There will be 75 Wise County track and field athletes competing in three regional meets this weekend with one goal in mind - capturing a ticket to the state championships in Austin May 9-10.

The only way to make that happen is to finish first or second in an event out of 24 qualifiers. However, Wise County has a reputation for sending athletes to the state finals, and coaches don't think this year will be any different.

Athletes from Alvord, Boyd, Chico and Paradise will be in action this weekend at the Class 2A, Region II finals in Stephenville, while Decatur and Bridgeport are setting sails to Odessa for the Class 3A, Region I showdown. Northwest will take six girls and four boys to the Class 5A, Region I action in Lubbock.

On paper, the best chance of getting to Austin is Paradise's James Hodges. The senior won the cross country state championship in November and is now looking for a little track gold for his collection.

Hodges is one of five boys from Paradise to advance to regionals. He has the region's fastest time in the 1,600-meter run (4:18.29) and the 3,200 (9:29.79).

Haley Mitchell will be the busiest of the four girls to make it from Paradise. She will compete in the 800 and 3,200 as well as team up with Brandi Erwin, Jordyn Mitchell and Jenna Simpson in the mile relay.

The biggest group from Wise County will be from Alvord as it qualified 21 athletes for regionals. Paige Klein is one of the favorites to make it to state from the area as she qualified for regionals in all five of her events.

The junior standout is moving on in the 100, 200, 400 long jump and triple jump. She has some of the state's fastest times in all three sprinting events.

The girls also qualified in all three relay events which were led by Samantha Rogers. Kailey Watkins, Whitney Enis, Morgan Rhine, Emily Atkinson, Maria Luna, Jennifer Endsley and Kaela Biediger.

Decatur also achieved the rare feat of qualifying all three relays on the boys' side. Chad Harrison had a lot to do with it as he led the 800 and 1,600 relays while also qualifying in the long jump and triple jump.

Brennon Lemieux, who went to regionals and state last year in the 110 hurdles, is on his way back and has one of the fastest times. They are two of nine Eagles to qualify this year.

Boyd also has one of the state's top hurdlers in Shane Neyens and he will chase a state bid in the 110 hurdles. The Yellowjackets qualified in all three relay events as well, and Tory Sanderson and Trent Carter were on them all.

Bridgeport's Kassie Daugherty was a state qualifier last year and will try to do it again this year as she is going to Odessa in both the shot put and discus. The BHS boys' team is sending one relay team and Stewart Price, who was fourth at district and the alternate, is going to regionals because Sanger's second-place finisher withdrew from the meet.

Chico has three athletes going to Stephenville. Hayden Eubanks, a state qualifier last year, is going in the shot put and discus and Kyler Hale is sprinting in the 100 and 200. The only Lady Dragon to be in action will be sophomore Melanie Gates in the triple jump.

A complete list of all Wise County qualifiers is below.

Girls

Alvord
Paige Klein - 100, 200, 400, long jump, triple jump
Whitney Enis - 800, 800 relay
Macie Dane - 3200
Caly Rangel - 3200
Maddison Kinsey - 100 hurdles
Samantha Rogers - 400 relay, 800 relay, 1600 relay
Kailey Watkins - 100, 400 relay, 800 relay
Morgan Rhine - 400 relay, 800 relay
Emily Atkinson - 1600 relay
Maria Luna - 1600 relay
Jennifer Endsley - 400 relay
Kaela Biediger - 1600 relay, 300 hurdles

Boyd
Desirea Nelson - Pole vault
Chloe Warren - 300 hurdles
Kasey Wood - Discus
Katy Mark - 800, 1600

Bridgeport
Kassie Daugherty - Discus, shot put
Kaitlyn Waynen - Long jump, 400

Chico
Melanie Gates - Triple jump

Decatur
Cassie Partridge - Shot put
Cynthia Carrillo - 800, 1600

Northwest
India Williams - 400, 200
Taylor Namey - Discus, shot put
Maren Fossem -Pole vault
Christina Osondu - Long jump, triple jump
Angela Rabalasi - Pole vault
Cynthia McCollum - High jump

Paradise
Haley Mitchell - 3200, 800, 1600 relay
Jordyn Mitchell - 1600 relay
Jenna Simpson - 1600 relay
Brandi Erwin - 1600 relay

Slidell
Allie Staub - 400
Laura Richardson - Shotput, discus

Boys

Alvord
Brendon Dane - 400 relay, 800 relay, 1600 relay
Randall Perez - 400 relay, 800 relay, 1600 relay
Mauricio Rivera - 800, 1600
Travis Montgomery - 200, 400 relay, 800 relay
Travis Wright - High jump
Hagen Ward - Triple jump, 1600 relay
Shane Watkins - 400 relay, 800 relay
Trevor Hartfield - 1600 relay
Justin Meador - Alternate

Boyd
Tim Fleming - 400 relay, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles
Neil Livingston - 800 relay
Colton Lyon - 400 relay, 800 relay
Shane Neyens - 400 relay, 300 hurdles, 1600 relay
Jesse Ricketts - 800 relay, 400 relay
John Steel - Shot put
Seth Tate - 800 relay, 1600 relay
Ryan Wilson -1600 relay alt.
Trent Carter - 1600 relay, 400 relay, 800 relay
Tory Sanderson - 400 relay, 800 relay, 1600 relay, triple jump

Bridgeport
C.J. Hale - 800 relay
Jace Hudson - 800 relay
Austin Blevins - 800 relay
Trevor Schuett - 800 relay
Stewart Price - Shot put

Chico
Kyler Hale 100, 200
Hayden Eubanks - Discus, shot put

Decatur
Tim Metts - High jump
Chad Harrison - Triple jump, 800 relay, 1600 relay, long jump
Reece Madden - Long jump, 400 relay, 800 relay
Josh Trant - 100, 400 relay, 800 relay
Matt Huddleston - 400, 400 relay, 1600 relay
Brennon Lemiuex - 110 hurdles
Eliuth Sanchez - 1600 relay
Cole Fuller - 1600 relay
Zack Zamzow - 800 relay, 400 relay

Northwest
Britt Koestler - 3200, 1600
Chris Bain - 100
Trevor Benton - 400
Justin Kendrick - Discus

Paradise
Connor Higgins - Long jump, 100
Richard Reid - 3200
James Hodges - 3200, 1600
Scott Hodges - 800, 1600
Bryson Mack - 200

Slidell
Will Epting - Discus