Wylie East High School’s Elliana Young, a junior, achieved a remarkable feat by winning the Class 6A state track and field title in the girls high jump. Competing at the state meet held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Young found herself in a competitive showdown with Comal Canyon freshman Sophia Martinez and Houston Memorial junior Cate Bryant. All three athletes successfully cleared heights of 5-2, 5-4, and 5-6, but none managed to surpass 5-8, resulting in a three-way tie for the state championship.
Young’s journey to the state meet began with a tiebreaker victory over Klein senior Kamdyn Spencer, securing her place in the competition. Her coach, Jason Olford, expressed immense pride in Young’s accomplishment, highlighting her dedication and resilience throughout the season. “It was an amazing accomplishment for her and something that her and I talked about at the beginning of the year,” Olford stated. “I told her that if you put in the work, she would find herself at the big dance. Not only did she get there, but she got to the top of the podium.”
Young was not the only Wylie East athlete to compete at the state meet. Senior Tyree Washington returned to Austin for the second consecutive year, finishing seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 47-9.5. Despite battling injuries throughout the season, Washington’s perseverance earned him the titles of District 9-6A champion, area 9-6A/10-6A winner, and Region II-6A champion. He is also the school record holder in the triple jump and is set to continue his athletic career at Abilene Christian University.
Junior Porter Cantrell made his state meet debut in the discus after transferring from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. Cantrell placed eighth with a throw of 168-6, marking his first attempt. Throughout the season, he broke the school record twice, with his personal best of 178-6 achieved at the district meet. Coach Olford praised Cantrell’s competitive spirit and positive attitude, expressing confidence in his future success.
These achievements reflect the hard work and commitment of Wylie East’s athletes and coaches, showcasing the strength of their track and field program. The community can take pride in their accomplishments and look forward to more successes in the coming seasons.
Original reporting: Wylie News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
