photo via KHS

Kennedale High School hosted the UIL area track meet for Districts 9-4A and 10-4A on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The top four-place winners in each event from last week’s district track meet competed in the area event. The top four in each event in this meet advance to the UIL Region II 4-A Championships which will be held in Commerce, Texas on April 28, 2023.

Both Kennedale teams finished in second place in the 25-team meet (12 teams for the girls and 13 teams for the boys). Between the two teams, there were 9 first-place finishes, 4 seconds, 1 third, and 3 fourths. Four Lady Kats set personal records at the meet.

For Kennedale, the Lady Kats will advance 6 athletes in 8 different events while the Wildcats will advance 8 athletes in 9 different events. MileSpitTX also designated two Kennedale athletes with “Elite” performances during the area meet.

Elite performances were by Alaya Huckabee (exceeding the US gold team standard) and Eniyah Birdlow (exceeding the US silver team standard).

Lady Kats advancing by event, place, and measurement

  • Dekhota Sipho (Sr) 1st Place 100m Dash – Time 12.53 (District time 12.44)
  • Alaya Huckabee (Sr) 1st Place 200m Dash – Time 24.44 (PR) ** “Elite US Gold Team Standard 24.50” (District time 24.80)
  • Jada White (So) 1st Place 400m (PR) – Time 58.41 (District time 60.49)
  • 4X100m Relay Team 2nd Place – Time 48.92 – Jada White, Dekhota Sipho, Jessi Willingham, and Alaya Huckabee (District time 49.10)
  • 4×400 Relay Team 1st Place – Time 4:02.40 – Jada White, Dekhota Sipho, Llyria Swing, and Alaya Huckabee – (District time 4:07.60)
  • Eniyah Birdow (So) – 2nd Place Discus – Distance 110-09.00 (District distance 117-0)
  • Eniyah Birdow (So) – 1st Place Shot Put (PR) – Distance 40-01.50 * – Elite US Silver Team Standard 37-00.00 (District distance 38-00.00)
  • Jessi Willingham (Fr) – 1st Place Pole Vault (PR) – Height 10-00.00 (District height 9-0.00)

Not advancing but placing in the area meet – Lilianna Brannen (Sr) 6th Place 3200m Run – Time 13:35.22

Wildcats advancing by event, place, and measurement

  • Justin Walker (Sr) 2nd Place 3200m run – Time 10:19.00 (District time 10:18.85)
  • Justin Walker (Sr) 4th Place 800m run – Time 2:07.93 (District time 2:03.34)
  • 4X100m Relay Team 2nd Place – Time 42.95 – Blake Dunn, Abraham Coles Jr, Dedaunte Scott, and Poasa Utu (District time 44.02)
  • 4X200m Relay Team 1st Place – Time 1:30.22 – Abraham Coles Jr, Blake Dunn, Jaylen Webb, and Poasa Utu (District time 1:30.81)
  • 4X400m Relay Team 3rd Place – Time 3:36.34 – Abraham Coles Jr, Poasa Utu, Blake Dunn, and Justin Walker – (District Time 3:40.62) Special note: This relay team was left out to Kennedale News story on 4/18/23 on the district meet where this team finished in 2nd place)
  • Zeth McGough (Jr) 1st Place tie – Pole Vault Height 12-00.00 (District height 12-6)
  • Poasa Utu (Sr) 1st Place – Discus – Distance 124-01.00 (District distance 124-11)
  • Poasa Utu (Sr) 4th Place Shot Put – Distance 42-05.00 (District distance 44-03.25)
  • Dedaunte Scott (Jr) 4th Place 300m hurdles – Time 43.95 (District time 43.73)

Not advancing but placing in the area meet – Dedaunte Scott (Jr) 6th High Jump – Time 5-08.00 (District jump 8.00)

See full meet results at MileSplitTX.