Austin, TX
Austin-area high schoolers impress on third day of Texas Relays
Things weren’t quite clicking for Zayden Sharp in the boys long jump Friday at the Texas Relays.
Sitting in third place with only two attempts left, Sharp walked behind a bench and huddled with his father, Mike, who was holding an iPad. The duo studied Zayden’s technique.
“It was my knees,” Sharp said later. “When I was jumping, I was dragging my knees. My legs were lagging in the air, so my dad said, ‘Get those knees up.’”
The quick study did the trick. On his fifth attempt, the Anderson senior landed a mark of 23 feet, 5.2 inches, earning him his first Texas Relays title as the third day of action drew to a close at Myers Stadium.
“I know a lot of people say practice doesn’t make perfect,” Sharp said, “but you get a lot of practice in, and it will make you pretty darn close to being perfect. I came into this meet thinking it was a practice meet. Nothing to gain, nothing to lose. Just go out there and jump.”
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According to MileSplit, Sharp also entered the day with the nation’s No. 1 all conditions high school mark in the long jump. His 25-foot, 4-inch leap on March 1 in Round Rock is among five best other efforts in the country over 25 feet, a result which puts him in elite company.
But wins mean more, and on Friday the performance was significant for another reason: It cemented his status as one of the nation’s top leapers. Sharp has his eyes on reaching 25 feet again.
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“It’s everything,” said Sharp, who’s committed but not yet signed to Air Force to play football and track and field. “My first indoor meet, I jumped 23-10, and that was kind of when it switched for me and everybody around me, that I am capable.”
With that said, Sharp is still looking for his first state title. But with the district meet arriving on the calendar, the UIL postseason will be in full swing.
“I just want to see what I can put out there,” he said.
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Around the Texas Relays: high schools
A good day for Langdon: Friday was a busy day for Bowie’s Owen Langdon, who spent the afternoon qualifying for Saturday’s final of the boys 110-meter hurdles and the evening placing among the top eight finishers in the 300-meter hurdles. It wasn’t a perfect day by any stretch, but Langdon is quickly realizing what he’s capable of.
The senior finished fourth at the Texas State Outdoor Championships in the 300-meter hurdles in 2024. On Friday, his time of 37.77 netted him a sixth-place finish in the second heat. It was just five-tenths shy of his personal best.
“I’ve been doing this since the eighth grade,” Langdon said. “I just ended up being good at it, so I just kind of stuck with it and that’s it.”
Langdon’s best race came earlier in the day. He clocked a wind-legal time of 13.89 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, earning him the second-fastest seed going into Saturday’s final. His three-step pattern was nearly flawless. Things won’t get any easier there, though, as Langdon will also feature in Bowie’s 400 relay.
He said it will take a “perfect technique, perfect pattern” to win the 110 hurdles final, but that “competition will help” and he’s targeting a time in the 13.6-second range.
Locals attack the 1,600 distance: Anderson’s Colby Huntress finished fourth in the boys 1,600 in 4:14.67, showcasing a strong kick in the final 100 meters, while LASA’s Eva Cragnolino mirrored him, clocking a PR of 4:53.21 to finish sixth in the girls event.
“Just building up the confidence to go with those top guys and put it all out there,” Huntress said. “Because as hard of an effort that was, I know I can push harder.”
Anderson’s Faith Murphy, the reigning Class 6A state runner-up at 800 meters, was ninth with a time of 4:55.46. That personal best time also represented her first foray at the distance since her freshman season.
“My college coaches said, ‘Hey, you need to get your mile time down,’” said Murphy, who signed with Arkansas. “And I said, ‘OK, great.’ I just took it as a challenge.”
Cragnolino’s reward was her patience. She pulled away from Murphy in the final straightaway. The previous night, she had watched the college distance races from the stands as a way to prepare for her own moment.
“The women’s race was so inspiring,” she said.
Other notable performances: Bowie’s Jazzlyn Hepburn finished sixth in the high jump with a mark of 5-5. … Del Valle’s Jeremiah Robinson was fourth in the discus with a mark of 8 feet, 4 inches.
Austin, TX
Bradlink’s President: Helen Callier to Speak at the University of Texas Austin Readiness Training Program for HUB’s Graduation
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bradlink LLC’s president – Helen Callier will speak at the University of Texas at Austin signature IC2 Institute’s Readiness Training Program (RTP) Graduation for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB’s). Helen leads an award-winning SBA small business and industry recognized government contracting firm that provides technical services to various local agencies including Austin Independent School District (AISD).
This training program for HUB’s provides Regional Technical Assistance Resources, reviews government databases to register in and presents information on government contracting. The final session and graduation are designed to motivate the mostly start-up companies to propose and position their firms to win government contracts.
With 20 years of proven industry experience in government contracting, Bradlink is branded as a trailblazer and innovator in providing technical solutions on transit, education and healthcare projects.
Callier says, “It’s truly a privilege to share my firm’s story, insights, and tips on obtaining government contracts with other small businesses. Texas is a great place to start and grow a small business and the sessions the HUB’s have attended place them in a strong position.”
Bradlink’s achievements have been marked by notable projects such as working as a Prime on the 2022 $2.44 billion AISD Bond Program, supporting key projects at Austin Bergstrom Airport, and serving as BIM Lead for the CMAR on the Houston Airport System Hobby International $470 million 7-gate Expansion project.
