The Ira Bulldogs did themselves one better Thursday, following up a District 9 track and field title with a championship at the area meet in Highland.

Ira won with 82 points, and needed help to get past Aspermont, which finished second with 79 points.

Going into the mile relay, Ira needed a first-place finish and a sixth-or-worse position from Aspermont to win the area crown.

The relay squad of Wes Kellner, Brian Proctor, Jess Wall and Devin Gutierrez responded with a personal record 3:35 in the event, and Aspermont ended up in seventh.

“It was very exciting,” head coach Toby Goodwin said. “We took nine seconds off our district time. It’s great to be a part of winning district and area.”

The 4x200 relay team of Wall, Proctor, Gutierrez and Kellner set a school record with a time of 1:33.8, and will move on to the regional track meet in Abilene.

Lindsey Wilson set a school record and a personal mark with a leap of 5-4 in the high jump. She will be the sole Lady Bulldog at regionals.

Jake Barnes will advance to regionals in both the shot and the discus. He won the shot put with a throw of 48-9.5, and set a personal record in placing second in the discus (126).

The sprint relay team of Wall, Proctor, Kellner and Bryson Higgins will move on to regionals after crossing the line in 44.6, which Goodwin said is “the fastest time since I’ve been here.”

Higgins also will represent Ira in the 200, taking second with a personal record time of 22.6 seconds, as well as the 100, where he placed fourth.

Corbin Clements and Adrian Padron will be alternates at region.

The regional track meet is scheduled to be run at Elmer Gray Stadium on the campus of Abilene Christian University April 30-May 1.