Pair of teams chase repeat titles
The UIL track and field state championships will run Thursday through Saturday at the University of Texas’ Myers Stadium in Austin. Here are some top Houston-area storylines to watch for:
Defending the crown
The Fort Bend Marshall girls will certainly have a shot to repeat as Class 5A state champions Friday under coach Shahira Ehiemua after qualifying all three relays for state. The 4x100meter team has three of its four members back this season after winning state last year. But that’s just the beginning. Seniors Tairah Johnson and Desirae Roberts are a formidable 1-2 punch in the 100-meter hurdles, and the former is looking to defend her state title. Senior Cesley Williams is looking to repeat as champion in the 400-meter dash, and Roberts has her sights set on a podium finish in the 300-meter hurdles. When it comes to the field events, the Buffalos are loaded there as well. Johnson and junior Genesis Griffin will compete in the long jump, and senior Tierrani Johnson qualified in the shot put.
Looking for a repeat
Speaking of repeat champions, the Summer Creek boys are also aiming to protect that mantle in Class 6A on Saturday. The Bulldogs qualified their 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams and have a nice haul of individual entries as well. Senior Darius Rainey is looking for gold after finishing second in the 800-meter run last year. Rainey will also compete in the 400-meter dash, along with teammate and fellow senior Malcom Washington. Senior Aaron Davis and junior Donovan Bradley will both test their mettle in the 110-meter hurdles, and Bradley qualified in the 300-meter hurdles as well. Senior Myles Thomas is set for the 100-meter dash, and Davis enters the meet with the No. 1 seed in the long jump. Senior Justin Craft qualified in the shot put, helping to give the Bulldogs a well-rounded team with plenty of scoring opportunities under coach Shelton Ervin.
Tops in the nation
Several local athletes are the prohibited favorites in their events because of where they land in the national rankings. Marshall senior Chris Brinkley has the No. 1 time in the country in the 300-meter hurdles this year at 36.27 seconds, which he ran at the Rice Victor Lopez Classic in Houston in late March. Brinkley finished fourth in that event at state last year. He will be joined in both hurdles events by junior teammate Arveyon Davis, who won the regional title in the 110-meter hurdles at 13.84 seconds. … Some of the top jumpers in the country also come from the Houston area. Summer Creek’s Davis has the nation’s top mark in the long jump this year at 25 feet, 5¼ inches. Klein junior India Alix is tops in the country in the girls long jump at 21 feet, ¼ inches. Summer Creek senior Jade Johnson leads the triple jump at 42 feet, 3½ inches. … Mayde Creek senior Simone Ballard ran the fastest 100-meter hurdles time in the country this year at 13.28 seconds. That time from the Texas Relays was not wind legal because of a reading of 3.8 miles per hour, but she is still the top seed for state after clocking 13.62 at the regional meet.
Blazing relays
The Klein Forest boys’ 4x200meter relay team also leads the nation with a wind-legal time of 1:23.78. That is dangerously close to the national record of 1:23.25 set by The Woodlands’ Jake Lanier, DeAngelo Alexander, Kesean Carter and Ethan Bonner at the state meet in 2018. The Golden Eagles’ team is comprised of junior Jaden Galloway, senior Jacob Compton, and sophomores Ahmir Robinson and Jelani Watkins. … The Summer Creek boys ran a blazing 3:09.92 in the 4x400-meter relay at the Texas Relays and have not relinquished the No. 1 national spot since. That team includes Washington, Rainey and seniors Dylan Jacobs and Blake Gibson. Washington and Rainey were on the team that took second place in the event at state last year.
Small schools
The Class 4A state meet will be held Thursday, and several Houston-area athletes are hoping for strong finishes. On the boys side, Bay City junior Brice Turner has a chance to make three podium appearances. He has the fastest 200-meter dash time in 4A this year at 21.71 seconds and will also compete in the 100. Turner also runs the anchor leg for the Black Cats’ 4x100-meter relay team. … Stafford senior Quardale Patt has the top shot put mark in 4A this season at 57 feet, 2 inches. Junior teammate Andrew Huff has the best toss in discus at 175 feet, 10 inches. … The Bellville boys have the top qualifying time in the 4x100-meter relay at 41.66 seconds. That team is comprised of junior Tyler Fishbeck and seniors Colton Kaase, Richard Reese and Robert Briggs. … The Huffman-Hargrave girls could make some noise in the team standings with six total entries, including a pair of relays. The Falcons qualified in the 4x200and 4x400-meter relays. Junior distance runner Jetzibe Trevino will compete in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. Sophomore Jade Williams qualified in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles.