Steers compete in Region I-4A track meet

LUBBOCK - The Big Spring Steers didn't win another track meet but they made a heck of a run at it. Saturday at Lowery Field the Steers scored 52 points to finish third at the Region I-4A meet.

The Steers were going for their seventh win in eight meets but fell just short to winner Argyle and second place Decatur.

Decatur passed Big Spring in the final event of the meet, the 1600 meter relay. Decatur finished second in the event, scoring 16 points. Big Spring didn't have a relay in the event.

The Steers scored well in the 400 relay and 800 relay, finishing third in the 400 (42.86) and earning a trip to state by finishing second in the 800 (1:28.71).

"We're getting better in the 800 relay," said Big Spring coach Brandon Clemmons. “On a great day we have the ability to run a 1:26."

Junior Adrian Solis earned a ticket to Austin by running career best 1:56.61 in the 800, finishing second. He edged out his District 3-4A nemesis Jerimiah Rodriguez of Snyder who finished third in 1:57.02.

"I was a 800 runner at Texas Tech many moons and many pounds ago," joked Clemmons. "One thing I learned was, not to run on the outside, that's what Adrian did, he ran on the inside. When you run on the outside you have to run 7-8 yards further. I didn't want him to take the lead but stay close to the pack. If he had 10 more yards to run, he would have caught the kid from San Elizario (Christopher Moreno, 1:56.31). He held back and waited We had worked on him finishing strong on the curve. I knew he had the foot speed to do it."

Just missing out on a state berth was senior long jumper QT Lewis, who jumped 22-2, an inch behind second-place finisher Angel Munoz of El Paso Riverside. Not bad for a guy who just came out for track this season.

"He talked to me at the semester about coming out for the track team. We found out he had talent," said Clemmons.

Senior distance runner Roman Perez closed out his high school career on a strong note with a gutsy fifth-place finish in the 3200 and sixth place in the 1600. Perez, also a outfielder on the Steers playoff baseball team, is going to McMurry University to continue his track career. Friday night he played in a baseball game in Big Spring. Saturday morning he was scoring more points for the Big Spring track team.

He knocked an amazing 10 seconds off the time he ran at the area meet.

Senior Braxton Pearson just missed out on returning to state in the discus. He finished fifth (1520), trailing second place by four feet. Pearson also added points with a sixth place finish in the shot put.

"Wednesday, we got a phone call telling us a Pampa kid couldn't compete in the shot put, allowing Braxton to compete. He (Braxton) was a little upset because he hadn't gotten in his throws for the week. He responded by throwing a career best in the shot put and getting a point," said Clemmons.

All 20 of the Lady Steers points were scored by freshman Naomi Wines, who won the high jump (55) and 200 meters (25.40).

The Lady Steers finished seventh out of 31 teams. Wines won the high jump with a career best (5-5). Her jump would have won the Class 5A division.

In the 200 meters prelims, she had the third-fastest qualifying time. She stepped it up in the finals, winning the race in a career best 25.40. She simply overpowered the others the last 40 meters.

"Naomi has untapped talent. She can jump and run. She was already one of the top jumpers, but I knew she had the ability to win the 200," Clemmons said.

Overall, Clemmons, in his second season as track coach closed with this: "The kids know me and they know my workouts. They've seen the benefits. They brought into it and gave 110 percent as a whole." The state track meet will be May 12-14 in Austin. Big Spring Results

Boys Team Totals - 1. Argyle 103, 2. Decatur 62, 3. Big Spring 52.

3200 - 5. Roman Perez, 10:04.00.

Shot Put - 6. Brandon Pearson, 47-8.

Discus - 5. Pearson, 152-0.

Long jump - 3. QT Lewis, 22-2.

400 Relay - 3. Big Spring (Vincent Ortiz, Chris Martinez, Gavin Greathouse, Sa'Quan Fizer) 42.86. 800 - 2. Adrian Solis, 1:56.61.

800 Relay - 2. Big Spring (Abram Jackson, Ortiz, Greathouse, Fizer) 1:28.71.

100 - 4. Jackson 11.09.

1600 - 6. Perez, 4:37.75.

Girls Team Totals - 1. Canyon 122, 2. Argyle 106; 3.