Benson, Havens top the field at Area

By Sandy Anderberg

Clarendon High School junior Madi Benson is no stranger to post-season running and once again will be making her way to the Regional Track Meet later this week in Canyon at WTAMU.

Benson was able to outrun the field in the 800m, and Addy Havens topped the field in the 3200m run. Benson also finished 2nd in the 1600m run, and Havens was third in that race.

The accomplishments will allow the runners to compete at the next level and hopefully earn a trip to the State Track Meet in Austin. Fellow junior Kate Shaw earned the right to advance in the shot put with a distance of 33’3 ½” for fourth place for her chance at the next step.

While Benson may be an “old hand” at this level, newcomer Havens is in her first year of high school track. She has been performing like a seasoned runner and with impressive times in both races. She was able to cross the finish line first in the 3200m with a time of 12:42.08 which was more than 10 seconds in front of the second-place finisher. Impressive for a rookie. She was right on Benson’s heels for third place in the 1600m at 5:54.38 and Benson’s time was a good one at 5:51.91. Benson’s time in the 800m was more than two seconds in front of the field at 2:28.21.

The 800m relay competed in the Area meet, but failed to advance with a sixth-place finish and a time of 1:53.65. The relay was run by Berkley Moore, Kenidee Hayes, Gracie Ellis, and Benson.

Kaleb Mays is the lone Bronco to advance to the regional round. Mays competed in the 200m dash at the Area round and finished fourth with a tie of 22.68. The first-place time was 21.35.

Mays placed fifth in the 100m with a time of 11.38 and Brice Wagner was 8th at 12.48. Wagner was sixth in in the 800m at 2:20.56 and Kyler Bell finished at 2:26.54 for seventh place.

Tristen Ybarra was fifth in the 1600m at 5:11.38 and fifth in the 3200m run with a time of 11:25.76. Mason Sims was fifth in the 110 m hurdles at 16.19 and Michael Randall was sixth in in the high jump with a height of 5’10”. Wagner was seventh in the long jump with a distance of 20’3”.