Hamilton Herald-News

FASTEST REGION: The Hamilton Lady Bulldog 4x400-meter relay will be making their third appearance in four years at this year’s 2A UIL State Track and Field Championships to be held on the University of Texas campus this Friday. After narrowly missing an invitation to state last season, placing third behind Stamford and Nocona, the Lady Bulldogs posted the fastest prelim time at the 2024 UIL Region 2-2A Track and Field Championships in Springtown on Friday, April 19. Returning the following Monday, the Lady Dog speed-squad bested their regional best prelim time of 4:05.30 to claim a state-advancing regional silver medal in a time of 4:02.33. It was the fastest time posted by a Lady Bulldog Hamilton High School 4x400-meter relay team since Katy Leonard, Marsha Henkes, Susie Bottlinger and Bonnye Hopper teamed for a converted time of 4:00.89 in the 4x400-yard relay in 1976. Hamilton will be joined in Austin this Friday by Region 2-2A Champion Stamford, who posted a winning time of 3:59.12, and regional bronze medalist and state wildcard recipient Nocona, who finished behind Hamilton in a time of 4:05.41. Lady Bulldog 4x400-meter relay state qualifiers pictured on the medal stand in Springtown with state-qualifying teams from Stamford and Nocona include seniors (l-r) on the back row, Madison Henkes and Campbell Lengefeld, and sophomores on the front row, Kaitlyn Walton and Anna Pearcy. Running events in Austin this Friday are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Photo by G. Lengefeld