The march of the underclassman continued Tuesday, as several sophomores joined the parade of Brazos Valley athletes earning trips to state at the Class 3A Region III track and field meet.

Four individuals and one relay team punched tickets to the UIL championships on the second day of the regional meet at Turner Stadium in Humble.

Sophomore sprinter Maeson Mondrik of Cameron led the way, capturing the regional title in the girls 100 meters. Rockdale sophomore Daniel Brooks qualified for state by finishing second in the boys 110 hurdles, while two members of Cameron's second-place 400 relay team also are sophomores.

Madisonville senior sprinter Brock Taylor and Caldwell senior pole vaulter Emily Surovik both won silver and will represent the more experienced competitors. It will be the second trip to state for Surovik and Taylor, who also qualified (of course) as a sophomore.

Brazos Valley schools will have nine entries in the 3A state meet. Navasota's Rodney Brown qualified in two field events Monday, while LeRaven Clark of Rockdale and Dave Brown of Cameron also earned bids.

Mondrik's victory in the 100 was more special because the Cameron star finished third at regionals last year, missing a trip to state on a photo finish. Her winning time of 12.15 seconds Monday was her best at the high school level. Derekia Coleman of Fairfield took second at 12.19, while Caldwell's Vantazia Jackson was fourth in 12.37.

"Since I was so close last year I really wanted to get it this year," Mondrik said. "I wanted to stand on the podium and be able to say I was going to state. It sent chills through me. I cried when I crossed the finish line."

Mondrik almost qualified for state in another event, teaming with fellow sophomore Tonittiah Williams and freshmen Jamecia Smith and Keandra Jones to take third in the 800 relay at 1:43.83. Mondrik's anchor leg almost ran down Waco Connally, which claimed the second state berth in 1:43.58.

Cameron's boys 400 relay team made a move up the awards podium that was much quicker than Mondrik's one-year wait, and perhaps more dramatic. The quartet of senior Tommy Anderson, junior Quinn Haynes and sophomores Elmo Haynes and Decrick Westbrook took the silver medals with a school-record time of 42.31.

The Yoemen were third across the finish line, but moved up one place and qualified for state when Gladewater was disqualified for an improper handoff. Rockdale's Brooks, Terral Dixon, Greg Chelf and Austin Morrow moved up to third with a time of 42.53.

"The guys were in the podium area for quite a while not knowing which one to stand on," Cameron coach Billy Anderson said. "They were happy to get third place and get a medal, but getting the silver medal and going on to state, they were ecstatic."

Brooks continued a family tradition of excellence when he finished second in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.41, just behind defending state champion Phillip Jones of West Orange-Stark (14.30). Brooks' father, Tony, set the 3A state record and made the state meet in the hurdles. His sister Kristen qualified in the hurdles last year.

"It's a lot of pressure, because I don't want to let my family down," Brooks said. "There's a whole lot of relief making it to state."

Madisonville's Taylor made it to Austin as a sophomore, then finished third at regionals last year. He earned another trip by running the 100 in 10.71. Trey Franks of West Orange-Stark won in 10.45, but Taylor finished ahead of 24-3A champion Mark Jackson of Taylor (10.79).

"It means a whole lot to make it my senior year," Taylor said. "I knew what I messed up on last year was finishing hard, so that's what we worked on."

Surovik cleared 10 feet to take second in the pole vault. Regional champion Meagan Cameron of Spring Hill went 10-6, the mark Surovik reached last year.

Rudder sophomore Lamaria Cole, who competed in three events at the regional, was one of several BV entrants who finished third Tuesday and just missed making state. Cole took the bronze in the girls long jump with a distance of 17-6 1/4. Jazmine Hicks of Palestine took the second state berth with a leap of 17-8 3/4.

Mike Jones of Rudder, a junior, finished fifth in the 200 with a time of 22.60.

Other area athletes who earned bronze medals were Vantazia Jackson (25.90) in the 200 and Cameron's Martha Bustamante (2:26.79) in the 800. Krystal Flemings of Cameron (37-9 1/2) was fourth in the shot put.