BISD has strong showing at relays

March 6, 2025

By Clay Whittington

Belton Journal

Belton and Lake Belton will both be competing at meets today, and the programs will be taking plenty of momentum along after strong showings last week.

The Broncos and Lady Broncos placed second and third, respectively, at last week’s Bryan Viking Relays, while the Lady Tigers were the runners-up at their home meet — the annual Denise Petter Big Red Relays — on Saturday.

At Tiger Field, Belton amassed 125 points to finish behind only Temple (150) in the final standings thanks in part to distance runner Olivia Brillhart earning a pair of gold medals. The senior won the 1,600-meter run in 5 minutes, 23.81 seconds and had a first-place time of 11:39.07 in the 3,200.

The performance was complemented by teammates Damauria Nolan Hemphill and Laila Page, who combined for seven top-three outings.

Nolan-Hemphill, a sophomore, won the 100 in 12.03 and was second in the 200 (25.40) and long jump (18 feet, 7 inches), while Page, a junior, was first (37-6¾) in the triple jump, second in the pole vault (9-6) and 400 (59.12) and third (25.95) in the 200.

Furthermore, the pair joined junior Delilah Hoffman and freshman Isabella Warner to place third (4:09.43) in the 1,600 relay.

Hoffman was also third (49.76) in the 300 hurdles, matching the bronze medals collected by teammates Jane Gauntt (pole vault, 9-0) and Warner (800, 2:26.35).

Leander (3rd, 123) and Killeen Chaparral (4th, 69) followed in the final standings. With a limited number of participants in attendance, Lake Belton was ninth (7) as sophomore Jenna Benedick placed third (5:55.35) in the 1,600 to lead the squad.

Harker Heights (134) won the boys team title, beating out Chaparral (2nd, 94), Temple (3rd, 89), Copperas Cove (4th, 88) and Belton (5th, 75).

The bulk of the Tigers’ points were earned by junior Christian Porter (1st, 200, 21.93; 1st, 400, 49.70), senior pole vaulters Logan Lamberte (1st, 13-0) and Joshua Roberts (2nd, 12-6), sophomore Graham Chambley (1st, 110 hurdles, 15.53) and the 400 relay team (1st, 42.24) of Kegan Sherwood, Azian Wilkinson, Miguel Manners and Porter.

At Bryan, the Broncos received eight medals en route to 109 points, situating themselves between Waco Midway (1st, 181), Brenham (3rd, 105) and Bryan Rudder (4th, 95).

Individually, senior Travellis Harrison (shot put, 43-9), senior Julian Walker (long jump, 22-8), junior Kendrick Jones Jr. (400, 49.17) and sophomore Zion Harness (100, 11.07) won their events, while Zach Dodd, Jaden Haye, Harness and Jones teamed up to win the 1,600 relay in 3:24.77.

Additionally, the quartet of Josh Mallard, Jones, Harness and Dodd were second (42.42) in the 400 relay, while junior Carson Yandell (3rd, pole vault, 12-0) and Walker (3rd, high jump, 6-2) also took trips to the medal stand for Lake Belton.

Conroe Grand Oaks (1st, 153) and Midway (2nd, 135) were the only teams to amass more than the Lady Broncos’ 126 points.

Placing among the top three for Lake Belton was senior Abigail Rydberg (1st, pole vault, 11-0), junior Aleya Russell (1st, long jump, 16- 11¾; 3rd, 200, 26.00), sophomore Audrey Mughelli (1st, triple jump, 36-9), senior Chelsie Miller (2nd, 400, 1:01.92), junior Kiely Camacho (2nd, 100 hurdles, 16.00), sophomore Zoey Johnson (2nd, shot put, 29-4), sophomore Dannika Kelley (3rd, high jump, 5-2) and junior Amara Sanchez (3rd, shot put, 28-9).

The Lady Broncos’ 400 relay team of Nylah Berrian, Bella Garcia, Russell and Miller also won in 48.40, and the 800 relay team of Ty’anah Debose, Carlie Johnson, Berrian and Garcia was second (1:44.94).

Belton will look to build on the performance at today’s Waco Connally Cadet Invitational, while Lake Belton will travel for the Pflugerville Relays.