What happened: Midland-area programs delivered a strong showing at the regional track and field meet on Wednesday, April 29, in Arlington. The Midland Christian girls’ team won the regional title with 132 points, and the boys finished runner-up with 135. More than 25 Midland Christian athletes qualified for the state meet.

Midland Classical also added to the area’s presence, finishing ninth on the boys’ side with 43.5 points and qualifying 3 athletes for the state meet.

The big picture: For Midland Christian on the boys side, Payton Ross got sixth and a personal best in the open 200 (23.06), while John Ellis took the open 400 title (50.03) followed by Braden Belew in 4th (51.19), and Blayne House in 5th (51.22) Braden Belew added a win in the open 800 (1:52.80), and Logan Hammontree claimed second the 3200 (10:21.95) while finishing fourth in the 1600 (4:50.31).

The 4×100 team of Cadyn Bishop, Payton Ross, Holt Brownlee, and John Ellis finished first (43.42), and the 4×400 group of Brownlee, House, Maddox Crowe, and Ellis also took gold with a new season-best of 3:26.11. In the field, Rowdy Pearce (178-10) and Isaiah Matthews (143-05) went one-two in discus, with Pearce (57-11) and Matthews (53-4) placing one-two in shot put as well.

On the girls’ side, Midland Christian separated in the team race through both individual finishes and relays. Trinity Coates placed third in the open 100 (12.45), while Katelynn Vines finished third in the 800 (2:25.80) and second in the open 400 (1:00.51). Also, standout performances by the girls hurdlers squad, and the throwers, Addi Tatsch and Kensy Thon.

The 4×100 took second with a season-best of 49.70. The 4×200 (1:46.71) and 4×400 (4:09.43) relay teams both took first in personal-best times, creating key separation in the final standings.

Go deeper: Midland Classical’s points came from distance and field events. Austin Cook ran a personal-best 4:40.25 in the 1600, while Locke Bundy (10:12.37) and James Clark (10:33.61) competed in the 3200, with Bundy advancing to state. Barron Tate led the field events with a 46-7.75 in shot put and 170-11 in discus.

What’s next: Advancing athletes will compete in the TAPPS State Meet in Waco on May 8–9.