Convenience Big Store: Houston track and field athletes chasing history at state championships.

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More than 200 Houston track and field athletes will compete at the state meet.

With 220 qualifying spots clinched, the Houston area will be well-represented at the UIL state track and field championships, which runs today through Saturday at the University of Texas in Austin.

Several local athletes have their sights set on claiming gold at Mike A. Myers Stadium. That includes Strake Jesuit senior Jace Posey, who is aiming to capture another high jump championship after setting a state record last year. It also includes Klein senior India Alix, who is looking to improve on her double-medal performance from 2022.

Posey and Alix are just a couple of the Houston-area athletes to watch this week. Check out our full breakdown on the top qualifiers and who might be bringing some hardware back to H-Town.

GIRLS ATHLETES TO WATCH | BOYS ATHLETES TO WATCH

Three things to watch

Can Marshall repeat? The Fort Bend Marshall boys and girls both won team state titles last year in Class 5A. The Buffs will send a large contingency to Austin once again, including the boys' 4x100 relay team. That talented squad has sights set on breaking the national record of 39.76 set by Fort Worth Wyatt in 1998.

Peters ready for competition: Pearland junior distance runner Madison Peters made waves during cross country season, finishing ninth at the UIL state meet. She will try to finish out her year with a couple of strong performances in track and field, competing in the 3,200 and 1,600 at the state championships this weekend.

Burningham aiming for medal: Kingwood Park boys track and field coach Chris Elliot moved Trent Burningham from the 400 to the 800 late last season. That switch paid huge dividends as he captured the bronze medal at the state championships. Burningham is determined to get back on the podium this week.

LIVE UPDATES: The Chronicle will be posting to a live blog during the Friday and Saturday sessions of the state championships. Follow us on Twitter to find the link Friday morning.

Follow all our coverage at houstonchronicle.com/highschoolsports.

Jon Poorman
High School Sports Editor
jpoorman@houstonchronicle.com

Athletes of the week

Congratulations to Langham Creek softball player Emily Simmons, who was selected as our Girls Athlete of the Week with 46 percent of the votes. Simmons was dominant in the circle during a 2-0 victory over New Caney in Game 3 of the area playoffs. She pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk.

Congratulations to Milby baseball player Alex Lopez, who was selected as our Boys Athlete of the Week with 37 percent of the votes. Lopez went 4-for-5 with two doubles and six RBIs as the Buffaloes earned an 11-8 victory over Lamar Consolidated in Game 2 of the bi-district playoffs. The win clinched the series for Milby.

Check Monday's newsletter for a new set of polls.

Baseball playoffs

Oak Ridge senior baseball player Gavin Hickman has made a return to the field after suffering an orbital fracture earlier this year while throwing batting practice to his teammate. After taking a line drive to the face and going through several weeks of recovery, he is thankful for the opportunity to play again.

Read the full feature story by Dennis Silva II here.

Baseball area round commences: Most Houston-area baseball teams will get the second round of the UIL playoffs underway tonight. Check out the full schedule here and check back for scores after each night of competition.

Softball playoffs continue: The field has narrowed for local softball teams, and most will get their regional quarterfinal series started tonight. Bridgeland claimed an 18-1 victory over Spring on Wednesday, while Bellaire earned a 6-1 win over Jersey Village. Check out the full schedule and scores here.

Shout out

Dennis Brantley has been a pillar of Fort Bend ISD athletics and will close his 37th and final year in the district later this month. On Friday, Brantley announced he would retire at the end of the school year from his position as head football coach and campus athletic coordinator at Elkins.

Stat of the day

44: The numbers of strokes The Woodlands Christian boys golf team won the TAPPS Class 5A state championship by. No other team was close as the Warriors claimed a third consecutive title, led by individual champion Aaron Pounds.