Marble Falls track breaks program records, sets new bests

CAPTION: A large group of Marble Falls High School track and field athletes brought back numerous medals from Lago Vista’s Viking Relays including junior Madison Cuplin (middle, holding flowers) and Sophomore Graham Goggans (behind Cuplin). Head coach Austin Silva and Brenda Gonzalez remain encouraged about the progress of their athletes, pointing out some incredible finishes in multiple events throughout all our divisions. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School track and field program competed at the Viking Relays hosted by Lago Vista High School Feb. 26 with the boys varsity finishing third overall with 97 points and junior Madison Cuplin breaking three school records previously held by two Lady Mustang legends.

“I am most proud of how we competed,” boys head coach Austin Silva said. “Our varsity boys … beat every district team that attended. Now, obviously teams will shuffle people around by the time district gets here and so will we. But our kids are seeing their times, places and points and starting to believe in themselves and each other. It’s awesome to watch and be apart of it.”

“Maddie’s performance was simply incredible,” girls head coach Brenda Gonzalez said. “Breaking one school record is special — breaking three in one meet is remarkable.”

Cuplin had a leap of 20 feet and 11 inches in the long jump and clocked 11.84 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 24.45 seconds in the 200 meters.

The previous records in the long jump and 100 meters were previously owned by 1993 graduate Tamara Coburn, who had a mark of 19-1.25 in the long jump set in 1993 and 11.97 in the 100 meters set in 1992. Barbara Conley set the 200-meter mark in 1978 by finishing in 24.66 seconds.

Gonzalez noted that Cuplin displayed a couple of traits in all three events.

“In the long jump, what stood out most was not just the 20-foot mark, but her consistency,” she said. “She didn’t just jump 20 feet once — she was over 20 feet on all her attempts. That level of consistency shows tremendous growth.

“In the 100 and 200, she looked smooth, relaxed and extremely fast,” the coach added. “She also opened the season with a 57-second 400-meter (run) in Leander, which shows she’s becoming a complete, well-rounded sprinter. Her development across all sprint events, paired with elite jumping ability, is exciting as we approach championship season.”

CAPTION: Junior Madison Cuplin continues to set the mark for the Lady Mustangs. She rewrote the program’s history book, etching her name with some of the all-time greats. Courtesy photo

The Mustangs were led by the middle-distance runners. Sophomore Graham Goggans took gold in the 400 and 800 meters in 50.29 and 1:58.87, respectively.

“Really proud of Graham and his performance,” Silva said. “What I love about Graham is he is never satisfied. As soon as he comes off the track, he looks at his time and immediately says, ‘I can beat that.’ And I believe him. Excited to watch him progress this season.”

Junior Owen Martin won the 1,600 meters in 4:38.21 and finished fourth in the 800 in 2:04.67.

“Owen, in my mind, has been the biggest surprise this season,” Silva said. “I cannot say enough about his growth from last year to this year. When you look at his times last year and compare to this year. The difference is enormous. Extremely proud of his growth.”

Freshman Joaquim Edwards was the silver medalist in the 3,200 meters in 10:24.79 and bronze medalist in the 1,600 meters in 4:39.

“Joaquim is a freshman that walks and talks like an upperclassman,” Silva said. “The belief and confidence he has in himself is off the charts. And he continues to get the job done. Excited to watch him grow.”

Junior Anthony Griffin was fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.43 and in the 300-meter hurdles in 42.04.

“Griffin was a regional qualifier last year in the hurdles and he knows that’s the expectation this year,” Silva said. “He had a solid performance, but he knows he can do better. We will clean up his start out of the blocks and continue to emphasis his finish through the last flight. He will be fine.”

The 1,600-meter relay team of junior Connor Yaklin, Goggans and juniors Gage Coleman and Greg Colver took bronze in 3:29.7.

“Look for this relay to get even faster and make it out of district this year,” Silva said.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez was equally pumped by the results of the Lady Mustangs junior varsity team that finished third in the team standings. Kendley Virdell and Graci Nelson each took gold in the shot put and 3,200 meters with Nelson setting a new personal best. Brenna Wilde and Sapana Khatri were silver medalists in the high jump and 400 meters and Shayley Alley and Lyndee Saunders each took bronze medals in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump.

“The goal early in the season is development — compete well, improve weekly and build toward having a strong varsity presence by district,” Gonzalez said. “They showed up and performed with confidence and determination. There’s a lot to be proud of.”

Marble Falls will compete at the Taylor meet Thursday, march 6.

