Marble Falls’ Cuplin adds regional titles
CAPTION: Marble Falls junior Madison Cuplin shows her three gold and a bronze medal from the Class 4A Region III meet. Courtesy photo
Marble Falls High School girls track and field junior athlete Madison Cuplin will compete at the Class 4A Track and Field Championships thanks to capturing three Class 4A Region III individual championships and a bronze medal.
The regional meet was May 1-2.
Cuplin earned gold medals in the 100 meters, long jump and triple jump and finished third in the 200 meters.
She entered the regional meet with the fastest times in the sprints and the best marks in the horizontal events and didn’t disappoint, Lady Mustangs head coach Brenda Gonzalez said.
The Lady Mustang won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet and 2.5 inches and the triple jump with a mark of 39-7.75.
Gonzalez called the result in the long jump “probably one of my favorite moments of the weekend because she was challenged.”
Jasper junior LaBrayia Waalee had a leap of 19-7.5 to take the lead on her first attempt.
Horizontals jumping coach Jamie Graham explained what was happening.
“Maddie was struggling to hit the board and was taking off behind the board costing her distance,” he said. “She had three or four jumps that would have been farther than (Waalee) if she had used all of the board.”
Finally came the final jump of the competition. “So now there’s pressure,” Gonzalez said.
“She was sitting in second place already qualified for state and we decided to go for the win even if it meant scratching and staying in second place,” Graham said. “We were moving her mark after each jump, but we moved it even more before her last jump and told her to go for it. She finally used all of the board and uncorked a 20-2.5 jump forcing (Waalee) to jump her last jump if she wanted to win the gold medal knowing that she would be cold and not likely be ready to improve past Maddie’s jump. Our strategy worked and she jumped 18-7.75, sealing Maddie’s victory. It was the most proud of her that I’ve been since coaching her – to see her come from behind and never quit and believing in the what we were doing.”
“That’s who she is,” Gonzalez said. “She rises when it matters. It was great to see her get pushed and respond like that.”
CAPTION: Marble Falls junior Madison Cuplin braces to land in the pit. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
No such dramatics were needed in the triple jump. Cuplin won gold by almost a foot.
“Triple jump was more of what we were accustomed to this season,” Graham said. “She took the lead on her first jump with a ‘safe’ jump and then tried to be aggressive with her next one-to-two jumps and then passed her final jumps to conserve energy for other events but still being ready in case someone got a jump off that would threaten her lead.”
“Honestly, after her first jump she really didn’t need to jump again, but that’s just not who she is,” Gonzalez said. “She’s a competitor. She was chasing another 40-foot mark and just kept barely missing the board. Her best jump was 39-7.75 on her second attempt, and she only had marks in prelims. It wasn’t until finals that someone even got close. The goal was to do what we needed to win and conserve energy, but she always wants more – that’s what makes her special.”
Cuplin had the fastest 100-meter time in the prelims by clocking 12.21 seconds. She won gold in 11.86 with China Spring senior Taryn Crouch and Giddings sophomore Taelor Moore each finishing in 12.09.
“I thought it would be closer, but she got out well, took control early and never let it go,” Gonzalez said. “From start to finish, it was great execution. She ran 11.86 — another sub-12— and looked strong all the way through the line. It was a very composed race.”
Gonzalez summed up the 200 meters that featured Katy Freeman freshman Tiana Peck winning in 23.95 seconds and Orange Little Cypress-Mauriceville Dinah Tippins taking silver in 24.36 seconds.
“(Cuplin) finished third in 24.38 (seconds), which is her second-best time, and both girls ahead of her ran personal bests,” Gonzalez said. “With that time, she earned the wildcard and now gets to compete in all four events at state – that’s an incredible accomplishment. From not qualifying as a freshman, to making state in jumps last year, to now qualifying in everything, it’s been amazing to watch her growth. I’m really proud of her – not just as an athlete, but as a person. It’s a joy to coach her.”
The state meet is Thursday, May 14 at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas at Austin’s campus.
CAPTION: Marble Falls junior Madison Cuplin (center) keeps her form as she begins her run on the straightaway in the 200 meters. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
