Aledo track athletes among state/nation’s best

As they chase first a region berth Friday and then a state berth in a couple weeks (those who qualify), several Aledo athletes find themselves among the state leaders in their respective categories.

A pair of Ladycats posted personal records at last week’s District 5-5A Track Meet and now find themselves near the top of three events statewide as a result.

Lauren St. Peters’ throw of 45 feet, 3.25 inches in the shot put is second in the state in Class 5A and eighth among all classifications. Her throw of 145-6 in the discus is fourth in 5A.

Taylor Hindman’s career-best pole vault of 12-5 moved her up to second in Class 5A, one of two Ladycat vaulters in the top 10 in that event. Maggie Kilburn’s clearance of 11-6, also in the 5-5A Meet, has her tied for ninth.

Among the girls 800-meter run leaders, Sofia Brandenburg’s time of 2 minutes, 14.21 seconds at the 5-5A Meet has her fourth, and Sarah Tillotson’s clocking of 2:15.19 at district has her sitting eighth in the state.

Among the boys, Vincent Luffey’s time of 1:55.74 on March 9 at the Bearcat Relays places him eighth among the state rankings.

Two Bearcat vaulters are among the state leaders. Sean Gribble is first in 5A and first in all classifications after clearing 17-0.75 feet at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on April 1, and Brad Campbell’s 15-0 at the March 30 Aledo Meet is tied for eighth.

Sadly, Gribble, even with his vault being the second best in the entire nation and only an inch from the top spot — which he held for 10 days — will not be participating in the postseason. Shockingly, the senior no-heighted at the 5-5A Meet.

Still, with his vault being four inches higher than the next best in the state, it is very possible Gribble will end up with the state’s highest vault. Also, being almost three inches above the third highest vault nationally, there’s a good chance he finishes in the top two there also.

The Area 5/6 Meet is Friday, April 21 at Texan Stadium in Justin. From there, the top four qualifiers advance to the Region 1 Meet in Lubbock April 28-29.

The top two finishers at each event in each of the four regions qualify for state, along with a wild-card entry, which is the top third-place finisher across all four regions.