Timberview's Bailey among double winners at A&M High School Classic

Championships came in pairs at the Texas A&M High School Classic on Saturday at the Gilliam Indoor Stadium.

Mansfield Timberview's Aldrich Bailey, the defending Class 5A state champion in the 400 meters, took the lead on the backstretch to win the first section of the 400 in 47.05. Bailey had improved his old meet record of 48.07 with a time of 48.01 in Friday's prelim. It was the sixth-fastest high school 400 time.

Bailey earned his double with an equally impressive 200. His winning time of 21.14 matched the sixth-best high school indoor 200 ever.

"That's crazy, but I like it," said Bailey, whose extensive indoor season will end at the New Balance Nationals. "My hard work is paying off. It was tough, about 30 minutes apart. I just elevated my legs and stretched."

"Outdoor, Olympic Trials maybe. Let's see how far I can drop time, keep aggressive and stay healthy."

Bailey, selected the boys outstanding track athlete of the meet, earned his spot among the 200 indoor elite on a list that is headed by Melbourne, Fla.'s Xavier Carter at 20.69. The best by a Texan is the 21.05 run by Austin Reagan's Brendan Christian, who has the second-fastest time of 21.02.

The national 400-meter record is held by Newburgh, N.Y.'s Elzie Coleman (46.11) with the top Texas time by former Waco High standout LaJerald Betters (46.94), who ran for Baylor. Betters ranks fourth on the high school list.

Aaliya Brown, the Illinois standout from Lincoln Way East High School, came a long way for the second year to win short, fast races. She sprinted to wins in the 60 and the 200. Her 7.46 set the new meet record in the 60. She also won the 200 in a time of 24.60 and was named girls outstanding track athlete.

"My dad was telling me to hit 7.4, so I was trying to get that time," said Brown after her win in the 60. "I ran this meet last year and I came here to get the good competition. Since I haven't run since being hurt in June, I was kind of nervous. I had to knock the nerves off, but I came out here and did my thing."

The wins marked her successful return from a hamstring injury.

The meet featured something old - in name only - and someone new. Cameron Burrell, the son of University of Houston sprint legend and Cougars track coach Leroy Burrell, won the 60-meter dash in 6.82 and a freshman runner won a difficult double at the high school meet. Burrell's long jump of 23-8 3/4 netted second behind Lancaster's Devin Field, who jumped 24-7 1/4.

Freshman Paige Hofstad of New Braunfels set a meet record in the girls' 2-mile with a runaway time of 11:17.49. She came back early in the afternoon session to take another meet record in the mile by running a winning time of 5:10.79.

The meet featured the typical superb performances.

Lancaster's Taije Jordan overtook Skylar Ross-Ranson of Langham Creek in the 60-meter hurdles, moving in front over the final two hurdles to win in a meet record time of 8.63, which bettered the previous record time of 8.66 set by Tiffani McReynolds, who won Big 12 hurdle titles both indoor and outdoor as a freshman at Baylor.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville's Hayden Reed dominated the shot put, winning by nearly 11 feet with his meet record toss of 60-11.

Visions Track Club, made up of runners from Houston-area schools, won the girls 3,200 relay in 9:40.0.

McKinney's Bryce Grace ran 8.04 to win the boys hurdles. Tiara Cross (56.50), a junior from Houston's High School for the Performing Arts, won the girls 400.

Brenham placed sixth in the 3,200-meter relay, running 8:21.39. The Afterburners Track club won with a time of 8:05.65. The Southern Eagles (3:20.06) held off the Texas Stars (3:20.12) at the finish of the 1,600 relay to win the boys race. The girls 1,600 relay was won by Visions Track Club in 3:51.79.

Other winners included Tomball's Brittany Wooten (11-8) in the girls pole vault and Illinois's Aliyah Harmon (17-8 3/4) in the long jump. That gave Harmon a double victory, adding to her 38-0 1/4 triple jump win. She was named outstanding girls field event performer. Trevor Gilley of Southlake Carroll won the boys mile in 4:19.38.

In Saturday's morning session, Cale Wallace of Cypress Ranch won the boys' 2-mile in 9:30.83.

In the opening field event Saturday, Alba-Golden's Natalie Thompson won the high jump at 5-6. The boys high jump champion was Cy Ranch jumper Stephen Afadapa, who won on fewer misses over Roland Sale of Grand Prairie at 6-4 3/4.

Friday night, Kingwood pole-vaulter Shawnacy Barber highlighted the meet by clearing 17-6 1/2, matching the second-best high school indoor pole vault ever. Barber missed on three attempts at 18-0 1/2 in an effort to better the record, but earned outstanding performance for the meet.

Rockdale junior Emily Brinkley threw 35-5 1/4 to place sixth in the shot put.

Saturday's attendance was 2,445, making the two-day total for the event 4,018.