Mav tracksters fighting for spring titles
Tough SPC Championship field awaits St. John’s as Mercado preps squad
St. John’s head track and field coach Richie Mercado is bracing himself for what should be another wild Southwest Preparatory Conference Spring Championships.
The track and field competition will take place Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, at Dallas St. Mark’s, with plenty of contenders on both sides.
“Over two days and 34 events, anything can happen,” Mercado said. “There will be some outstanding teams at the SPC meet and we’re one of them.”
Mercado considers Dallas St. Mark’s the boys’ favorite and not just because of the home-track advantage.
“Dallas St. Mark’s had been down the last two or three years, but they’re back,” Mercado said. “St. Mark’s is solid at the sprints, distance events, relays, jumps, throws, everything. We can have a great meet and it still might not be enough.”
With a break or two in hand, St. John’s, defending champion Episcopal and Dallas Greenhill could rise to the top of the final standings.
Senior Joe Faraguna, who has led the Mavericks to back-to-back SPC cross country titles, would love to end his stellar career on a positive note. Faraguna is a mainstay on the 4x400- and 4x800-meter relays and, individually, could run the 800 and 1,600.
“Wherever we put Joe, you know he’ll contribute,” Mercado said.
Senior Chris Randall is a potential SPC medalist in the hurdles as well as leading the Mavericks’ 4x100 and 4x400 relays, while senior Hunter Hasley should be a threat in the discus and shot put.
Freshman Genson Hooper Price is a rising star and future multieventer. He’s emerged in the 200, 400, long jump and triple jump as well as running legs on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
Others to watch include senior Toby Emiola (100, 200, 4x100 relay) and sophomores Ian Thakur (400, 4x100 and 4x400 relays) and Drew Woodfolk (1,600, 3200).
St. John’s should score plenty of points in the relays. The 4x800 relay, featuring Joe Faraguna, juniors Jayan Hanson and Jake Schick and freshman Sam Faraguna, is the strongest of the three.
The girls’ division should be equally tight. Dallas Greenhill is the pick by many to repeat, but St. John’s, Kinkaid and Dallas Hockaday are prepared to pounce if provided an opportunity.
“There are four or five teams that are close together,” Mercado said. “We’re well-balanced and that should help us.”
Junior Peyton Brown headlines a deep and talented distance group. Brown excels in the 1,600 and 3,200 and runs a leg on the 4x800 relay. She’s joined by seniors Lillian Chen (1,600, 3,200), Margaret Trautner (800, 1,600, 4x400 and 4x800 relays) and Julia Moody (800, 1,600, 4x800 relay) and sophomore Molly Isaac (800, 4x400 and 4x800 relays).
Junior Katie Hasley is the one to beat in the discus and could score points in the shot put along with junior Alex Jones, while junior Isabelle Paine will be busy with both hurdles, the long jump and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
Others to watch include seniors Caroline AnkomaSey (100, 200, 4x100 relay) and Gabby Otey (long jump, triple jump), juniors Kat Smith (400, 4x100 and 4x400 relays) and Sarah VanLoh (pole vault), sophomore Mia Guien (triple jump, 4x100 relay) and freshmen Mycah Clay (100, 200, 4x100 relay) and Ciela Stark (400, 4x100 and 4x400 relays).
“Every point counts, including all the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-place finishes,” Mercado said. “Our girls won back in 2010 by one point, so we know what a difference they can make.”
Title picture It’s a long trip to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex for this week’s SPC Spring Championships, but it could be worth it for several Houston-area teams.
In girls lacrosse, St. John’s is the South Zone winner and defending champion. The Mavericks, though, will be pushed by North Zone top seed and tourney host Episcopal School of Dallas and South Zone foes Kinkaid and Episcopal.
Houston teams have owned baseball in recent years and this year should be no different. Kinkaid, the reigning SPC champ, rolled to the South Zone title with a perfect 7-0 mark. The Falcons, though, will be pushed by Episcopal, Houston Christian, Austin St. Andrew’s, St. John’s and John Cooper from what was an exciting South Zone race, not to mention North Zone leaders Dallas St. Mark’s and Fort Worth Trinity Valley.
Episcopal is gunning for its third softball crown in a row, but it was St. John’s that won the South Zone this year, with a flawless 6-0 record.
Fellow South Zone teams Houston Christian and Kinkaid will try to make it an all-Houston final four for the second year in a row.
North Zone winner Fort Worth Trinity Valley is the most likely outsider to break through.
In boys’ tennis, North Zone top seed Dallas Greenhill is an established powerhouse, but San Antonio St. Mary’s Hall will carry the banner for the South Zone with Houston Christian, Kinkaid and St. John’s.
Dallas Hockaday leads the girls contenders along with St. John’s, Kinkaid, John Cooper and Episcopal from the South Zone.