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Growing up in Wimberley, Nolan Waida has grown accustomed to keeping busy.
When it came to sports, he tried just about everything the town had to offer. Football is king, but there was also time for basketball, soccer and track and field. A man for all seasons, it should come as no surprise Waida found his greatest thrill on the track.
The Texans senior qualified in five events for Thursday's UIL Class 4A state meet at Myers Stadium. And no one was more surprised than he when he qualified for the long jump, triple jump, the 200-meter run and a pair of relays. After all, he hadn't qualified for the state meet in any of his first three years.
"Before the year started, I would have found it hard to believe for sure," Waida said Thursday after placing fifth in the long jump. "I just love to compete, I love to win, in general."
MORE:5 Austin-area teams and 15 players to watch in the state baseball playoffs
Waida later earned a bronze medal in the triple jump before preparing for three night races.
Most people in Wimberley recognize Waida as the football player who caught 40 passes, 12 for touchdowns, on a team that went 12-3 and reached the Class 4A Division II state semifinals last fall. He had to make a tough choice about his future this year. He could have played football at Cisco College but went with his heart and will join the track team at Texas A&M-Commerce.
When asked about his favorite high school memory, he said the playoff victories in football rank high on his list but chose track and field. He was most proud of reaching state in the 800 and 1600 relays with teammates Dane Dugger, Bryson Anderson and Ethan Talley.
"It's all about the team," Waida said.
MORE:10 Central Texas athletes to watch at state track
Valerie Hunt, a senior at Monahans, earned a rare accomplishment when she won the 4A discus and shot put for the second year in a row.
She smoked the field early Thursday in the discus with a gold-medal-winning toss of 146 feet, 3 inches, roughly 10 feet ahead of runner-up Allison Rickman of Canton. Roughly three hours later, Hunt struck gold in the shot put with a 4A state-record throw of 160 feet, 8 inches on her sixth and final attempt. She broke the record of 157-4 set by Giddings' Carlie Weiser in 2022.
Hunt, who was adopted from a Russian orphanage when she was about 18 months old, had an interesting take when asked about winning four state medals in two years: "If you work hard for it, you will receive."
Next year she will compete for the track and field team at Texas Tech.
MORE: Vandegrift girls earn silver at state golf tournament
Few athletes had a bigger fan section Thursday than Burnet's Victor Aviles, who qualified in three running events. That included parents Victorino Aviles and Felis Salgado, his grandparents and a large group of friends who made the 60-mile drive to Austin.
"It means a lot to be here as a senior because I was sick and unable to compete as a junior," Aviles said. He added he was "thrilled" to win silver because he expected to place anywhere between first and fifth.
Lago Vista's Griffin wins bronze:Lago Vista senior Swayde Griffin, an Arizona signee, started a long day of events by earning a bronze medal in the 4A high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 7 inches. He was scheduled to run in three races later Thursday.
Wimberley vaulter wins silver: Wimberley senior Charlie Hanle reached the medal stand by earning silver in the 4A pole vault. He finished in a tie with gold-medal winner Parker Williams, a senior from Decatur, but Williams was crowned champion for having fewer misses.
The state track meet will continue Friday with Classes 5A and 2A.
Thursday-Saturday, Myers Stadium, $15 individual sessions, $25 day passes
Friday — Class 5A and Class 2A, field events begin at 9 a.m., track events at 5 p.m.; Saturday — Class 6A and Class 1A, field events begin at 9 a.m., field events 5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Area athletes win medals at UIL Class 4A state track and field meet
Continue reading...
When it came to sports, he tried just about everything the town had to offer. Football is king, but there was also time for basketball, soccer and track and field. A man for all seasons, it should come as no surprise Waida found his greatest thrill on the track.
The Texans senior qualified in five events for Thursday's UIL Class 4A state meet at Myers Stadium. And no one was more surprised than he when he qualified for the long jump, triple jump, the 200-meter run and a pair of relays. After all, he hadn't qualified for the state meet in any of his first three years.
"Before the year started, I would have found it hard to believe for sure," Waida said Thursday after placing fifth in the long jump. "I just love to compete, I love to win, in general."
MORE:5 Austin-area teams and 15 players to watch in the state baseball playoffs
Waida later earned a bronze medal in the triple jump before preparing for three night races.
Most people in Wimberley recognize Waida as the football player who caught 40 passes, 12 for touchdowns, on a team that went 12-3 and reached the Class 4A Division II state semifinals last fall. He had to make a tough choice about his future this year. He could have played football at Cisco College but went with his heart and will join the track team at Texas A&M-Commerce.
When asked about his favorite high school memory, he said the playoff victories in football rank high on his list but chose track and field. He was most proud of reaching state in the 800 and 1600 relays with teammates Dane Dugger, Bryson Anderson and Ethan Talley.
"It's all about the team," Waida said.
MORE:10 Central Texas athletes to watch at state track
Double fun for Monahans senior
Valerie Hunt, a senior at Monahans, earned a rare accomplishment when she won the 4A discus and shot put for the second year in a row.
She smoked the field early Thursday in the discus with a gold-medal-winning toss of 146 feet, 3 inches, roughly 10 feet ahead of runner-up Allison Rickman of Canton. Roughly three hours later, Hunt struck gold in the shot put with a 4A state-record throw of 160 feet, 8 inches on her sixth and final attempt. She broke the record of 157-4 set by Giddings' Carlie Weiser in 2022.
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Hunt, who was adopted from a Russian orphanage when she was about 18 months old, had an interesting take when asked about winning four state medals in two years: "If you work hard for it, you will receive."
Next year she will compete for the track and field team at Texas Tech.
MORE: Vandegrift girls earn silver at state golf tournament
You must be registered for see images attach
Burnet, Lago Vista athletes come on strong
Few athletes had a bigger fan section Thursday than Burnet's Victor Aviles, who qualified in three running events. That included parents Victorino Aviles and Felis Salgado, his grandparents and a large group of friends who made the 60-mile drive to Austin.
"It means a lot to be here as a senior because I was sick and unable to compete as a junior," Aviles said. He added he was "thrilled" to win silver because he expected to place anywhere between first and fifth.
Lago Vista's Griffin wins bronze:Lago Vista senior Swayde Griffin, an Arizona signee, started a long day of events by earning a bronze medal in the 4A high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 7 inches. He was scheduled to run in three races later Thursday.
Wimberley vaulter wins silver: Wimberley senior Charlie Hanle reached the medal stand by earning silver in the 4A pole vault. He finished in a tie with gold-medal winner Parker Williams, a senior from Decatur, but Williams was crowned champion for having fewer misses.
The state track meet will continue Friday with Classes 5A and 2A.
UIL state track and field meet
Thursday-Saturday, Myers Stadium, $15 individual sessions, $25 day passes
Friday — Class 5A and Class 2A, field events begin at 9 a.m., track events at 5 p.m.; Saturday — Class 6A and Class 1A, field events begin at 9 a.m., field events 5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Area athletes win medals at UIL Class 4A state track and field meet
Continue reading...
