SAN ANGELO, TX -- The 61st San Angelo Relays started with a bang, as teams kicked off the prestigious meet by toppling some of the meet's longest-standing records.
The local highlight came when Sonora senior Lane Cahill broke the Division IV meet record in pole vault. The state meet hopeful vaulted 12-feet to claim gold in the division and set a new personal best. The next closest vaulter was foot below her.
The moment was a breakthrough one for Cahill, who struggled to get past her previous best of 10-6.
"I've worked really hard. So, I'm really excited to be back connected," Cahill said. "I hadn't cleared over 10-6 this season. So, to [personal record] with 12-feet was awesome."
With the prestigious nature of the meet, it's easy for an athlete to find a groove and make the season historic. Cahill is hoping this win can give her a big momentum boost.
"There's a lot of people here, there's a lot of really good people here," she said. "I've always competed at this meet and not done too well. I came in last year hoping to PR and I didn't. I knew the conditions were going to be great. I love the runway, I love the pit. I was ready for a new PR today."
Cahill also snuck into the finals of the 100-meter dash with a qualifying time of 13.07 seconds. At the top of that field is Lubbock Estacado's Za'Kaja Neloms, who broke the meet record with a 12.49 second run.
The biggest story from the first day came from Killeen's Colin Price, who broke a 38-year-old stadium record in the Division I long jump. Price jumped 24-feet, 9 inches, breaking Van Pearcey's record of 24' 7.75".
Coming into Friday, aiming for that record was one of his biggest goals for the 2019 season.
"That's one of my greatest achievements this year," Price said. "Last week I jumped a 23-9. This is a big boost. That's a whole foot [longer] than my PR. I'm really excited."
That's a major confidence boost to the senior who's setting his eyes on gold in Austin this May.
"I feel with the confidence I have, I could be a state champion in the long jump," Price said. "That's what my next step will be."
Price also broke the meet record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.11 seconds to qualify first.
Wolfforth Frenship's Daniel Garland broke the meet record in the Division I 100-meter dash with a time of 10.52. Andrews' Jacob Mechler broke the meet record in discus with a throw of 171' 7". San Antonio Reagan claimed records in the 400- and 800-meter relays as well as the 100-meter dash behind Jasmine Montgomery's 11.86-second run.
Wall's Sam Rocha claimed gold in the Division IV high jump with a season-best jump of 5' 4". That is just two inches off her personal record of 5' 6" according to Athletic.
Rocha wasn't the only Lady Hawk to claim points in the field on Friday. Sophomore Mackensie Wilson won the Division IV triple jump with a jump of 34' 5".
A full list of results can be found at spato.us.
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