Marble Falls, Burnet and Llano track athletes compete at state meet

JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER

AUSTIN — Three track-and-field athletes representing the Highland Lakes made the area proud because of how well they competed at the University Interscholastic League state meet May 12-14.

The highest-finishing athlete was 110-meter hurdler Ian Carter, a sophomore at Burnet High School. He was fifth in a time of 14.87 seconds at the Class 4A meet May 14.

Carter had to wait six hours to run because of numerous weather delays throughout the day.

Burnet track head coach Billy Cook commended Carter, who had competed in the same event at the same facility a month ago during the Texas Relays.

“This was his second trip to Austin, and we expect it wont be his last,” he said. “If you see Ian, let him know how proud we all are of him.”

In the Class 5A meet May 13, Marble Falls High School senior Natalie Schulz was seventh in the 300-meter hurdles in 45.62 seconds, eighth in the long jump with leap of 17 feet 6¼ inches, and eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 36-1¼,

Lady Mustangs head coach Anthony Torns said it’s impossible to prepare for the environment that is the state track meet, adding the Schulz had a solid two weeks of work, and he believes she was ready to compete at the highest level.

That was evident in Schulz’s fifth attempt, which was her best leap. Onlookers believe had it been measured, she would have been in the 18-foot range. Instead she was a quarter-inch over the board, so officials called it a scratch.

“She’s going out there doing her best,” Torns said. “There aren’t a lot of kids who can say they made it three years in a row. When you look at the amount of talent you have in Texas, when you get to state, you’re going to see 19-foot jumps. That’s not anything out of the ordinary.”

The long jump was won by Mansfield Lake Ridge freshman Jasmine Moore, who leaped 19-10. She also won the gold medal in the triple jump with a mark of 14-1¾.

Torns said Schulz was uncomfortable during the triple jump a day earlier, noting she tweaked something in one of her legs. With two more events remaining in which to compete, Torns said he told Schulz she didn’t have to take her last of six attempts in the event. But he knew she would because she was sitting in last place.

Llano High School senior pole vaulter Cody Miller finished tied for seventh at the Class 4A meet. Miller cleared 13-6 in three attempts. However, when he landed after clearing the vault, he said he heard a pop and immediately grabbed his left shoulder.

“He couldn’t pole vault and turn the way he needed to,” said athletic director and head track coach Craig Slaughter. “Physically, he couldn’t go at it.”

But to Miller’s credit, he tried to clear 14-0 to remain in the competition.

Pole vaulting coach Lance Cain said the mechanics of a vault after planting the pole are similar to a bench press. The shoulder helps to turn the body as it rises above the clearing pole. Without it, he said, there’s very little an athlete can do .

“We’re all proud of him just for making it here,” Cain said.

jfierro@thepicayune.com