OMAHA-NAPLES, Texas-Hooks once again dominated the field, cruising to the Area 13-14 3A track and field championships Thursday at Brahma Stadium.
The Hornets, who won the District 14-3A title by 80.5 points here last week, won the area title by 77 points by scoring 160. Mount Vernon was runner-up with 83 points, and Daingerfield was third with 81. Hughes Springs (52) and DeKalb (48) rounded out the top five.
Daingerfield won the girls' championship after finishing second last week. The Lady Tigers scored 79 to edge DeKalb, which had 78 after winning the 4x400 relay. Hughes Springs was third at 75, Prairiland scored 57 for fourth, Hooks had 50 for fifth, and Queen City was sixth with 49.
The Hornets ran a season-best 42.67 in the 4x100 relay and qualified all three relays to the Region II-3A meet next week at Whitehouse High School. Daingerfield won the 4x200 and 4x400 relays and also is sending all three relays to the regional meet.
"We did better, overall, in almost every event," Hooks coach Drew Norwood said. "Along with our sprint relay running its best time of the year, Seth Mahar had his best time in the 300 hurdles. We had some of our best jumps in the triple jumps, and the kids just really showed up and showed out.
"They've been looking forward to this. Last year we had two relays falter and not make it out of the area, and they should have. Today they were ready to go. We've got some decisions to make on which relay to load up other than the 4x100, and we want to have the best shot to take as many people to Austin as possible. That's what we've been working for all year."
The top four in each event qualify for the regional meet, and from there the top two are automatic qualifiers to the state meet.
Hughes Springs, New Boston and DeKalb each qualified a relay team in the 4x400, 4x200 and 4x100, respectively.
Hooks' Jordan Baugh and Seth Mahar went 1-2 in the 110 hurdles, and Mahar won the 300 hurdles ahead of Baugh in second.
Jaquan Jackson won the 100 meters in front of Daingerfield's Ty'Jaylon Wilkerson and Hooks' Logan Murray. Jackson was second in the long jump and triple jump.
Montrell Estell claimed the triple jump, was second in the 200 meters and third in the long jump. Marquiz Estell was third in the triple, and Daingerfield's Jakauri Woods was fourth.
Ishmael Threadgill won the shot put and placed third in the discus for Hooks. Deandre Dedmon was second in the shot, and Hughes Springs' Hunter Brabham claimed gold in the discus. Christian Little of Queen City was second in the discus and fourth in the shot.
Daryl Turner won the 400 meters for the host Brahmas.
Daingerfield's girls matched the boys by winning the two relays-the 4x100 and 4x200-and Denver Mims claimed the gold medals in the long jump and 200 meters for the Lady Tigers.
"Last week we fell a little short, and this week they came out and really performed," Daingerfield coach Dana Carter said. "They put it all on the line and ended up being area champions, and that put us in a good spot going into regionals next week. It was a great team effort. We came in (competing) with 10 events and qualified in five events, and hopefully we can get some more of those out and go to Austin. I'm very proud of them."
Layla Johnston was runner-up to Mims in the 200 meters and was second in the pole vault for Daingerfield.
Dekalb won the 4x400 relay and had wins in three individual events. Katerra Cooper claimed the shot put for the Lady Bears ahead of Hooks' Korey Brooks, who was also runner-up in the discus. Alexia Wherry won the high jump for DeKalb and was second in the 100 meters, and Tiara Moreland won the 400 meters ahead of teammate Hope Murphy.
New Boston's Chloe Davis was second in the high jump, and Camille Baugh of Hooks was third.
Baugh won the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.
Hughes Springs' Jaycee Alexander was also a double winner in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters, and teammate Carley Woodyard was runner-up in the 1,600.
Paul Pewitt's Kaitlyn Turner won the 100 meters and placed third in the 200 to qualify in both events.
Queen City also qualified ail three relays on the girls side. Hughes Springs is sending relays in the 4x100 and 4x200, DeKalb is also sending its 4x100 relay, New Boston qualified its 4x200 relay, and Redwater made it in the 4x400 relay.