Panthers’ streak still alive
After eighth consecutive district title, Klein Oak eyes more
Klein Oak keeps coming.
The Panthers won their eighth consecutive boys team title at the District 156A track and field meet last week at Klein Memorial Stadium.
Coach Andress Andrepont said the key is they wanted this one just as bad as the first.
“The kids worked real hard this season because they know we have a target on our backs,” Andrepont said. “It’s basically, ‘Beat Klein Oak, beat Klein Oak,’ but the kids worked hard, they were focused, and they went into the district championship knowing they have to give 110 percent.”
They also enjoyed a numbers advantage.
With 28 athletes suited up for the district meet, they put three in almost every event, helping them rack up points.
“With the help of football, we have more kids participating than we’ve had in the past,” Andrepont said. “Football has helped us tremendously with the short sprints, and they support track and field like we support football.”
Johnell Smith supported his teammates with his showing.
After not running track last year, the senior won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.40 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 39.95.
“That was fantastic,” Andrepont said. “He did a great job.
“He came back to us in the fall and talked about running track, and then January he said, ‘Coach, I want to run track again,’ so we visited on some issues and he fixed those issues and did a great job.”
Senior Jontavis Smith, Johnell’s brother, won the 200 in 21.36 seconds, took second in the triple jump with a distance of 45 feet, 4½ inches and anchored the 400 relay, which won with a 41.74.
“He hadn’t triple-jumped since he was a freshman,” Andrepont said. “He had had some injuries in football, and we just didn’t take a chance on triple-jumping him.”
The 4x1 relay also included Johnell Smith, Bennie Smith and freshman Dorian Manuel.
The Panthers also won the 1,600 relay (3:19.88) and took second in the 800 relay (1:27.84), finishing behind Klein Forest.
Josh Anderson shined in the field events. The junior won the discus (153-7) and the shot put (51-10½) .
“He worked extremely hard during the offseason so he could perform at the level he wanted to,” Andrepont said.
The 15-6A/16-6A area meet was scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at Turner, but Andrepont was expecting it to start later because of the rain that hit Houston, closing several area school districts.
“We’ll see what we get,” he said.