“We’re excited that our Leader has been invited again to speak during UT Austin’s IC2 Institute’s RTP last session and graduation this year. I believe Helen’s business insights will motivate members of the co-hort to execute their growth plans as there are lots of opportunities in Texas to pursue.” Moruf Jimoh, Technical Manager of Bradlink LLC
Bradlink’s President, Helen Callier, has been a driving force in the company’s success. In 2025, Bradlink received numerous industry awards including from the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum, Tri-County Regional Black Chamber of Commerce and recognized by the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association. Also, in 2023, her influential expertise earned her a prominent spot on page 49 of the SBA Small Business National Resource Guide, showcasing her as a thought leader in the industry.
About Helen Callier
Helen Callier (AKA), B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Prairie View A&M University and graduate on the Goldmans Sachs 10KSB Program, is President of Bradlink LLC, a Technical Services firm and Founder of PermitUsNow, an industry recognized building permitting and expediting firm headquartered in Texas. Recognized as HBJ’s Women Who Mean Business, SBA Women Business Champion, former State of Texas Commissioner of Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and serving as an Advisory Board Tri-County Regional Black Chamber of Commerce. Helen is known as a point guard in the business community. She is a regular blogger for SubContractors USA News, a published author, dynamic speaker and a valuable contributor in the business community in Texas.
About Bradlink LLC
Bradlink LLC, with offices in Houston, Austin and Dallas, Texas, is a technical services firm, with over two decades of experience, provides program management, building design, permit expediting, construction oversight, and facilities support services primarily to government agencies. Clients of Bradlink include the Houston Airport System, JACOBS, Atkins Realis’, Hensel Phelps, Austin ISD, EXP US, and USACE.
Media Contact:
Len Cal
2813129981
[email protected]
SOURCE Bradlink LLC
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Children’s Hospital has launched Austin’s first pediatric medical helicopter, expanding critical care transport services for children across Central Texas.
The Kangaroo Crew helicopter can reach distances of up to 120 nautical miles and is equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed by clinicians who provide ICU-level care during transport, according to the hospital system.
“This investment reflects our commitment to bringing the highest level of specialized care closer to families, reducing distance as a barrier when every minute matters,” said Dr. Jeffrey Shilt, president of Austin and Central Texas for Texas Children’s.
Texas Children’s Hospital has launched Austin’s first pediatric medical helicopter, expanding critical care transport services for children across Central Texas. (Photo: Texas Children’s)
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Texas Children’s is the first pediatric hospital system to operate its own helicopter in Austin. The aircraft serves patients throughout Central Texas and West Texas.
The addition of the Austin helicopter brings Texas Children’s total to two Kangaroo Crew helicopters. The helicopter program launched in February 2025 at Texas Children’s in Houston and has transported hundreds of critically ill patients.
The expansion was funded through donations to Texas Children’s, including contributions from Texas Children’s Ambassadors.
“Through the support of our Ambassadors and other generous donors, we are able to invest in innovations like this helicopter that make an immediate, meaningful difference for families across Central Texas and beyond,” said Ben Renberg, chief development officer of the Office of Philanthropy at Texas Children’s.
A new helicopter will take to the skies over Central Texas on Tuesday. Texas Children’s Hospital has added a helicopter to its Kangaroo Crew intensive care transport team, which previously used only ambulances to bring patients to its Austin facility.
The team will be able to travel 120 nautical miles to pick up a patient. The hospital, which opened almost two years ago, has launched programs that are attracting patients from across Texas and around the country, said Dr. Jeff Shilt, the president of Texas Children’s in Austin. “Having a helicopter for a pediatric hospital is really a differentiator for us.”
The $15 million investment makes Texas Children’s the only hospital — pediatric or adult — in Austin with a dedicated helicopter. The other hospitals use STAR Flight.
The air transport program will expand this summer with a larger helicopter that will seat four in the bay instead of three and fly up to 200 nautical miles. That will take this helicopter beyond Waco, Brownwood, San Antonio and College Station, where this current helicopter can go, to near Dallas, San Angelo, Corpus Christi and Beaumont. Texas Children’s also has a plane that is based in Houston that can carry patients who are much further than 200 nautical miles.
The helicopter also will be used locally when traffic on MoPac Boulevard or Interstate 35 would make an ambulance trip longer than 30 minutes to an hour.
The helicopter’s crew of four pilots, critical care nurses and respiratory therapists is based at the Georgetown Executive Airport, which is seven minutes of flying time to the hospital in North Austin.
Each time the helicopter takes off, a respiratory therapist and a registered nurse travels with it. The medical team has been trained in trauma care and has multiple certifications. They also can bring a patient-specific specialized doctor or nurse practitioner if needed. There is a seat for a guardian to ride with their child.
Inside the helicopter is a miniature intensive care unit with ventilators, monitors and oxygen tanks that can be moved in and out to stabilize a patient in a hospital, during the flight and after landing at the Texas Children’s helipad until the patient is connected to hospital machines.
“We take the ICU to them, stabilizing them and bring them back to a higher level of care,” said Kelley Young, a respiratory therapist with 19 years of critical care team experience working in a helicopter.
The patients are strapped into a sled that is tied down to the helicopter. That sled can be put onto a gurney to take the patient in and out of the helicopter. For smaller patients, such as babies, there are parts that are added to secure them to the sled.
The team is prepared for an emergency, including each having a survival kit on them and an additional one in the helicopter.
“We do a lot of training and a lot of simulations,” said John Samluk, a critical care nurse with the team.
They also can talk to everyone in the helicopter using headsets and call to hospital staff at either end of the journey to relay or receive updates.
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