Chargers qualify 3 to state track meet in 4 run events

Chargers qualify

SAN ANTONIO – Three Boerne Champion athletes qualified in four events for this year’s 5A state track and field meet scheduled for next weekend in Austin.

Charlie Houck made it to state in two races, while Caleb Dehart and Jamarri Bowie both punched their tickets to state as well after their performances at last weekend’s regional meet.

Champion sent a total of eight athletes to the Region IV-5A meet at Heroes Stadium. The Charger 4x100 girls relay and Blake Stehling (shot put) also competed at regionals.

The top 2 at regionals automatically qualify for state, while the 3rd-place finisher has a chance at a wildcard spot.

The 5A state track and field meet is Friday, May 2, in Austin on the UT campus.

Varsity Boys

Charlie Houck advanced to state in two events after he won the 3200 and placed 2nd in the 1600 and he said he plans to compete in both at state.

“It feels great, at first I kind of thought I wouldn’t run the mile even if I did make it (to state) because I care more about the twomile, but now that I’ve made it, I think it’s an opportunity I can’t pass up,” he said.

Houck ran a 9:25.32 in the 3200 Friday morning to earn gold and beat Boerne High’s Aaron Garcia, who posted a 9:32.95. (Garcia is BHS’s lone representative, see separate story.)

Houck returned on Saturday and posted a 4:19.17 in the 1600 to finish 2nd behind Weslaco East’s Adrianno Gonzalez (4:17.84) and earned 18 team points.

Houck said making it to state in the 1600 is a bonus.

“I was just coming out here in the mile and trying to get a good time really,” he said. “I ended up with a PR (personal record) by four seconds, so I can’t complain.”

Champion’s Jamarri Bowie won the 400 in 48.04 to beat Sharyland Pioneer’s Angel Rodriguez (48.14).

Bowie looked cool as he ran in his Oakley sunglasses despite cloudy skies and said wearing his shades helps him mentally.

“When I wear my Oakley’s, it makes me more confident,” said the senior who earned 10 team points. “It’s like ‘feel good, run good,’ so I like running like that.”

Bowie leaned in at the finish to edge Rodriguez and said he knew it would be a tight race.

“The goal was to get to state, I knew I was seeded first, but I’ve raced against a lot of the runners here today and we have really close races, so coming in I knew it was going to be a dogfight,” he said.

Caleb Dehart punched his ticket to state in the 800 after he clocked in at 1:55.34 and was just edged out by Jacksen Ahlman of McAllen (1:55.28).

Dehart closed the gap on Ahlman and almost caught him but ended up 2nd.

“With 100 meters to go, I was thinking, ‘okay I can catch this guy’ and I think he saw me coming out of the corner of his eye and he fought hard. If there was 20 meters more, I would have caught him, it was real close,” said the senior who earned 8 points.

It’ll be a busy few days for Dehart next weekend.

“The day after (state), I have the state wind ensemble festival, so a quick turnaround,” he said. “It’s a dream come true.”

Blake Stehling, just a freshman, also competed at regionals for Champion and finished 11th in the shot put with a toss of 49-6.

In the final boys team standings, the Chargers were 8th with 36 points.

Varsity Girls

The Champion girls only had one entry at last weekend’s regional meet, the 4x100 relay, where they earned all 8 of the team’s points.

Holly Winkenhower, Kinsley Graff, Juliana Syroney and Madison Meinke teamed up for 4th in the relay with a time of 48.90.

In the final team standings, the Champion girls tied for 19th place with their 8 points, while McAllen ran away with the regional title with 118 points, their second straight.