Throckmorton girls 1,600 relay sets new record as team finishes second at UIL State Track

AUSTIN — Admittedly so, the Throckmorton girls were just happy to be in Austin at the UIL State Track meet last season.

Mady Shield, Summer Shepherd, Emma Myer and Lily Cunningham advanced to state in all three relays, but finished eighth (400 relay), seventh (800 relay) and seventh (1,600).

Given another year to fine tune and a sense of purpose, trying to make the best of one final ride together, the Greyhounds shined with a silver medal in the 400 relay and did even better in the 1,600 relay, setting a new UIL State Track Meet record for 1A girls with a time of 4:06.93.

"Last year they were kind of happy to be here," outgoing Throckmorton coach CJ Hantz said. "This year we knew what we had to do. They got up a 5:30 a.m. and worked their tails off. Those four girls deserved everything they got today.

"Bringing everybody back was a big deal. As long as we can remember, there hasn't been a Throckmorton girls team that finished in the top two at state or win a relay. They did all that today.

Cunningham, also a silver medalist in the 300 hurdles, said last year served as motivation for the group.

"We are never used to being on the medal stand (at state), after the 4x1 it felt amazing being up there with all my girls," Cunningham said.

With two of the four graduating as well as an impending change at coach, the squad knew it was a last ride of sorts and even printed the slogan on the back of their state T-shirts.

And they made it count.

"To break the record in the mile relay is pretty impressive for those little girls," Frantz said. "I was hoping we could get a 4:09 today, but these girls always surprise. Pull something out and win it. They deserve it all. They work hard and do the right things."

Cunningham, who will run collegiately at McMurry, said the group had plenty of extra motivation.

"It is our last ride together, we put it on the back of our shirts," Cunningham said. "We had to finish it off the best we could. I am going to miss my girls."

More: Windthorst's Cameron Belcher responds to adversity to win 1,600 state championship

Back with a vengeance

Northside's Aubrey Ford was at state as a sophomore and expected to return last season.

But two third-place finishes in the 100 and 400 derailed her hopes in 2023.

This year, she won the 100-meter dash at the regional meet and made up for last season at the UIL State Track Meet, finishing second to finish her career with a silver medal (12.76).

"Last year was my main motivation to get back here and do my best," Ford said. "I started the 100 last year. My block wasn't very good last year and this year, I've just been working and working and putting in those habits and it finally pays off.

"Last year was a tough season and it hurt that I didn't make it, but it did pay off."

Other highlights

• Gold-burg's Isaac Renteria clocked a 10:06.74 to finish fourth in the 1A boys 3,200-meter run.

• Benjamin's Grayson Rigdon hit a jump of 41-9 to finish fifth in the 1A boys triple jump. Ridgon and the Benjamin 800-meter relay (Rigdon, Keegan Hayes, Tallon Hayes, Weston Weatherford) finished fourth.

• Throckmorton senior Jacob Gaspar finished fourth in shot put (46-4.25).

• Knox City's Bryson Callaway was fourth in the 300 hurdles and finished sixth in the 110s.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL State: Record-setting Throckmorton girls make good on last ride