DeSoto Girls win team title
After day one of action North Shore Boys held a 28 point lead over second place finisher Kingwood. DeSoto Girls nail down the top spot beating out Cinco Ranch 39-31.
On the final day of action North Shore Boys continued its dominance at the meet out scoring Kingwood Park 99 – 55 in total points Saturday night. The win gives the Mustangs their second straight weekend team title.
North Shore’s Coach Garrett Cross said, “they really put in time in the off season. They really picked up their numbers big time in the weight room and that’s why it’s showing on the track now. They just continue to work and track is important to these kids. We had a lot of success last year, that’s kind of bleeding over into this year. We lost a lot last year but we have a lot of kids stepping up this year and it’s working out for us so far.”
There was an array of great performances at the 29th Annual Victor Lopez Classic at Holloway Field/Ley Track on the Campus of Rice University.
In the individual races Jaylon Hicks posted the nations top time in100 Meter Dash in with a 10.42, Jermaine Authorlee won the 200 Meter Dash with a 21.26. Authorlee and Hicks aided in winning the 4×100 Meter Relay and the 4×200 Meter Relay after recording times of 41.83 and 125.42.
“I just thank God right now,” said Jermaine Authorlee. “I prayed over it last night. I try to be the best at whatever God will have me to run; I give it my all every time. I felt good coming out of the blocks, came around the curve and did what my coach said, push it.”
Atascocita’s Robert Semien made up for a third and fourth place finish at the TSU Relays by winning both the 110 and the 300 Meter Hurdles with times of 14.56 and 37.30.
In the prelims on Friday Semien took a wicked fall after clipping a hurdles in the 300 Meter Hurdles. But never the less he got to his feet and completed the race to advance to the finals.
“My coaches were just telling me to just run and don’t worry about nothing and just keep going,” Semien said. “When I fell my knee hit the hurdle and when I hit the hurdle I just knew I had to keep going and I knew I had to make my coaches proud. I just knew I had to get it,” said Semien Atascocita’s Hurdler.
In Girls action, Kingwood Park’s Mariam Amadu improved on her nation leading time with a stunning 42.51 in the 300 Hurdles and finished fourth in the 100 Meter Hurdle with a time of 14.90. “I was nervous but hard work paid off,” said Marian Kingwood Park.
Zahri Jackson finished strong in the 1500 Meter Run, winning over sister school 5A power Kingwood’s Sandie Raines and Catie Daigre who took second and third respectfully. Raines and Daigre finished first and second in the 3000 Meter Run.
“We just can’t be more proud of them right now. Mariam and Jennifer Nwuli ran a 57.3 yesterday in the 400 Meter Dash. So many of these kids are progressing so much, there all seniors and that means a lot to me. I just think there real determine right now and will try to get up to Austin and try to win the state track meet,” said said Brittney Lanehart Kingwood Park’s Coach.
“That’s the thing about Mariam, until yesterday she hadn’t run under 44.5 all year. She’s a kid that’s going to run to win races. A lot of people don’t understand the pressure that’s on her. She’s the two time defending state champion and that’s a lot for her to carry. I’m so excited for her to come out here and run like she knows she can. She’s a competitor. I’m not sure if she cares how fast she runs, she just wants to win races, that’s good to have,” said Coach Brittney Lanehart.
Westfield’s India Daneils picked up doubled wins, edging out Shahira Ehiemua in the 100 Meter Dash with a 12.10 while coming from behind to eke out Fort Bend Elkin’s Taylor Houston in the 200 Meter Dash in a time of 24.07. Houston had run a wind aided 23.62 in the prelims.
“It was a shocking win” India Daniels said of the Girls 200 Meter Dash. The Westfield Sprinter wasn’t confident in the 200 at all. “I had to dig deep. I’ve never ran the 200 like that. I just went all out.”
Ex-Westbury Sprinter Christy Udoh now at the University of Texas won both the women 100 and 200 Meter Dash. “It Feels good, my goal is to go 22. I’m close, it’s a great way to open up my season,” said Christy Udoh. Her time of 23.18 in the 200 Meter Dash gave her the fastest time in the nation on the collegian level this season.
86 points was more than enough for DeSoto to capture the girls’ team title, outlasting second place Kingwood 86-50. Kingwood Park finished in third with 44 points followed by Westfield’s 42.
The University of Texas Women took home the team title with an impressive showing while totaling up 192.50 points to out distance second place U of H’s 94 points.
Stephen F. Austin edged out Sam Houston State with a 107 points to 106.50 to take home the Men’s University team title. The University of Houston finished third with 90.50 points.
To view a full list of result visit www.cstv.com and www.riceowls.com
