Distance Dominance: Local Runners Shine at Region I Track Meet in Lubbock
- Steven Liles
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
The 4A/5A Region I Track and Field Championships brought the heat to Lowrey Field this weekend, and it didn’t take long for the distance runners to set the tone.
The running portion of the meet kicked off Friday morning with the 4A girls' 3200m, and it quickly turned into a showcase of Panhandle power. Randall sophomore Brooke French ran with poise beyond her years, cruising to a dominant win in 11:00.60 to officially stamp her ticket to Austin. Right behind her was Canyon’s Avery Brown, who battled her way to a silver medal and a State qualification of her own with a strong 11:10.55 finish. With both runners advancing, two of the Panhandle’s proudest programs will be well-represented in Austin.
Then it was time for the 5A girls to take the stage, and Reese Pena of Lubbock High delivered a statement performance. The senior separated from the pack early and never looked back, running a commanding 10:52.89 — more than 15 seconds ahead of the field — to grab gold and punch her first ticket to State of the weekend.
On the boys' side in 4A, it was all Canyon Eagles on the podium.
In a dominant display of depth and control, Canyon swept the top three spots in the 3200m. Lathan Lewter led the charge with a golden time of 9:26.41, followed closely by Ryan Fernandez in second at 9:28.04, and Noah Cooper in third with a 9:30.28—a time fast enough to potentially grab the UIL State Wildcard spot.
Just off the medal stand but turning heads with a gritty performance was Perryton freshman Jacob Erickson, who finished fourth and showed the kind of promise that could make him a future fixture on the regional and state distance stage.
In 5A action, Abdirisak Saidgurhan of Palo Duro brought the intensity for the Panhandle, placing fourth in a competitive field with a 9:47.30 finish. Jackson Newman, a sophomore from Amarillo High, followed in fifth, gaining valuable experience and making it clear he’ll be one to watch in the years to come.
Saturday’s 1600m races delivered fireworks — especially in 4A.
Canyon Lady Eagle Addyson Bristow stole the show with one of the most electric performances of the weekend, breaking the meet record in the 1600m with a blistering 4:52.96. That was one of three meet records Bristow would set on the day, solidifying her as one of the state’s elite. Finishing behind her and punching her second ticket to State was Brooke French of Randall, clocking a silver-medal time of 4:59.68 and capping off a huge weekend for the sophomore standout.
Over in 5A, Reese Pena showed no signs of slowing down, following up her dominant 3200m with another impressive win in the 1600m. Her time of 5:01.39 was good for another gold and her second State qualification in as many days.
Back to the boys in 4A, and the Canyon Eagles repeated history — sweeping the podium again in the 1600m. This time it was Ryan Fernandez grabbing the gold in 4:21.44, just outleaning teammate Lathan Lewter who took silver in 4:21.71. Aaryan Katwal-Shaver completed the sweep with a strong third-place time of 4:30.18, another complete domination from Canyon’s distance crew.
In 5A, El Paso runners Miles Westbrook and Diego Romero came into Lubbock and handled business, claiming the top two spots on the podium and securing their State berths with clutch performances in a loaded field.
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