ARLINGTON -- Three East Texas athletes have qualified for the UIL state track and field meet after their performance at the Class 4A Region II championships Friday at UT-Arlington's Maverick Stadium.

Nacogdoches junior Jacob Bragg took home first-place honors in the shot put with a throw of 51-4 1/4, finishing ahead of Lewisville's Benjamin Bibby (50-2).

Mason Hardy, also of Nacogdoches, clinched a berth at the state meet with a second-place finish in the pole vault (15-0). Noah Gilfillan of Corsicana finished first with a vault of 15-6.

Whitehouse senior Troy Hayden, a Georgia Tech signee, qualified for state by finishing second in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:30.86. Frisco Heritage's Carter Blunt won the event in 9:26.61.

The regional meet continues at 9 a.m. Saturday with field event finals for the boys discus and long jump and girls long jump, pole vault, high jump and discus.

Running finals are scheduled to begin at 3:10 p.m. Saturday.

The top two finishers in each event qualify for the state track meet, scheduled for May 10-11 at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

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