Speedy Scots on Track For Regional Meet
Several Highland Park athletes will try to run, jump, and throw their way to the UIL state track and field meet this weekend.
The HP girls and boys will each have multiple contenders at the Class 4A Region II meet today and tomorrow at Maverick Stadium in Arlington.
The Lady Scots finished second behind Frisco Heritage in the team standings at the area meet on April 17 in Carrollton, winning four events along the way.
Natalie Rathjen easily won both the 1,600 meters (5 minutes, 0.65 seconds) and 3,200 meters (10:55.38) for HP, while Gabby Crank won the 800 (2:15.47) and Falyn Reaugh took the high jump (5 feet, 7 inches). Also of note, Gracie Bailey set a school record in the 300 hurdles with a time of 44.96 seconds, finishing third.
Other regional qualifiers for the HP girls include Crank and Reaugh in the triple jump, Juliana McIveene in the high jump, and Rebecca Herring in the 400. The Lady Scots also will have teams in all three relays.
On the boys side, the Scots placed fifth at the area meet and had two individual winners — Danny Leland in the 400 (49.89 seconds) and Andrew Clyde in the shot put (51 feet, 10.75 inches). Leland also qualified for regionals in the 800, while Pearson Feagans advanced in the long jump and triple jump.
As for the regional meet, some of the field events and 3,200 will be contested today, while the bulk of the running finals will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday. The state meet will be May 9 in Austin.
