NELSON, ALEJANDRO GOLD FOR KHS, HHS | Kilgore, Henderson athletes advance to regionals

LONGVIEW – Kilgore High School’s Braydon Nelson won both the shot put and the discus, was joined on the podium in shot by teammate Cam Christian; Jacory Walton won the high jump; and Henderson’s Gisselle Alejandro was gold in both the mile and the two-mile runs.

Just a few results from the University Interscholastic League’s District 17-18-4A Area Meet on Thursday at Spring Hill High School in Longview, back at the track where athletes from both schools competed in the 17-4A district meet just a week ago.

And now, for those who finished in the top four at area, it’s on to the regional meet at Bullard High School, and that’s next Friday and Saturday, April 19-20.

At regionals, though, a top-four finish won’t do it. Finish in the top two, and you’re off to the UIL State Track & Field Championships at the University of Texas at Austin May 2-4.

Nelson was certainly good enough. And he keeps raising the bar, not only for himself, but for future throwers at KHS.

Braydon Nelson (above, second from right) is getting used to standing above the “1” on the podium. Nelson won both the discus and the shot put again on Thursday at the UIL Districts 17-18-4A Area Meet, moving on to regionals at Bullard next Friday, one step away from the state meet. Below, right: Kilgore’s Luciano Brizuela (center); then left: Cam Christian; and finally, bottom photo, Jacory Walton (Photos courtesy of KILGORE HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD – T.J. GILLEN-HALL).

The senior, bound for the University of North Texas on a football scholarship, might be taking a little detour back to Austin first. He set a new personal record – and new school record (again) – with a best of 192 feet, even, on Thursday at Spring Hill. Nelson had just set the school record at the district meet last week.

Nelson also took gold in the shot put, his best throw a hurl of 55 feet, 1 inch. Another Bulldog, Cam Christian, was third-best on Thursday at area, a best for him of 50 feet, ½ inch.

And while we’re talking elite, let’s mention Alejandro, who continues to win first after first in long-distance running events. She took first in the mile run on Thursday for the Lions (5 minutes, 28.56 seconds) and did it in the two-mile to start the day (11 minutes, 48.83 seconds).

Kilgore’s Ruby Almanza was second in the mile (5:40.69), and then won the 800 meter run (2 minutes, 26.15 seconds).

Put Jacory Walton’s name up there, too. The KHS high-jumper will be aiming for a state trip in Bullard next weekend after taking gold at area with a best jump on Thursday of 6 feet, 4 inches. Walton just missed out on going to regionals in the triple jump, as well, finishing sixth in that event (42 feet, 1 ¾ inches).

Luciano Brizuela is headed to regionals in a couple of events for the Bulldogs. He took second in the mile run (4 minutes, 40 seconds) and third in the two-mile (10 minutes, 45.82 seconds).

Henderson’s Makayla Sanders will join Alejandro at the regional meet in Bullard next week. Sanders finished second in the girls 100 meter hurdles (15.94 seconds).

Ty White will make that trip, too, for the Lions. White was third in the boys pole vault (11 feet, 6 inches).

Kilgore athletes who competed at area but just missed out on going to regionals were Zachery Gutierrez and Samuel Warren, who were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 800 meter run; Warren also in the mile run; Jayden Sanders, who was fifth in the high jump; Kassidy Oliver, who took fifth in the girls discus; the boys mile relay team of Gutierrez, Walton, Sanders and Carsyn Bynum, who were fifth in a close one (3 minutes, 32.38 seconds); and the girls mile relay team, too, who also were fifth – Lizzy Walker, Elle Litchenburg, Giselle Webster, and Aaliyah Williams.

Competing at area for Henderson and just missing out on a regional trip was the 400 meter relay team of Anthony Newman, Brailon Walker, Corey Harper and Trey Sanders, who took fifth, and Harper also in the 100 meter dash, fifth in that event, as well.