Azle runner spurred by memories of her brother
Sometimes it’s not about where you finish, sometimes it’s simply about finishing.
Senior distance runner Kylie Fonville of Azle admits she thought about quitting track following the February death of her younger brother Christian from what she labeled as Type I diabetes complications.
“The first few days it was really hard. I didn’t go to practice,” she said. “But Coach [Melody] Dennis was very supportive and encouraging, and Christian would have wanted me to go on.”
So go on she has.
She has no aspirations of a state championship. She may not even make it out of district, but she will finish the season running her strongest in honor of her brother.
Fonville’s not running to forget. Quite the opposite. She’s running to remember her brother with every step.
“I think of him every time I run,” Fonville said. “The other day I was running and it was cloudy. Then, some little spot opened up in the clouds and some sunshine came through, and I thought ‘I wonder if Christian is watching?’ ”
As evidenced by her brother’s name, Kylie’s family has a strong faith. She has leaned heavily on that faith recently, and when a pastor gave her a message at Christian’s graveside, she said it inspired her to keep running.
“He said he’s waiting to run against me,” she said. “That message put to me encourages me to work harder and push more.”
Kylie has qualified for regional cross country with her team three straight years and was the team MVP this past fall. She has committed to run cross country and perhaps track at McMurry University in Abilene next season. She plans to major in theater education, another area that reminds her greatly of Christian.
“He wasn’t an actor, but he certainly could have been,” she said. “He was so outgoing, very charismatic.”
In the meantime, her sights are set on wrapping up her high school career in the strongest way possible, whether it’s first or last.
“It really doesn’t matter where I finish. I just want to finish,” she said. “I have to finish.”
Best among the best
Tonea Marshall of Arlington Seguin continued her memorable senior season at last week’s Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin as she was selected, by being named the Most Outstanding High School Performer.
Marshall posted a time of 13.04 seconds in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles. It broke both the Mike A. Myers Stadium and Texas Relays records.
Marshall clocked a 13.26 in the preliminaries, which on its own shattered the previous Texas Relays record of 13.57 in 2002. In the finals she smashed the Myers Stadium record of 13.25 set in 2004.
The 13.04 finals time moved Marshall into a tie with Anna Cockrell of Providence Day in North Carolina for the fastest times in the nation this season.
Her Texas Relays records come on the heels of records she set in March at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York. In earning Athlete of the Meet honors there, she set national records of 8.02 in the 60 hurdles and 7.46 in the 55 hurdles.
Also at the Texas Relays:
▪ Trophy Club Nelson swept both high jump events, with Brandon Bowen clearing 6-9 1/2 in the boys Sanaa Barnes winning girls with 5-7 1/2 .
▪ Boys relays for Arlington Bowie and Arlington Martin finished 1-2 in the 4x400, with times of 3:12.31 and 3:13.09, respectively.
▪ Jalen Seals of Saginaw Boswell won a silver medal in the boys triple jump (47-11.5) and bronze in the long jump (23-3.75).
▪ Mansfield Lake Ridge freshman Jasmine Moore took girls silver in both the long jump (19-11.5) and triple jump (40-3).
District meet schedule
7-6A, Monday-Tuesday, Coppell
6-5A, Monday-Tuesday, Lake Dallas
5-5A, Monday-Tuesday, Brewer Stadium, Fort Worth
4-6A, Tuesday-Wednesday, Maverick Stadium, Arlington
8-6A, Wednesday-Thursday, Duncanville
14-5A, Wednesday-Thursday, Lancaster
8-5A, Wednesday-Thursday, Joshua
7-5A, Wednesday-Thursday, Clark Stadium, Fort Worth
8-4A, Wednesday-Thursday, Springtown
7-4A, Wednesday-Thursday, Godley
Note: District 5-6A finals were Thursday night.
