DeSoto Lady Eagles win second straight team title
DeSoto Boys seize elusive title, Madu, Hall take individual honors
Anumnu Brothers win six medals; help Stafford to second place at state
Austin – A determined DeSoto Boys Track Team arrived in Austin with hopes of sidelining years of frustrations which steam from close calls, to sudden unknowns. In each of the last five seasons, the Eagles have brought worthy caliber athletes to the state finals, only to somehow come away without the crown. But something was different about this hard working group of talented sprinters.
DeSoto’s Coach Mark Brady said, “We have some great athletes that just go hard every day in practice. I told the kids from day one, only one thing can stop us, is us. Our guys were courageous today.”
“I told them to stay focused because it’s not easy to win state”, said Brady.
Tremayne Acy, Bryson Echols, Ridge Jones and Don’tre Wilson were the keys in leading the Eagles to its first ever Class 5A Track & Field State championship Title, by defeating two-time defending state champion North Shore 58-44 Saturday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The Eagles finished fifth last season and runner-up the year before.
Acy, Bryson, Echols and Jones teamed up to win the 4×100 Meter Relay, took second in the 4×200 while other team members piece together points to help DeSoto post its first Boys Track & Field Title. The team has steadily improved throughout the season and have enjoyed impressive showing in each of the top meets which include, TSU Relays and Texas Relays.
As the day moved into the evening hours, a crowd of 15,000 fans enjoyed a record setting day coupled with cooler temperatures without much sun. Perhaps one of the best days, concerning weather, for just about any outdoor sport.
Plano East super talent Jennifer Madu and South Grand Prairie’s Abraham Hall was easily the most outstanding individual athletes of the day. With four gold medals in her possession, the reigning 100 Meter and Triple jump champ took her game to another level by repeating in both events in addition to winning the 200 Meter Dash and the Long jump. After three false starts, Hall blazed the 100 Meter Dash in 10.19 seconds and blistered the 200 Meter Dash (20.58).
The nation’s No. 1 ranked 400 Meter Dash runner Aldrich Bailey of Mansfield Timberview took home three medals. He won the 400 Meter Dash and helped the Wolves to silver in the 4×100 and the 4×400 Meter Relays.
“It’s been a really long day. I’ve been pleased with some of my performances and with others, I’m just satisfied with. I’m just ready to go eat and sleep. The end of the season is kind of bitter sweet with it being my last go round”, Plano East Jennifer Madu said.
“I’ve trained hard this year. The guys I competed against are second to none. I felt like I did my best and put my all into it, just like they did,” said Abraham Hall.
Other standout medalists on the day were two-time defending pole vault champion Reese Watson of Spring, who cleared 17 feet. Cy-Woods Craig Nowak took gold in the 1600 Meter run for the second straight year and grabbed his first 3200 Meter run title. Amarillo’s Zac Weatherly and Mansfield Legacy’s Shelbi Vaughan won both the boys and girls Discus and Shot Put. Vaughan, a three-time winner in the discus throw, had her best showing earlier this year at the Texas Relays when tossed the discus (191-06.00). San Marcus Allex Austin, a Baylor basketball signee won the high jump (7 feet).
“Coming into the indoor season I jumped 17-06.00 but I ended up with a strain which left me out of competition for five weeks,” Reese Watson Spring’s Pole Vaulter said. This year was better because I stuck with the workouts more than last year and worked a little bit harder.”
“Going into it I knew someone was going to come out and try to get me. I go into every meet not knowing what someone is cable of. I knew this big meet would bring out the beast in everybody. I just needed to focus”, San Marcus High jumper Alexx Thomas Austin said.
Mansfield Timberview finished third with 34 points. South Grand Prairie and Duncanville rounded out the top five with 22 and 20 points respectfully.
For the second straight year, DeSoto Lady Eagles had just enough to hold off rival Garland by eking out a 50-46 win that watched the Eagles laid hold to its second consecutive Class 5A State Championship Title.
Last season it came down to these same two, with DeSoto edging Garland 51-48.
Not much in the way of gold, but with mere numbers, a team effort produced the Lady Eagles title. DeSoto took silver in the 4×100 and the 4×400 Meter Relays and other help came from individual performances.
Twin Brothers, Carlton, and Charles Anumnu helped Stafford erase a 21-year drought, by taking second at state.
The Tigers picked up most its points from two relay wins, which included the 4×100, and the 4×200 Meter Relays. The Anumnu Brothers led Stafford with six medals. Both assisted in the two winning relays, while Carlton silvered in the 100 Meter Dash, Charles took bronze in the 200 Meter Dash.
To view results and stats, visit http://www2.uil.utexas.edu/tournament-results/track-field/index.htm