Aiming to extend the season at least one more week, the Harker Heights Knights and Lady Knights secured two gold medals and placed three relays in the top four Friday in the ultra-competitive District 11/12-6A area track and field meet at Midway’s Panther Stadium.
Senior Ella Perry won the 1,600-meter run while senior Jaden Cook topped the podium in the discus to ensure their spots at the 6A Region II meet back at Panther Stadium next week.
The top four finishers in each event moved on.
One week after notching their third straight District 12-6A championship, the Knights faced stern and fast opponents, going up against teams from 11-6A such as Duncanville, DeSoto, Mansfield Legacy and more.
Along with Cook, Harker Heights also advanced its 4x200 relay squad –– Brian Hood, Isaiah Morris, Torrance Anthony, Malik Bell –– with a third-place showing in 1 minute, 27.20 seconds.
Cook launched a throw of 156 feet, 10 inches on his first attempt and the mark went the distance as no competitor did better during the six-round discus final.
Perry started her day with a second-place finish in the 3,200, recording a time of 11:17.11. The three-time cross country state qualifier returned in the evening session and won the mile by 1 second over second-place Meagan Meyers of Mansfield Lake Ridge.
Also advancing for the Lady Knights were the 4x200 relay (Jada Hood, Tyana Hymes, Nia Brown, Ajadah Taylor), which finished third in 1:40.54, and the 4x400 relay (Samara Johnson, Mia Griffin, Treasure Bethea, Tiauna Bucannan), which crossed fourth in 3:54.22.
Full results can be found here.
Regional qualifiers
Boys
Jaden Cook, discus, first, 156-10
4x200 relay (Brian Hood, Isaiah Morris, Torrance Anthony, Malik Bell), third, 1:27.20
Girls
Ella Perry, 3,200, second, 11:17.11; and 1,600, first, 5:06.27
4x200 relay (Jada Hood, Tyana Hymes, Nia Brown, Ajadah Taylor), fourth, 1:40.54
4x400 relay (Samara Johnson, Mia Griffin, Treasure Bethea, Tiauna Bucannan), fourth, 3:54.22
