The Tioga Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs track teams are firing on all cylinders after both teams recorded Top 5 finishes at the UIL 2A-Area 13 & 14 Track Meet in Wolfe City on April 15.
The Bulldogs earned their second area championship in a row, finishing first overall out of 15 teams with a team total of 120 teams.
“It makes me super happy for our kids, the school and all the people that pour into these kids,” said Beau Burruss, Tioga head boys track coach. “From the English teacher to the ag teacher, everyone is a part of this, and as we move forward, it’s always good to bring something home.”
Garrison Black and Alexis Santoyo-Pina were the Bulldogs’ top performers in individual running events, with the duo winning gold and silver in the 1600-meter run.
Black finished first with a time of 4:43.28, and Santoyo-Pina finished second with a time of 4:46.46.
Black’s first-place finish was also his second time winning gold in the event at the area meet in Jaxson Hurst finished fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.25 seconds, followed by August Strittmatter, who placed fifth with a time of 11.26 seconds.
Noah Vazquez won bronze in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.56 seconds, with Hurst finishing fifth with a time of 24.06 seconds.
Kyson Kirkland earned the silver medal in the 400-meter dash, recording a time of 51.51 seconds.
In the hurdle events, Raul Chavez placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 41.83 seconds, besting Tioga ISD’s previous record of 43.28 set by Chavez in March.
Tioga swept all three relay events, winning gold in the 4x100-, 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay events, recording times of 43.46 seconds, 1:30.90 and 3:22.52.
In the field events, Jayson Stogner won gold in the pole vault with a height of 11-feet-6-inches.
Bryson Bradley earned the silver medal in the shot put, with a distance of 47feet.
The Lady Bulldogs finished second overall out of 15 teams, with a team total of 76 points.
Kyndall Whitley was the Lady Bulldogs’ top individual performer, winning the silver medal in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.36 seconds.
Timber Johnson also competed in the 200-meter dash, finishing fifth with a time of 27.94 seconds.
Jillian Rodriguez earned the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.93 seconds.
The Lady Bulldogs also swept the relay events, winning gold in the 4x100-, 4x200- and 4x400meter relay events, recording times of 49.66 seconds, 1:44.83 and 4:08.78.
Burruss said the Bulldogs will be ready to meet the challenges when they arrive at the regional meet.
“People can see the times, and there are some times in the region that are competitive with us, but as soon as we show up, the ‘T’ has already been put on the map in Springtown, so they know who we are,” he said. “We will not surprise anybody, and we’re not going to sneak up on anybody. It’s all eyes on us, and that’s the way we like it.”
The Top 4 finishers from each team will compete again at the UIL Region II-2A Regional Track Meet on May 1 & 2 at Porcupine Stadium in Springtown.
