Two Floridians, Bracy and Demps smoked the track in Texas
Austin – The Texas Relays was nothing short of spectacular. With over 6,526 athletes from all over the world competing at Mike A. Myers Stadium, fans were treated to a highlight filled evening.
The long running event featured some of the top athletes which included 200 Colleges, Universities, 631 high schools and 136 Invitational Athletes.
The Desoto Boys Track team, one of the nation’s best, claimed four medals and was awarded the most outstanding high school honor on Saturday.
The Eagles, competing in Division II, entered the meet with nation’s second best time of 40.59 in the 4×100 Meter Relay, chalked up a worthy performance, winning the 4×100 Meter Relay in a time of 40.92 and the 4×200 Meter Relay (1:24.04). Finished second in the 4×800 Meter Relay (7:52.78) and 1,600 Meter Relay (3:14.55) behind Celina’s 3:14.08. Sprinter Tremayne Acy had the second best time in the 100 Meter Dash (10.38) in Friday’s prelims but was held out for the sake of an early season burn out, according to Coach Mark Brady.
“This is the first time DeSoto has doubled up in the 4×100 and 4×200 Meter relays in the Texas Relays. We’re all pretty excited; we’re going for the record. We got the record in the 4×200 but were a little gassed going for the 4×100 Meter Relay,” said DeSoto’s Coach Mark Brady.
On a party sunny afternoon with temperatures soaring to 91 degrees, an estimated crowd of 18, 167 witnessed near record breaking performances, which included the girls 100 meters, boys 100 meters, boys 4×200 Meter Relay, university men’s 100, women’s invitational 100 Meter. Last year’s Class 5A State Champion Plano East Jennifer Madu produced a wind aided time of 11.49 in Division II. Florida’s Boone High School Sprinter, Marvin Bracy competing in Division II, blazed a wind aided 10.06, good for the second best time of the day, in any classification. Florida’s Fred Demps ran a wind aided 10.01 in the 100 Meter Dash. United States sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross finished the 100 Meter Dash with a wind aided 10.89 in first outdoor meet of the season.
We’ve heard the stories of how much speed lives in Florida. Well, look no further than Bracey and Demps who gave a Texas size view of what it looks like to be shot out of cannon. I don’t know if you call that racing or jetting. Not even the men’s pro circuit could match their 100 Meter Dash times.
Last year’s national high school 100 Meter Dash champion of North Shore, Jaylon Hicks, now at the Academy of Art University, took third in the men’s college 100 Meter Dash with a time of 10.37.
Cinco Ranch Boys took gold in the Division II 4×800 Meter Relay with the nation second best time of 7:51.69.
The Kingwood Mustangs Boys Track team represented the Greater Houston area well in Division II, by taking gold in the 1,600 Sprint Medley Relay (3:23.44) and earned silver in the 4×100 Meter Relay.
Small school Crocket made the best of a sparkling opportunity. Led by senior sprinter Kabodrean Handsborough, the Bulldogs won the Division I 4×100 Meter Relay and the open 100 Meter Dash. Handsborough wowed the crowd while receiving the baton on anchor leg in fourth place. But without hesitation, Handsborough made up the necessary ground to help the Bulldogs take the title. His win in the 100 Meter Dash (10.58) was nearly a repeat of his anchor 4×100 relay. Coming from four spots back, Hans eased up to take a two-step victory at the tape.
In the University Men’s 110 Hurdles, LSU’s Barrett Nugent took home the title for the second straight year (13.37). Close behind was Texas Tech’s Shane Brathwaite (13.43) and UT’s Keiron Stewart took Bronze with a time of (13.46).
“It was a good race, my first race, the 110 Hurdles for the outdoor season. I can’t complain. I tend to focus on what I need to do to execute my race,” University of Texas 110 Hurdler Keiron Stewart said.
Nugent said, “The start was a little sloppy. Once I started picking up, unfortunately I ran into the guy from Texas Tech our hands kind of clipped but then I kept on running. I was clicking on the last couple hurdlers because we were really pushing up. I was lucky enough to come out with the same conditions I had here last year. I knew we were all neck and neck around about 50 yards. That’s when I knew I had to make my move. My PR is 13. 10 (officially 13.35).”
