Hanks’ Ky-Ri Bonner has never experienced anything comparable to his 400-meter race at the UIL State Track and Field Championships, which makes sense because it was the biggest stage he has ever been on.
He came in aiming to win and went to lengths he’s never gone through before, culminating with his first-ever dive at the tape that ended up being good for a third-place finish (47.32), which might have disappointed him before the race started.
Bonner quickly figured out the most important way to consider running at state. Any season that ends at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin is special, any race there that ends in a medal is precious.
Given all that, Bonner did the most important thing he could do on his only trip to state. He soaked it all in and savored the moment.
“It was hard, it was frustrating a little bit because I didn’t get first, but very, very enjoyable,” Bonner said shortly afterwards while wearing his bronze medal. “I love to be out here, the crowd, the sound, it was a very good race.
“It’s a little frustrating because I’m a competitive person, but I went to state and got bronze. I can’t be mad at myself, I went through all the rounds, I ran a 0:46 (earlier in the year), I’m still getting recruited. It’s a great feeling to get out here, get exposure and be able to say ‘I went to state and medaled.'”
The race was a heart-stopper with a wild, blanket finish that saw the top four placers finish between 47.25 and 45.47. The eventual winner, Christian Porter of Belton, was in lane 9, while Bonner was in lane 2 and obviously those two ran 400 meters without being aware of each other.
Bonner was focused on his duel with Brandon Gilmore of Mansfield Timberview, who was in lane 4, as those two led through all but the final steps of the last 80 meters. Gilmore eventually got second in 47.27, .05 ahead of Bonner. That was what inspired Bonner, for the first time in his life of running, to dive at the finish.
What Bonner didn’t see was Porter’s dramatic closing charge where he made up several steps to move from fourth to first in the final 20 meters.
“I thought I was tied for first for a little bit, but I didn’t know what place I was in, actually,” Bonner said. “I didn’t see the other guy from 9 sneaking up on us. It was me and the guy next to me going for it.
“That’s why I dove at the finish line, I wanted first so badly. I had never dove at the finish line, I just wanted it so badly.”
Bonner said he had never been in a race quite like this one, though he hopes to be in more next year when he plans on running somewhere in college.
“I’ve always come in first by a good amount of meters, I’ve never been in such a close race,” Bonner said. “It was a great experience.”
Most importantly, Bonner enjoyed every bit of it and left with a medal.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hanks’ Ky-Ri Bonner dives for bronze medal at UIL state championships
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
