By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

The Bowie and Nocona High School track and field programs finally competed in a meet together on Thursday in windy Jacksboro.
What made this meet important was six District 3A-9 squads were in competition. Only Holliday and Wichita Falls City View weren’t present.
In the end, the Bowie girls claimed third place with 79 points while Nocona finished a tie for eighth spot with Peaster. Meanwhile, Bowie’s boys earned fifth spot while the Indians mustered just three points.
However, simply getting active in a meet pleased Nocona head boys’ and girls’ track and field coach Michael Keith.
“Two things I took away from the meet last night were our youth, and the unusual circumstances we have faced with the weather this season,” the coach commented. “The athletes that competed on varsity were focused and they did well.”
Keith was especially happy with the performances of Dylan Parker and Brayden Skinner in the 1,600-meter run and Miriam Diaz’s performance in distance runs as well.
Bowie boys coach Daylon West said improving weather this week has lead to stronger practices.
“I thought last night went well,” West said. “We are still improving and starting to see results from better training due to more favorable weather. We left some points on the table, especially in the field events, which I expect we can rectify by district.”
As for Bowie’s girls, head coach Colby Davis-Pastusek said the Rabbits made strides.
“I am proud of how well our Lady Rabbits competed,” she said. “We had a great meet, and set numerous personal and season records. There were a lot of district teams in Jacksboro, and that gave us a measuring stick of what we need to work on.”
Addy Cook earned Bowie’s only gold medal of the day for the girls, winning the high jump by popping a mark of 5-feet, 1-inch. She also was fifth in the triple jump. Read more in the weekend Bowie News, and see complete team scores.

Bowie’s Addy Cook leaps in the high jump to a winning mark of 5-feet, 1-inch at the Jacksboro Invitational track and field meet on Thursday. This was the only gold medal the Lady Rabbits earned on the day. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)