Bishop Dunne Falcons Soaring at State Track Meet, Earn Two Individual State Championships in First Day of Competition
Junior Mackenzie Frank has won the TAPPS 5A State Championship in the girls' High Jump with a winning leap of 5 feet, two inches high.
The two day state meet is being held today, Friday, May 8 and tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Baylor University track in Waco.
Senior Darrion Daniels started the winning streak earlier in the day by winning the Shot Putt competition with an impressive score: 54 feet, 7 inches. He followed that up by coming in 6th in the discus.
The Falcon boys’ and girls’ track and field teams had a strong showing at the TAPPS 5A North Regional Meet held at Argyle Liberty Christian School last Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1, 2015.
Both the Bishop Dunne boys’ and girls’ track teams had an excellent day with a large number of student-athletes winning their events and qualifying for the state meet.
Out of the nine teams participating in the regional meet, the Bishop Dunne boys’ team finished second behind Liberty Christian. The Bishop Dunne girls’ team also had a strong showing and finished third overall.
Two of Bishop Dunne’s female athletes, De’Stini Henderson and Mackenzie Frank, had outstanding results.
Senior De’Stini won a first, second and third place finish in meet, including the 100 Meter (first) 4x100 relay with her teammates (second) and 200 meter race (third.) She runs in all three races tomorrow in Waco.
Junior Mackenzie won three first place finishes in the 100 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Hurdles and High Jump. She'll compete in the two hurdles races tomorrow.
Senior Jared Moser won his 1600 meter race, leading his senior teammates to put in their best efforts and also come away with first place wins including Dailen Sutton winning the 110 Meter hurdles, A.D. Miller winning first place in the long jump, and Darrion Daniels winning first in the shot put.
Sophomore Damion Daniels competed in the shot put also, but didn’t place. “It was great to see my brother win it,” he said, noting his distance of 52’7”. He declared, “I plan to keep practicing and beat that record one day soon.”
This was A.D. Miller’s first track meet of the season due to three rain-outs and his heavy weight lifting schedule getting ready for the fall football season at OU, where he’ll be attending on a full scholarship. He was pleased to have finished so well. “It was a nice surprise,” he admitted with a big smile.
“A.D. placed sixth in the long jump last year and qualified to compete in the triple, but had a hamstring issue and couldn’t do it,” Coach Isaac Bell said, adding, “It was great to see him out there last weekend, finishing strong.” His winning long jump was 22 feet, eight inches, a personal best.
Coach Bell’s team did well at State last year, with the boys coming in at second place and the girls taking fourth place. He expected his team to do well at Regionals and hopes each athlete comes to Waco ready to win.
Sophomore Xavier Harvey was the surprise of the meet. According to Coach Bell, Xavier’s been practicing hard, work which paid off when he finished the 400 meters race in fourth place. Coach relates, “He knew placing fourth made him an automatic competitor at State, and he smiled all through those last few meters.” His fourth place finish means he’ll be on the track in Waco, ready to give his best.
Fifth place finishers also get to compete. Considered “wild card” entrants, senior Travis Cook will be competing in the triple jump, senior Dailen Sutton will be competing in the long jump, and sophomore Cassie Garner will be running in the 100 meter race.
Coach Dewey Wakefield and Coach Walter Johnson are also in Waco with the team. Coach Bell has high hopes for his track teams this weekend. “We’re taking more athletes this year,” he said, “which will give us more chances to win,” - and more chances for these Falcons to soar.