WACO, Texas – Under the bright lights of Paul Tyson Field, the Lamar Middle School 7th Grade Track & Field team put together a gritty performance on Wednesday, March 25, at the Waco ISD Relays. Competing against a deep field of Central Texas talent, the Bearcats secured a 5th Place finish in the overall team standings with a total of 72 points.
While Robinson claimed the top spot with 160 points and Travis followed in 2nd with 117, Lamar proved they have the individual firepower to compete with the best in the region.
The Podium Path: Top Performers
The Bearcats were led by a trio of standout athletes who dominated their respective events.
The highlight of the night belonged to the "Gold Medalists." Kayden Clark showcased elite speed and technique to take 1st Place in the 110-meter hurdles, while Robert Williams mirrored that success with a 1st Place finish in the 300-meter hurdles. Williams also added a silver medal to his collection with a 2nd Place finish in the Triple Jump.
In the field events, Jafari Bennett was a force to be reckoned with. Bennett soared to a 1st Place finish in the Triple Jump and secured a bronze medal with a 3rd Place finish in the High Jump, proving to be one of the most versatile athletes on the roster.
Meet Medalists:
Kayden Clark: 1st Place – 110m Hurdles
Robert Williams: 1st Place – 300m Hurdles; 2nd Place – Triple Jump
Jafari Bennett: 1st Place – Triple Jump; 3rd Place – High Jump
Complete Meet Results
The Bearcats showed depth across the board, from the grueling 2400-meter run to the explosive sprints and relays. Here is how the team fared in each event:
Running Events
100 Meters: Jafari Bennett (4th) – 13.10; Michael Nino (8th) – 13.80; Shai’yir Bishop (14th) – 14.63
200 Meters: Jafari Bennett (4th) – 26.62; Michael Nino (10th) – 28.51; Shai’yir Bishop (15th) – 37.64
400 Meters: Jimmy Caudillo (8th) – 1:12.30; Major Lee (9th) – 1:13.93; Greyson Ross (13th) – 1:21.28
800 Meters: Greyson Ross (13th) – 3:27.59; Christopher Torres (14th) – 3:27.62
1600 Meters: Jordan Wells (9th) – 6:57.29; Alfonso Rodriguez (12th) – 7:31.64; Tracy Baugh (13th) – 9:10.24
2400 Meters: Jordan Wells (5th) – 11:23.46; Alfonso Rodriguez (6th) – 12:33.27; Alexander Sotelo (7th) – 13:19.66; Tracy Baugh (15th) – 3:52.20
110 Hurdles: Kayden Clark (1st) – 21.48; Robert Williams (4th) – 24.34; Aadyn Linear (5th) – 26.15
300 Hurdles: Robert Williams (1st) – 1:00.23; Kayden Clark (6th) – 1:05.20; Camden Grant (7th) – 1:06.23
4x400 Relay: Jimmy Caudillo, Major Lee, Jafari Bennett, Shai'yir Bishop (4th) – 4:41.91
Field Events
Long Jump: Shai’yir Bishop (5th) – 16’8 ½; Major Lee (9th) – 14’2 ½; Robert Williams (10th) – 14’1
Triple Jump: Jafari Bennett (1st) – 36’4; Robert Williams (2nd) – 34’1; Shai’yir Bishop (7th) – 27’6
High Jump: Jafari Bennett (3rd) – 5’0
Shot Put: Jervaughn Hudson (8th) – 26’0
Looking Ahead
The Bearcats will now turn their focus to the Central Texas District Divisional Meet on April 1st at Wildcat Stadium in Temple. The stakes are high: the top four finishers in each event will earn a ticket to the Central Texas District Track & Field Championships. With several athletes currently sitting in those qualifying spots, expectations are high for the hometown meet.
