After a strong finish in the regional meet, four boys track team members have qualified and are heading to state at the University of Texas at Austin on May 10th and May 11th.
The top two regional finishers qualified for state.
Senior Malik Summers took first in the 200 meter relay [21.38], securing his place in the state meet, and senior Ahkeel Guy took second in the long jump [23-02.75], securing his spot as well for the state meet. Summers, Guy, senior DeAundre Simmons and sophomore Jeriah Johnson took third place in the 4×100 meter relay [41.18], and took second in the 4×200 meter relay [1:25.73], qualifying all four boys to the state meet.
“I feel like this is our year,” Guy said. “We’ve worked hard enough.”
The four boys will be competing as one of nine top qualifiers in their events.
“It’s a great achievement [to go to state],” assistant coach Landon Wren said. “If you look at it like this, in 5A, there’s only nine left. Regardless of what happens down there, we’re definitely one of the nine fastest in the state of Texas, and we feel like we have a chance to finish in the top three.”
Head coach Rory Durham said he hopes for a good outcome from state.
“I knew we were capable of doing it and I’m glad both relays were able to make it,” Durham said. “It’s a major achievement. There’s many years that I’ve coached that none of them, boys or girls, have made it to state.”
At the regional meet for the girls, senior Bianka Glover, juniors Kayli Bolds and Kamryn Mckee, and sophomore Kariyah Lanehart placed eighth in the 4×200 meter relay [1:42.83]. Senior Chausse Freeman took third in the 300 meter hurdles [44.45], barely missing the chance to go to state. Lanehart placed eighth in the long jump [17-02.50].
Both teams had been improving with each meet, and the boys’ relays ran their best times at regionals.
“The kids worked hard all year,” Durham said. “Almost from meet to meet, their times came in lower, and in both relays, they both ran their best times of the year, which is what it’s all about. Hopefully we can continue to do that, and if we do that in state, we’ll hopefully medal.”
Johnson, the qualifiers’ only individual who is not a senior, said the road to state was a difficult one for him.
“For me, since I’m a sophomore, it’s kind of tough,” Johnson said. “There was a lot of competition there that I have never really have seen since the Texas Relays, but it was fun and I got to know the team a little better.”
“I hope to have fun at state and have a fun experience while I’m there, and hopefully come out with a win and a medal,” Simmons said.
All four boys are ready to bring their top performance to Austin.
“We’ll go out there and do our best, hopefully bring in medals,and become state champions,” Johnson said. “It’ll be interesting.”
The track team’s last trip to state was two years ago, and Summers said this time he will not be leaving the state meet empty-handed.
“We’ll medal in everything that we’re going in, because we feel like we’re not going down there to lose,” Summers said. “If a whole team gets enough points, they get a state ring. That’s our goal.”
