to Gordon Wood Stadium this week, with the small school division competing Thursday and the big school division taking place Friday.

The meet was not held in Brownwood last year due to renovations at the stadium, including a new surface on the track.

On Friday, the meet will feature Brownwood, Killeen Harker Heights, Killeen High, Lampasas, Odessa High, Odessa Permian, Stephenville, and Wolfforth Frenship.

Action begins at 10:30 a.m. with the 3200 meters and field events, and the running finals start at 4 p.m. The meet will feature varsity and JV divisions for the boys and girls.

The order for the running finals will be the 4×100 relay, 800 meters, 100-meter hurdles, 110-meter hurdles, 100 meters, 4×200 relay, 400 meters, 300-meter hurdles, 200 meters, 1600 meters, and 4×400 relay.

The Lady Lions are the reigning Class 4A state champions and return the entire 4×100 relay gold medal team of Icess Hall, Kaya Phillips, Jade Morin and Aniah Hines. Phillips also won the state gold in the 200 meters last year.

The Brownwood girls placed second in the Class 5A-6A division at the San Angelo Relays this past weekend, with first-place effort turned in by Grace Sparks in the pole vault – who set a new school record with a height of 11-9 – Rebekkah Delgado (50.97) in the 400 meters, and Hannah Deen (5-4) in the high jump.

The Lady Lions also own one meet championship this year, having captured the McMurry Relays.

The Lions are coming off a 10-place performance in the Class 4A and under division at the San Angelo Relays, where Blayne Stegemoller won the discus with a distance 132-0.

The best performance for the Lions came at Comanche ‘s Tribe Relays with a fourth-place finish and 80 points. Hutton Malone in the pole vault (13-0) and Trent Buffington in the 100 meters (10.95) were top finishers on the day.

Schools scheduled to compete Thursday include Early, Bangs, Coleman, Goldthwaite, Ballinger, Brady, Christoval, Dublin, Hico, Huckabay, Jim Ned, Junction, Lohn, Mason McGregor, Post, San Angelo Home School, Sonora, Stephenville Faith, Sweetwater, Abilene TLCA, and Winters.

Thursday’s slate features the field events and 3200 meters at 10:30 a.m., with the running finals set to start at 3 p.m.. The running finals will follow the same schedule as previously listed, and there will also be JV and varsity divisions for the girls and boys.