CAPTION: The boys varsity 1,600-meter relay team of Connor Yakin (left), Graham Goggans, Gage Coleman and Greg Colver finish third at the Vikings Relays hosted by Lago Vista High School. Courtesy photo

RESULTS

BOYS

Varsity

200 – 8, Branson Bunting (Marble Falls), 23.15,9, Gage Coleman (Marble Falls), 23.17, 10, Cohen Jorpeland (Burnet), 23.22; 400 – 1, Graham Goggans (Marble Falls), 50.29, 10, Hector Vega (Burnet), 53.76; 800 – 1, Graham Goggans (Marble Falls), 1:58.87, 4, Owen Martin (Marble Falls), 2:04.67, 6, Connor Yaklin (Marble Falls) 2:06.20, 10, Jovanny Ramirez (Burnet), 2:09.57; 1,600 – 1, Owen Martin (Marble Falls), 4:38.21, 3, Joaquim Edwards (Marble Falls), 4:39, 4, Clark Yanez (Burnet), 4:49.77, 7, Isaac Vega (Burnet), 4:57.99; 3,200 – 2, Joaquim Edwards (Marble Falls), 10:24.79, 3, Clark Yanez (Burnet), 10:25.42, 7, Isaac Vega (Burnet), 11:07.60, 9, Christopher Hernandez (Burnet), 11:23.47; 110 hurdles – 4, Anthony Griffin (Marble Falls), 15.43, 10, Addison Proctor (Burnet), 17.37; 300 hurdles – 4, Anthony Griffin (Marble Falls), 42.04, 5, Gregory Colver (Marble Falls), 43.05, 7, Addison Proctor (Burnet), 45.22; 4×100 – 4, Burnet, 43.77, 7, Marble Falls, 44.49; 4×200 – 2, Burnet, 1:30.75, 4, Marble Falls, 1:33.07; 4×400 – 3, Marble Falls, 3:29.77, 7, Burnet, 3:36.03; high jump – 4, Carlos Alvarez (Marble Falls), 6-0; long jump – 4, Matthew Williams (Burnet), 20-5, 8, Joaquin Aguilar (Marble Falls), 19-10, 10, Clay Lamb (Burnet), 19-6; triple jump – 2, Joaquin Aguilar (Marble Falls), 40-9.5, 4, Anthony Griffin (Marble Falls), 39-8; pole vault – 4, Gregory Lemon (Marble Falls), 10-6, 5, Rhett Eaton (Burnet), 10-0; discus – 10, Logan Chapa (Marble Falls), 96-0;

Junior varsity

100 – 7, Diego Aguilar (Marble Falls), 11.87, 9, Ethan Sanchez (Burnet), 11.93; 200 – 5, Tait Schmidt (Burnet), 24.35, 6, Zathan Gonzalez (Marble Falls), 24.44, 8, Ethan Sanchez (Burnet), 24.49, 9, Caiden Calvery (Marble Falls), 24.52; 400 – 2, Logan Hargraves (Marble Falls), 54.97; 800 – 1, Russell Ramirez (Burnet), 2:06.05, 2, Logan Hargraves (Marble Falls), 4, Andrew Resendez (Burnet), 2:13.97; 6, Matthew Resendez (Burnet), 2:16.20, 8, Landon Fletcher (Marble Falls), 2:18.83; 1,600 – 3, Nicolai Montette (Marble Falls), 5:15.60, 4, Andrew Resendez (Burnet), 5:20.18, 5, Colton Rutland (Marble Falls), 5:20.65, 6, Jerry Walker (Marble Falls), 5:20.88, 8, Gabriel Castillo (Burnet), 5:28.73; 3,200 – 1, Jerry Walker (Marble Falls), 11:36.38, 7, Colton Rutland (Marble Falls), 12:21.27, 8, Nicolai Monette (Marble Falls), 12:56.87; 110 hurdles – 2, Hunter Bailey (Burnet), 17.70, 6, Austin Mitchusson (Marble Falls), 19.57, 9, Jayden Guerrero (Burnet), 19.75; 300 hurdles – 4, Hunter Bailey (Burnet), 46.55, 6, Jayden Guerrero (Burnet), 47.32, 8, Elijah Pirie (Burnet), 47.87; high jump – 3, Ethan Sanchez (Burnet), 5-6, 6, Landon Campbell (Marble Falls), 5-4, 9, Tyler Barrios (Burnet), 5-2; triple jump – 1, Colt McGraw (Burnet), 39-10, 7, Calan Syphrett (Burnet), 34-4; pole vault – 4, Remington Bailey (Burnet), 8-6; discus – 7, Djeeby Gaither (Marble Falls), 96-1; shot put – 1, Djeeby Gaither (Marble Falls), 40-3.75

