Garza, Godoy win double gold at TAPPS state meet

Two area athletes were double gold medalists at the TAPPS state track and field meet Saturday in Waco.

Xavier Garza of Holy Cross swept both hurdle events in Class 5A boys and Isabella Godoy of Boerne Geneva won gold in the 800 meters and 1,600 meters in Class 5A girls.

Garza took first in the 110 hurdles with a time of 16.67 and then won the 300 hurdles in 40.72. Godoy won the 800 meters in 2:20.05 and completed her double by winning the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:14.81.

Area boys second-place finishers included Alexander Pena, Antonian, 6A 800 meters; Gary Lejia, Central Catholic, 6A 110 hurdles; Nathan Morales, Central Catholic, 6A 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters; Cristobal Parra, TMI, 5A 300 hurdles; Franco Parra, TMI, 3,200 meters; and Marcelo Parra, TMI, 5A 1,600 meters.

Area girls finishing in second place were Juliana Merlo, Antonian, 6A 1,600 meters; Ainsley Hunter, Saint Mary’s Hall, 5A 100 hurdles; and Kaitlyn Cates,

Boerne Geneva, 4A 300 hurdles.

Ball back after missing 21 games

LaMelo Ball returned to the Charlotte Hornets’ starting lineup following a 21-game absence.

Hornets coach James Borrego said the NBA rookie of the year candidate would start Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons. The No. 3 pick in last year’s NBA draft has not played since breaking his wrist on March 20.

TENNIS

Barty, Swiatek to play at Madrid

Ashleigh Barty and Iga Swiatek, the two most recent champions of the French Open, will meet in the last 16 of the Madrid Open.

Barty won the French Open in 2019, and Swiatek last year in Barty’s absence.

The top-ranked Barty needed three sets to beat 80th-ranked Tamara Zidansek.

Swiatek brushed aside Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-3.