AUSTIN – Bowie’s Kamryn Cantwell had to shake off disappointment from earlier Friday as she prepared for the Class 3A 400 Friday night.

But as she lined up for the last race of her brilliant high school athletic career, her thoughts were more focused on a fallen classmate.

Senior Trent Walker, whose best event was also the 400, drowned Thursday at Johnson Lake. Running with a heavy heart, Cantwell churned out a silver-winning 57.09 to leave Austin with some hardware.

“He and his family were always my biggest fans in track. After every time I ran, they would always congratulate me,” Cantwell said. “Starting off the race, I had that in mind. I knew he’d want me to run the best that I could.

“It’s just really hard. I’m definitely praying for his family and keeping him in mind today.”

Cantwell was one of three area athletes who medaled on the first day of the UIL State Meet. Besides Jacksboro’s Baylee Thompson, Benjamin’s Myca Flowers earned bronze in the A high jump.

Cantwell will be playing college basketball next season at Southeastern Oklahoma State, but track has always held a special place in her heart. After a fourth-place showing last year in the 400 and a fifth Friday morning in the long jump, she had one last chance to leave her mark.

Cantwell entered with the fastest regional time, but she knew there was a group of about five girls who’d all be in the mix. La Marque’s Jackeria Woodkins got out in front to win with a 56.00, while Coleman’s Shiean Walters was bronze with a 57.26.

“I knew there would be some girls who’d push me and she got out there fast.  I mean, she was gone,” Cantwell said of Woodkins. “It feels good for me to go after it. There at the end, I was just trying to hang onto second place. I could feel everybody coming.”

Cantwell said she enjoyed having some down time after she landed a 17-6 ¼ on her final long jump attempt early Friday morning. That was only good enough for fifth as Leonard’s Natalie Simmons was golden with an 18-8.

She came back to Mike A. Myers Stadium recharged and ready to seize the moment.

“I’ll probably remember it for the rest of my life,” Cantwell said. “Not many people can say they made it here. I’m really excited I have this memory forever.”

 

Benjamin’s Flowers earns bronze again

Benjamin’s Myca Flowers claimed one last medal in the high jump Friday afternoon, finishing with a bronze for the second straight season.

The senior converted 5-foot-2 to become one of the last three jumpers left in the Class A competition, but went out at 5-3. Aquilla’s Rylee Hennig won on a tiebreaker at 5-4 over Blum’s Gentrye Munden. Myca’s freshman sister Macy finished tied for seventh with a 4-10.

“It was my last year and I’m glad to be back on the medal stand. I feel like I could have done better, but I gave it my all,” Myca said. “It was really fun. Macy really pushes me sometimes. I’m proud of her too. It’s hard coming in here as a freshman for your first time.”

Hirschi’s Banks nearly medals in long jump

Hirschi’s Javen Banks was sitting in third place with one attempt left in Friday afternoon’s 4A long jump.

That’s when Houston North Forest’s Demond Demas went from seventh to first with a 23-8 ½ on his final jump.

Banks couldn’t improve his best leap of 22-9 ¾ that occurred on his third try, setting for fourth place – three inches shy of a bronze medal.

But the Texas State signee, who’ll run in two Hirschi relays Saturday, wasn’t too disappointed.

 

“To be honest, I never practiced long jump at all. I just practiced the relays,” Banks said. “People are surprised when I tell them that. That’s why I’m happy. I made it here without practicing.”

Rider’s A’Zhariah Veasy was the other WFISD athlete competing as the senior took ninth in the 400 with a 59.51 two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury. Frisco Heritage’s Bailey Lear blazed to a 53.34.

Here are the area’s other state representatives from Friday:

3A girls 3,200: Holliday’s Leah Bullinger placed fifth with an 11:53.21. Blanco’s Johanna Villarereal defended her title with an 11:19.83.

4A boys high jump: Vernon’s Anthony Garza tied with defending champ Blake Aragon of Stephenville for sixth with a 6-4. Stafford’s Kenneth Bodwin won with a 6-6. 

 

3A girls triple jump: Henrietta’s Abby Zamzow placed sixth with a 36-3 ½ that came on her fifth attempt. Leonard’s Simmons won her second gold of the day with a 38-1 ½.

4A boys 3,200: Burkburnett’s Sloan Lewis came in sixth with a 10:20.33. San Elizario’s Edwin Gomez won by nearly 10 seconds with a 9:38.79.

Track results: 2018 UIL State Track & Field Championship Results

A boys high jump: Prairie Valley’s Chase Edwards tied for sixth with a 5-10. Cross Plains’ Creed Goode snagged gold at 6-3.

3A girls 1,600: Bullinger placed seventh with a 5:43.01 while first place was decided by .006 of a second as Little River’s Jenna Brazeal edged East Bernard’s Jessica Rabius. Former Holliday runner Cryslan Tucker was fourth with a 5:19.40.

3A boys discus: Holliday’s Konner Wood finished seventh with a 155-2 on his third attempt. Schulenburg’s Cason Brown was the champ with a 183-5.

A boys 3,200: Benjamin’s JC Espinal took seventh with a 10:32.82. Medina’s Austin Zirkel set a state record with a 9:37.69.

4A girls shot put: Graham’s Nicole King finished in eighth with a 34-9. Tatum’s Jayla Hooper won with a 41-8 ¼.

A boys shot put: Forestburg’s Zach Bradley was eighth with a 42-2 ½. Three threw at least 50 feet with Jonesboro’s Alex Sarmiento winning with a 52-2 ½.

3A boys high jump: Bowie’s Kason Spikes no-heighted, while Poth’s Jake Lamberth set a state record held by Quanah’s Jason Hill with a 7-0 ½. Hill’s record was 7-0 ¼ set in 2001.