GIRLS

Varsity

100 – 1, Madison Cuplin (Marble Falls), 11.84; 200 – Madison Cuplin (Marble Falls), 24.45, 9, Alaina Brown (Burnet), 27.75, 10, Cheyenne Adams (Burnet), 27.91; 400 – 8, Izabelle Thompson (Burnet), 1:03.94; 800 – 7. Asah Roy (Burnet), 2:33.01, 9, Journey Denton (Burnet), 2:37.19; 1,600 – 3, Asah Roy (Burnet), 5:34.89, 7, Kamila Palacios (Burnet), 5:57.95; 3,200 – 9, Kamila Palacios (Burnet), 13:46.35; 100 hurdles – 2, Wrigley Mulhollan (Burnet), 16.65, 5, Brianne Hudgins (Burnet), 17.06, 8, Hayden McCombs (Burnet), 18.88; 300 hurdles – 2, Wrigley Mulhollan (Burnet), 49.23; 4×100 – 5, Burnet, 52.44; 4×200 – 4, Burnet, 1:48.37; 4×400 – 5, Burnet, 4:16.31; long jump – 1, Madison Cuplin (Marble Falls), 20-11, 9, Alaina Brown (Burnet), 15-7.5, 10, Kalora McDonnell (Burnet), 15-7; triple jump – 5, Landry Schubert (Burnet), 34-8, 9, Brianne Hudgins (Burnet), 32–3.5; discus – 6, Carlee Williams (Burnet), 81-5; shot put – 4, Carlee Williams (Burnet), 30-9, 8, Landri Lewis (Burnet), 30-2

Junior varsity

100 – Molly Cupitt (Burnet), 13.43, 4, Adriana George (Marble Falls), 13.46, 6, Kayla Delval (Burnet), 13.67; 200 – Savannah Myers (Burnet), 28.43, 7, Kelsey Cude (Marble Falls), 29.21, 8, Rayleigh Crim (Marble Falls), 29.35, 10, Natalie Kneese (Burnet), 29.47; 400 – 1, Rowyn Mulhollan (Burnet), 1:06.20, 2, Sapana Khatri (Marble Falls), 1:06.76, 4, Katerina Moseley (Marble Falls), 1:08.40, 6, Ivanna Quintanilla (Marble Falls), 1:09.78, 9, Amaria Schmidt (Burnet), 1:10.89; 800 – 8, Natalie Nagowski (Marble Falls), 2:50.99, 10, Brekeyn Langley (Burnet), 2:52.79; 1,600 – 3, Katerina Moseley (Marble Falls), 6:05.16, 4, Graci Nelson (Marble Falls), 6:05.48, 7, Natalie Nagowski (Marble Falls), 6:17.60; 3,200 – 1, Graci Nelson (Marble Falls), 13:51.69, 4, Marlei Gas (Marble Falls), 14:32.35, 9, Bethany Norred (Burnet), 15:24.44; 100 hurdles – 3, Shaylea Alley (Marble Falls), 18.67, 8, Fernanda Gonzalez (Burnet), 20.49; 300 hurdles – 1, Kayleigh Briggs (Burnet), 54.01, 3, Addie Milam (Burnet), 54.36; high jump – 2, Brenna Wilde (Marble Falls), 4-10, 3, Kayla Delval (Burnet), 4-8, 5, Rowyn Mulhollan (Burnet), 4-8, 6, Paige Jamail (Marble Falls), 4-4; long jump – 3, Lyndee Saunders (Marble Falls), 14-1, 4, Molly Cupitt (Burnet), 13-11.5; triple jump – 7, Katerina Moseley (Marble Falls), 27-1; pole vault – 4, Harper Alford (Burnet), 7-0, 4, Naveah Perez (Burnet), 7-0; discus – 6, Lyndee Saunders (Marble Falls), 71-8, 8, Payton Brandt (Burnet), 68-6, 10, Kate Dykes (Marble Falls), 66-7; shot put – 1, Kenley Virdell (Marble Falls), 33-5.5, 4, Ella Hillman (Marble Falls), 28-5, 5 Lyndee Saunders (Marble Falls), 27-3, 6, Payton Brandt (Burnet), 26-10.75