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Freshman Madi Benson earned a wildcard to the State Track Meet in the 400m dash at the Regional track meet. Despite finishing third in that race, Benson earned her spot when her time of 1:00.33 in the Regional Meet was good enough for the wildcard.

Last weekend, Benson ran against a strong field of nine runners. Her determination drove her to sixth place finish with a time of 1:00.95. Benson was a little over three seconds behind the first-place finisher, but only six one-hundredths out of fifth. The top four runners finished under one minute.

Benson is an all-around Lady Bronco and will be a contender at next year’s State track meet.

Brenna and Gracie Ellis, sisters and students at Clarendon High School, will be traveling to Abilene June 1-10 to compete in the Texas High School Rodeo Association State Finals.

The state finals rodeo is an annual, week-long event where high school students across Texas and surrounding states come and compete. Numerous awards, scholarships, and the opportunity to represent Texas at the National High School Finals Rodeo held each July are all up for grabs.

Contestants compete in rodeos throughout the year in one of 10 regions across the state. At the last rodeo of regional level competition, the top 10 competitors in each event are announced. These contestants are then given the opportunity to represent their region on the state level at the THSRA state finals.

Brenna, a Clarendon High School senior and THSRA Region 1 member, will be competing on the state level in the goat tying event.

“The goat tying competition was very tough in Region 1 this year,” Brenna said. “I am happy to have qualified for state for my fourth and final year in high school rodeo.”

Gracie, a Clarendon High School freshman and THSRA Region 1 member, will be competing on the state level in the barrel racing and pole bending events.

“I was able to gain an early lead in the pole bending during the fall rodeos, so I just had to stay consistent during the spring rodeos to win the region,”

Gracie said. “The barrel racing competition was very tough. I had to come from behind and really make some good runs in the final stretch. I am excited to be going to my first high school state finals, not only as a freshman, but also as a region event champion.”

Rodeo performances, as well as other events held throughout the week are open to the public each morning and afternoon. Shuttle services will be offered on the Taylor County Expo Center grounds, and tickets will be sold at the gates. Schedule updates will be posted to the THSRA Facebook and Instagram pages regularly throughout the week.

The Texas High School Rodeo Association is the largest, most prestigious state high school rodeo association in the nation. THSRA sponsors over 125 rodeos per year throughout 10 regions across Texas. The rodeo year begins in August and concludes with the Texas High School Finals Rodeo in June. It is here, at the largest rodeo in the state of Texas, where “The Elite Compete” featuring the top cowboys and cowgirls from each Region. They compete for numerous awards, scholarships as well as the coveted honor of representing Texas at the National High School Finals Rodeo to be held this July in Lincoln, NE.

Those interested in watching the Ellis girls compete can catch all the rodeo action live on the Cowboy Channel.

The Clarendon Broncos aremoving on in post-season with two huge knockout wins over West Texas last weekend. The boys in maroon scored 37 runs in the best of three-series to only five for their opponents to claim the championship.

The Broncos won the first game 12-1 and won the final game 25-4. Junior Easton Frausto was on fire on the mound in the first game going the full five innings with 10 strike-outs and allowing only one run.

WT was the first to cross home plate in the first inning with their only run of the game. The Broncos would go two innings before they were able to put five runs on the board in the third. Frausto was a workhorse at the plate and knocked down a double that scored the Broncos’ first runs and repeated that hit in the fifth. They scored a total of seven runs in the final innings thanks to several big hits.

Overall, the Broncos were strong offensively and defensively. They racked up nine hits and only committed one error in the field. They also grabbed five stolen bases and only seven strikeouts. Harrison Howard collected two hits and two runs and Colton Caudle managed on hit and two runs. Tyler Harper and Jared Musick had two RBIs while Frausto brought in five RBIs.

Game two ended in the Broncos favor due to the 17 hits racked up by the Broncos. Behind the pitching of Howard in the first two innings. Howard allowed no hits and no runs. He threw five strikeouts and only walked one hitter. Harper and Wilson Ward took over the duties for the remainder of the game with Harper throwing two innings with six strikeouts and allowing three hits. Ward went one inning on the mound.

WT made one final attempt at a comeback in the third inning scoring four runs, but it was too little too late. The Broncos were too strong and stopped WT from scoring again.

The Broncos will play Sundown at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, in Floydada. Game two will be on Saturday, May 13, at 4:00 p.m. in the Area Round.

Freshman Madi Benson has begun to develop her speed in the 400m all season. After a district championship in that event, Benson took her talent to the Regional Meet in Canyon at WTAMU last week where she captured third place with a time of 1:00.33 just a half of a second out of first place.

Benson was sixth in the prelims with a time of 1:03.46. Benson’s third place finish earned her the wild card to compete in the state meet May 11-13.

The Lady Bronco mile relay competed in the meet and finished 10th in the prelims with a time of 4:28.11 and was run by Kenidee Hayes, Berkley Moore, Elliot Frausto, and Benson. The 400m relay also ran and finished 13th in the prelims. Running that relay was Moore, Hayes, Baylee Gabel, and Benson. Frausto also ran the 800m at a time of 2:36.87 which was good enough for 11th place.

On the men’s side, Kaleb Bolin ran the 400m dash in a time of 54.23 in the prelims for 10th place.

Lyric Smith placed sixth in the high jump with a jump of 6’ and turned in a distance of 20’3 ¼” in the long jump.