Area leaders
Boys
100
Trent McDonald, Mansfield Legacy, 10.44
Jermaine Brealy, Mansfield Legacy, 10.64
Jaal’en Generette, Haltom, 10.65
Keishaun Everly, Fort Worth Trimble Tech, 10.73
Maurice Pugh, Arlington Martin, 10.74
Roderick Ford, Fort Worth Southwest, 10.74
200
Keshun Reed, Arlington Martin, 21.09
Jackson Gleeson, Mansfield, 21.14
Vernon Scott, Mansfield Summit, 21.41
Darien Porter, Arlington Bowie, 21.52
Saiid Abedo, Mansfield, 21.64
Derrick Samuels, North Crowley, 21.64
Cameron Jones, Euless Trinity, 21.64
400
Keshun Reed, Arlington Martin, 47.30
Jamarkus Birks, North Crowley, 47.68
Keylon Dennis, Arlington Seguin, 48.30
Keanon Davis, Arlington Seguin, 48.52
Jackson Gleeson, Mansfield, 48.54
800
Cade Bethmann, Arlington Martin, 1:53.62
Reed Brown, Southlake Carroll, 1:56.1
David Torkington, Keller Central, 1:56.12
Kadeem Burton, Mansfield Timberview, 1:56.22
Brandon Reasoner, Fort Worth Southwest, 156.70
1600
Cade Bethmann, Arlington Martin, 4:17.84
Reed Brown, Southlake Carroll, 4:19.08
David Strome, Colleyville Heritage, 4:20.09
Eduardo Trevizo, Fort Worth Castleberry, 4:22.77
Shea Whatley, Southlake Carroll, 4:23.09
3200
Reed Brown, Southlake Carroll, 9:08.14
David Strome, Colleyville Heritage, 9:12.84
Charlie Gardner, Southlake Carroll, 9:24.4
Shea Whatley, Southlake Carroll, 9:26.60
Kristian Ramirez, Keller Timber Creek, 9:28.04
110 Hurdles
Medric Roberson, Mansfield Summit, 13.94
Patrick Johnson, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 14.14
Cameron Thomas, Fort Worth Trimble Tech, 14.24
Chuck Harris, Mansfield Timberview, 14.34
Robert Teer, Arlington Seguin, 14.64
300 Hurdles
Ardran Carr, Arlington Bowie, 37.64
Chuck Harris, Mansfield Timberview, 37.97
Cameron Thomas, Fort Worth Trimble Tech, 38.45
Patrick Johnson, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 39.08
Kameron Duhon, Southlake Carroll, 39.14
4x100 relay
Mansfield, 40.78
Mansfield Legacy, 41.13
Arlington Martin, 41.23
Arlington Bowie, 41.34
Arlington Seguin, 41.83
4x200 relay
Mansfield, 1:25.89
Arlington Bowie, 1:26.26
Mansfield Legacy, 1:26.35
Arlington Martin, 1:26.52
North Crowley, 1:28.00
4x400 relay
Arlington Bowie, 3:12.31
Arlington Martin, 3:13.09
Mansfield, 3:18.53
Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 3:18.57
Mansfield Timberview, 3:18.92
4x800 relay
Keller Central, 8:01.89
Arlington Bowie, 8:03.02
Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 8:11.46
Southlake Carroll, 8:17.83
Northwest Nelson, 8:19.40
Shot put
Wes Harris, Aledo, 59-9.5
Patrick Jones, Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 54-5.25
Chris Daniels, Euless Trinity, 53-4
LaJuan Cooper, Arlington Sam Houston, 53-0
Shamauri McLain, Mansfield, 52-6.5
Discus
Chase Dennis, Keller Timber Creek, 186-11
Caden McDonald, Northwest, 176-9
Myles Adames, Mansfield Summit, 163-1
Adrian Garza, Mansfield, 162-11.5
Thomas Patterson, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 158-0
High jump
Brandon Bowen, Northwest Nelson, 6-10
Iyanu Adeyeye, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 6-10
Clayton Brewer, Keller, 6-8
Quinton Brigham, Fort Worth Dunbar, 6-8
Austin Ondijo, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 6-6
Mbaya Tschienda, Saginaw, 6-6
Pole vault
Peyton Weissman, Grapevine, 16-6
Johnathon Solley, White Settlement Brewer, 15-0
Dakota Gillispie, Saginaw, 15-0
T.J. Zalar, Aledo, 15-0
Dan Clute, Aledo, 15-0
Logan Freeman, Keller Central, 15-0
Adam McAdoo, Nolan Catholic, 15-0
Long jump
Jalen Seals, Saginaw Boswell, 24-0.5
Nathan Katoba, Keller Central, 23-0
Brandon Bowen, Northwest Nelson, 22-8.5
Jimmy Enobabor, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 22-7.5
Malique Davies, Keller Timber Creek, 22-5.5
Triple jump
Jalen Seals, Saginaw Boswell, 49-6.5
Jimmy Enobabor, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 48-7
Jaylin Brooks, Hurst L.D. Bell, 45-6.5
Jamison Wooden, Everman, 44-9
Undre Jordan, Mansfield Timberview, 44-8.5
Girls
100
Madysen Hunter, Southlake Carroll, 11.94
