Royse City, TX- April 11, 2025
The Royse City High School track and field program has experienced a dynamic and record-breaking season, showcasing exceptional talent and determination across both the girls' and boys' teams. As the regional meet approaches, several athletes are poised to make a run for the state championships, carrying the torch of Royse City excellence.
Leading the charge for the Lady Bulldogs is junior sensation Kira Bowman. Bowman has had a phenomenal season, qualifying for the regional meet in two events. In the 400-meter dash, she clocked a personal best of 58.14 seconds, demonstrating her speed and endurance. However, it's in the pole vault where Bowman truly shines. Currently ranked 3rd in the nation with a personal best of 13 feet, 6 inches, she holds the school record and enters the regional competition as the top seed. Bowman aims to continue the golden legacy of Royse City, following in the footsteps of Jacelyn Neighbors, who captured gold at state last season.
While Bowman advances to regionals, the Lady Bulldogs also saw promising performances from underclassmen. Freshman Leighton Blackmon concluded her season at the area meet in the 800-meter run, finishing a respectable 6th. Her performance hints at a bright future for the RCHS girls' middle-distance program. The school record-setting 4x100-meter relay team, consisting of juniors JaNai Jenkins, Amayah Canady, Kira Bowman, senior Abigael Achuo, and alternate junior Fedora Jikong, also wrapped up their season at the area meet, finishing 8th. Their record-breaking achievement is a testament to their speed and teamwork.
The Royse City Bulldog boys' team has also enjoyed a successful campaign, highlighted by strong performances at the UIL District 10-6A Championships. Jammel Ward was a standout, claiming double district titles in both the long jump and high jump. Tryndon Alexander also qualified for area in both the long jump and high jump, Wade Hill in the pole vault, Kingston Rodgers in the shot put, Ethan Jackson in the 3200-meter run (bronze medalist), Stone Miller in the 800-meter run (silver medalist) and 1600-meter run, Karter Lance in the 800-meter run, Markeith Fleming who also secured double district titles in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles, Elijah Vickers in the 100-meter dash (bronze medalist), and Adric Evans in the 400-meter dash (silver medalist). The 4x200-meter relay team of Meka Nnawuihe, John Abrama, Chris Wilson, and Adric Evans, and the 4x400-meter relay team of Courtney Chancellor, Nash Jones, Frederick Statton, and Elijah Vickers also qualified for the area meet.
The UIL District 9/10-6A Area Championships at Wylie ISD Stadium saw several Bulldogs advance to the regional stage. Jammel Ward continued his dominance, becoming a double area champion in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 8 inches and the high jump clearing 6 feet, 6 inches. Tryndon Alexander secured his regional spot with a 3rd place finish in the high jump (6-02). Stone Miller also advanced with a 3rd place finish in the 800-meter run (1:57.97), and Adric Evans earned a regional berth with a 4th place finish in the 400-meter dash (49.31). The 4x400-meter relay team of Courtney Chancellor, Nash Jones, Elijah Vickers, and Adric Evans had a memorable performance, setting a new school record with a time of 3:20.07 en route to a second-place finish, solidifying their spot at the regional meet.
Throughout the season, both the varsity and junior varsity teams achieved significant success, claiming Varsity Meet Championships at the Mt. Pleasant Tiger Invitational and the Princeton Maurice Hill Invitational. The varsity team also finished as runners-up at the District 10-6A Championships and secured a commendable 3rd place finish at the Area Championships.
The 2025 season has been marked by the breaking of several school records, a testament to the dedication and hard work of the athletes and coaches. Jammel Ward set a new high jump record of 6 feet, 11 inches, while Tyson Timmons broke the discus throw record with a distance of 138 feet, 6 inches. Markeith Fleming etched his name in the record books with new bests in the 110-meter hurdles (14.39 seconds) and the 300-meter hurdles (38.92 seconds). The 4x100-meter relay team of Meka Nnawuihe, Ethan Poku, John Abrama, and Elijah Vickers set a new school record of 41.92 seconds, and the record-breaking 4x400-meter relay team of Courtney Chancellor, Nash Jones, Elijah Vickers, and Adric Evans achieved their record-setting time of 3:20.07.
As the regional meet approaches this weekend, the Royse City track and field program has much to be proud of. With Kira Bowman leading the charge and several talented boys also vying for a spot, the Bulldogs have a strong chance of sending athletes to the UIL State Track and Field Championships in Austin from May 1st to 3rd. The dedication, record-breaking performances, and team spirit displayed throughout the season point towards a promising future for Royse City track and field.
Photos courtesy of Aric Becker Photography and RCHS Track & Field Coaches