Area trio advances to state in II-6A

Stony Point senior, Pflugerville pair qualify at regionals.

Dereck Elkins had faith that his finishing kick in the 3,200-meter run would propel him to the state track and field meet for the first time.

That faith was not unfounded.

Elkins, a senior at Stony Point, burned the field on the final lap at the Class 6A, Region II meet Friday at Midway High School, winning in a blistering 9 minutes, 17.34 seconds and qualifying for state.

“My whole season I’ve led from start to finish,” Elkins said. “But this race, I held back and trusted my kick in the end. I stayed in the pack, moved up slowly, kept my eyes on the front, then the last 400 I just started going for it. Once we hit the final 150, I gave it everything I had.”

Elkins’ time equaled his personal record, and he noted that this meet was his focus for the entire season.

“It’s just surreal going to state,” he said. “I knew I could do it, but once you qualify, it just feels really good.”

Elkins was one of three area athletes to punch tickets for state during the meet’s opening day.

Samariae Bonds of Pflugerville dominated the girls shot put as her throw of 46 feet, 8 inches bested the runner-up by more than 2½ feet.

“I’ve tried every year of high school, practicing every single day to get to where I’m at,” Bonds said. “To accomplish this my senior year of winning a region and going to state, it’s a good feeling.”

Bonds had two other throws that also would have won the meet, but her first attempt was her best.

“I came out ready, got myself together and had to make a point,” Bonds said, noting that she wants to keep improving. “The goal is to throw 50 feet.”

Pflugerville’s Obdarius Ware also used a strong early attempt to advance to state in the boys long jump.

Ware’s second leap of 23-3¾ led the event after preliminaries and held for second place — the top two in each event move on to state — after the finals.

“Qualifying for state is a big accomplishment for me,” Ware said. “I’m trying to go there with a positive mindset and see if I can get in the 24s.”

With preliminaries dominating Friday’s schedule, the majority of the finals will take place Saturday.