Ja’Leesa Giles, Mansfield Legacy, 11.94
Alexis Brown, Kennedale, 11.96
Bria Washington, Arlington Martin, 11.98
Makia Jordan, Aledo, 12.06
200
Ariel Ford, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 24.39
Aubrey Ridgeway, Arlington Seguin, 24.82
Olivia Esemena, Arlington Bowie, 24.92
Diamond Lee, Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 24.95
Ja’Leesa Giles, Mansfield Legacy, 24.96
400
Jhane’ King, Keller Timber Creek, 56.41
Ariel Ford, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 56.69
Alexandra Byrnes, Fort Worth Paschal, 57.13
Ja’Leesa Giles, Mansfield Legacy, 57.35
Irene Botchway, Euless Trinity, 57.94
Annette Bolomboy, Keller Central, 57.94
800
Soren Underwood, Joshua, 2:13.18
Andrea Karlen, Northwest Nelson, 2:18.00
Alexandra Byrnes, Fort Worth Paschal, 2:18.42
Maddee Rowe, Arlington, 2:19.80
Isabel Van Camp, Keller, 2:20.05
1600
Catherine Tracht, Southlake Carroll, 5:03.33
Abbey Santoro, Keller, 5:06.00
Maddee Rowe, Arlington, 5:09.11
Ashley Johnson, Arlington Martin, 5:09.60
Denae Chapman, Fort Worth Christian, 5:11.2
3200
Allison Esparza, Southlake Carroll, 10:48.89
Denae Chapman, Fort Worth Christian, 10:51.30
Gillian Mortimer, Southlake Carroll, 10:54.81
Catherine Tracht, Southlake Carroll, 10:56.69
Ashley Johnson, Arlington Martin, 11:00.79
100 hurdles
Tonea Marshall, Arlington Seguin, 13.04
Ivy Walker, Mansfield Summit, 13.81
Madysen Hunter, Southlake Carroll, 14.44
Emalee Wright, Northwest, 14.95
Sandra Azunna, Mansfield Timberview, 15.00
300 hurdles
Madysen Hunter, Southlake Carroll, 42.62
Celeste Annan, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 46.31
Emalee Wright, Northwest, 46.74
Raven Foster, Saginaw Chisholm Trail, 46.84
Elizabeth Adeoye, Mansfield Summit, 46.97
4x100 relay
Arlington Seguin, 46.16
Arlington Martin, 47.63
Mansfield Lake Ridge, 47.63
Mansfield Summit, 48.20
Kennedale, 48.21
4x200 relay
Arlington Seguin, 1:37.23
Mansfield Lake Ridge, 1:40.47
Arlington Martin, 1:40.90
Mansfield Summit, 1:42.35
North Crowley, 1:42.51
4x400 relay
Arlington Bowie, 3:58.11
Mansfield Lake Ridge, 3:59.20
Mansfield Timberview, 4:00.02
Crowley, 4:00.65
Arlington Seguin, 4:00.75
4x800 relay
Southlake Carroll, 9:53.83
Arlington Heights, 10:14.68
Northwest, 10:20.75
Mansfield, 10:25.90
Northwest, 10:49.71
Shot put
Leilyn Miles, Northwest Nelson, 48-0.25
Faith Ette, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 43-1.5
Deonmonique Granville, Fort Worth Dunbar, 42-1
Richon Rogers, Arlington Bowie, 42-1
Christina Baker, Mansfield Summit, 41-8.5
Discus
Zoe Broadway, Joshua, 145-3
Elise Hodges, Keller Timber Creek, 130-5
Richon Rogers, Arlington Bowie, 126-0
Deonmonique Granville, 123-7.5
Ryanne Johnson, Keller, 121-11
High jump
Sanaa Barnes, Northwest Nelson, 5-9
Courtney Cleveland, Arlington, 5-6
Lilli Williamson, Fort Worth Trinity Valley, 5-6
Brianna Hudson, Fort Worth Trinity Valley, 5-6
Ryleigh Rains Fort Worth Country Day, 5-4
Karsyn Hunt, Keller Timber Creek, 5-4
Gabbie Nunn, Granbury, 5-4
Jillian Johnson, Mansfield, 5-4
Grayson Bright, Keller Fossil Ridge, 5-4
Pole vault
Sierra White, Aledo, 11-4
Maggie Turner, Grapevine, 11-0
Mary Piercy, Keller Central, 11-0
Sierra Sullivan, Arlington Lamar, 10-9
Alexis Gomez, Keller Timber Creek, 10-6
Ally Dicenta, Saginaw Boswell, 10-6
Mackenzie Lyon, Granbury, 10-6
Long jump
Jasmine Moore, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 20-0
Joy Walker, Mansfield Summit, 19-6.5
Jordan Washington, Mansfield Summit, 18-6
Carli McDonald, Arlington Bowie, 18-5.5
Madi Williams, Fort Worth Trinity Valley, 18-2
Triple jump
Jasmine Moore, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 40-8
Valencia Bullock, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 38-7
Skaila White, Cleburne, 38-0.25
Olivia Esemena, Arlington Bowie, 38-0
Ivy Walker, Mansfield Summit, 37-11
This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 4:20 PM with the headline "Azle runner spurred by memories of her brother."