Trophy Club Nelson shot putter determined to set personal record at state
Shot putter Leilyn Miles of Trophy Club Nelson got two good things out of Friday’s Class 6A Region I Track and Field Meet at the UTA’s Maverick Stadium: She got a championship and she got mad.
Well, as mad as one can be when she’s about to go to state for a third straight season. She won a bronze medal in 2014 as a sophomore and a silver last season.
She won the Region I title with a throw of 46 feet, 9 inches, more than five feet beyond runner-up and fellow senior state qualifier Elise Hodges of Keller Timber Creek at 41-6.5.
“Because I didn’t PR [personal record] it makes me a little fired up for state,” said Miles. “I PR’d four times here last year.”
Miles’ best throw this season is 48-0.25, which matched her throw at state last year. Her all-time best throw is 48-6 in Junior Olympic competition in Florida last summer.
And the TCU track commit is confident she has a longer throw awaiting.
“I’ve got a lot left,” she said. “And I’m going to show it at state.”
Title joy
Junior Daniel Bernal of El Paso Eastwood said he is going to enjoy his regional championship in the 3,200 meters all he can for the next couple of weeks.
“I know at state I have very little chance of winning,” he said. “Reed will probably have the best meet of his life, and if he does that, nobody can beat him.”
Bernal was referring to Southlake Carroll junior Reed Brown, whom he surprised on the last lap to come away with the victory. Brown is one of the nation’s elite runners.
Brown’s time of 9:01.43 in the 3200 is the fastest in the state, as is his time of 4:09.12 in the 1600. His time in the latter event is the third fastest in the nation.
So it’s easy to understand why Bernal would relish this moment. Brown said he has no problem with that, but he expects different results at state.
“I’m pretty impressed, but not surprised. Daniel’s shown up in big races,” Brown said. “But I hate to lose. It lights my fire to train harder and run faster.”
Bernal had a winning time of 9:06.15, compared to Brown’s 9:12.05. However, Bernal said he felt no comfort until he crossed the finish line.
“I was expecting him to pull past me in the last 50 meters. He has such a fast, fast kick,” Bernal said, adding that he believes Brown will celebrate twice in Austin.
“We all know Reed’s going to qualify in both races,” he said. “And he’s probably going to win both at state.”
Brown is one of two Carroll runners to qualify for state Friday. He was joined by senior Alison Esparza, who finished second in the girls 3200 with a time of 10:36.54, her best time of the year.
Short distance
Logan Freeman of Keller Central proved Friday that it’s not far from Arlington to Austin.
It’s only a few inches for the junior pole vaulter.
Freeman was the lone vaulter to clear 15 feet, 3 inches, giving him the region championship. He was three inches ahead of a trio of vaulters at 15 feet, which was also his previous high.
Freeman had been stuck on 14-6 most of the season. He had not cleared more than that in six of his eight previous meets, including the Area 5/6-6A Meet, where he finished third.
Waiting
Three area seniors are waiting to see if they will qualify for state as wild cards, the top third-place finisher in all four regions combined.
They will learn their fate when the University Interscholastic League makes the official announcement later this weekend or early next week.
David Strome of Colleyville Heritage finished third in the boys 3200-meter run with a time of 9:14.30. Richon Rogers of Arlington Bowie placed third in the girls shot put with a throw of 41-5.5, and Sierra Sullivan of Arlington Lamar was third in the girls pole vault, clearing 11-6.
Strome finished sixth at state in 2015. Rogers was fifth. Both are competing Saturday, Strome in the 1600 and Rogers in the discus, in which she was seventh at state last season.
This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Trophy Club Nelson shot putter determined to set personal record at state."