Track teams move on to regionals

Point and Aubrey track athletes moved one step closer last week to a state appearance, as they earned top-four finishes at their respective area competitions.

The Pilot Point track and field members will compete in the Region II, Class 3A regionals Friday and Saturday in Whitehouse, while Aubrey heads those same two days to the Region II, Class 4A regionals in Commerce. Competitors must finish first or second in their respective events to automatically qualify for the May 11-12 state meet in Austin. An athlete also will make state if he or she is the top third-place finisher in an event out of all four regions.

Pilot Point freshman Brisa Hernandez continued to impress in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters, as she finished first in each during the April 19 area meet in Pottsboro. She won the 3,200 with a school-record time of 11:57.4, and it was nearly 19 seconds faster than her first-place time at the District 9-3A meet (12:16.204). Her winning time in the area 1,600 (5:32.194) was over four seconds faster than at district (5:35.826), where she also took first.

Adam Mendoza, the defending Class 3A 800 champ, made a hard charge down the stretch to catch Whitesboro’s Dustin White right before the finish line. The Bearcat finished with a time of 1:59.064, nearly 4½ seconds faster than his winning time at district.

Bearcat pole vaulter Kolton Reid (13-0) took first in the boys’ pole vault, clearing the same exact height he did at district, another first-place finish.

Aubrey’s Kaia Saylor is making another strong run for state, as she took first in the girls’ high jump (5-1) and triple jump (35-11¼). She jumped 5-2 and 35-05 at district, taking first in each event.

The following athletes have qualified for regional competition:

Pilot Point Boys

•800 meters: 1. Adam Mendoza, 1:59.064.; 3. Sergio Portillo, 2:01.554.

•1,600 meters: 2. Connor Walker, 4:34.167.

•3,200 meters: 2. Connor Walker, 9:47.266.

•4x400 relay: 2. (Ty Hellman, Connor Walker, Sergio Portillo, Adam Mendoza), 3:27.237.

•Pole vault: 1. Kolton Reid (13-0).

•Shot put: 3. Cody Binyon, 45-0½.

Pilot Point Girls

•400 meters: 3. Tahlia Boyd, 1:01.592.

•1,600 meters: 1. Brisa Hernandez, 5:32.194.

•3,200 meters: 1. Brisa Hernandez, 11:57.40.