The Burnet High School track and field program showed plenty of Bulldog fight during the District 23 and 24-4A championship April 9 in Jarrell.
Top of the list is senior middle-distance runner Victor Aviles, who came home with three gold medals from the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
“Victor is the hardest working kid I have seen in a long time,” Bulldogs head coach Jordan Heusinkveld said. “Whether it is before school, after school or the weekend, you will find him up near the campus running. I’ve never seen a more dedicated distance runner. His dedication to training is what allows him to perform at such a high level. Coach Crystal Shipley, who took over as our distance coach this year, has done a great job helping Victor prepare for a run at state.”
In five regular season track meets, Aviles believes he has captured around a dozen gold medals.
“I don’t keep track,” he said. “I imagine it’s over 10. I’ve won all three races in (almost) every meet.”
When it comes to middle- distance running, few districts have what District 24-4A has in Aviles. He won the 2023 state championship in the 800 meters and was looking to successfully defend that title and add the state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. But he became ill and competed only in the 800 meters where he finished eighth.
Needless to say, Aviles is extremely motivated in his final year in Kelly green.
“Winning state in all three has been the biggest goal,” he said. “Two years ago when I won the 800 state title, that opened my eyes to see what I could do. I want to go back and give myself a chance. I don’t know anyone else who has done all three. It’s tough having to do all three races within a day. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do. I have to give credit to some of the other runners. They’re really tough. They’ve given it everything they’ve got.”
Part of what makes Aviles so difficult to beat is how he takes care of every part of his body, Shipley said.
“Victor is in a good place both mentally and physically,” Shipley said. “He has been taking care of all of the little things that make the big difference. He gets a good mix of endurance and speed work in his training, and he knows what it takes to get to the top. He is incredibly bright and uses that in the plan that he has for each race.”
And the Bulldog believes the district competition has prepared him well for what’s ahead. Four years ago, mile runners could run around 5 minutes and win. Not now, he said.
“At district, you have to run a 4:25,” he said. “It’s really tough now. Honestly to me, our district was definitely harder than our area (meet). Our region will feel very similar to our district. Our district is really good. All four years of high school, this has been the fastest year, the fastest competition. It’s great having this competition now at district. I’ll give it my best shot. If they beat me, they deserve it. But I’m going to give it my best.”
Joining Aviles at regionals is the 400-meter relay team of junior Matthew Williams, senior Brody Danson, sophomore Braxton Ringstaff and junior Clay Lamb, which finished fourth in 43.37 seconds, and senior long jumper David Prather, who had a leap of 20 feet and 9.75 inches, good enough for silver.
Heusinkveld said he was especially happy for Prather, who has competed in the 200 and 400 meters, the high jump and the triple jump, too, during the season. The head coach credits long jump coach Clayton Deaver, triple jump coach Ben Speer and high jump coach Colton Brewer for getting Prather ready to compete.
“David has done a great job this year stepping up and doing anything (and) everything we have asked him to do,” he said. “He is a great athlete that has the ability to have a great performance at regionals in the long jump.”
Heusinkveld said he couldn’t be prouder of the relay team.
“That group has been ever changing and even after making some changes due to injuries, they came through and put up their best time of the year when it mattered most,” he said. “Three out of four of those kids will be back next year as well.”
And though the 1,600-meter relay team of senior Isaias Zarate, sophomore Hector Vega and juniors Jovanny Ramirez and Charles Edwards’ season ended, Heusinkveld remains encouraged.
“(They) would take home the most improved athletes award from last year,” he said. “While things did not go our way at the area meet, they took second at the district meet and three of those kids will be back next year.”
In the girls division, junior Asah Roy was fourth in the 800 meters in 2:29.44 and helped the 1,600-meter relay team run to bronze in 4:07.83. Other members are sophomore Cali Eason, sophomore Brianne Smith and senior Camryn Courtney. Junior Wrigley Mulhollan is the alternate.
“Asah stepped up in a big way for her team by running the 4x4 relay,” said Shipley, who also serves as the Lady Dawgs head coach. “Adriana Briggs is normally our first leg and she has been out sick all week. We are so proud of Asah for being a great teammate and getting the job done.”
Heusinkveld summed up the feelings of the Burnet coaching staff and this 2025 campaign where some athletes posted their personal bests and still had their seasons end.
“We took some steps in the right direction this year after graduating some very talented athletes last year,” he said. “Not once have our kids made excuses. They displayed grit and determination in the face of adversity.”
The Class 4A Region III meet is Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, at Bullard High School.