Lady Hurricanes score 102 to finish 60 points ahead of district rival Bush
Authorlee, McDuffey lead Mustangs to fourth consecutive Region Crown
Humble – If you ask last years’ 200 Meter Dash Champion Jermaine Authorlee about track tradition at North Shore and he will tell you, it’s about hard work and bonding on and off the track. In each of the past four seasons, hard work has been an important ingredient in the Mustang’s winning formula.
Again, North Shore separated itself from a competitive group of Houston Area athletes to bring home its fourth Class 5A Region III Title in four years, Saturday evening at Turner Stadium.
The defending state champion Mustangs will head down 290, to Austin in search of its third consecutive state title.
McDuffey’s first place finish in the triple jump (46-11 ½) and third in the long jump (22-09.25) opened the gates for the Mustangs, who scored a team high 70 points, 28 more than second place Hastings (42). The Mustangs also won both the 4×100, 200 Meter Relays and Authorlee took silver in the 200 Meter Dash (20.86).
Competition came from Alief Hastings who didn’t enter the championships quietly. Early on, a second place finish in the 4×100 Meter Relay and Amed Ali’s upset win of Authorlee in the 200 Meter Dash, kept the Bears hopes alive. However, lack of help down the stretch proved to be a stopping point for Hastings.
“The competition this year here in this region is hands down the best it’s been in the past few years,” said North Shores Coach Garrett Cross. So this title is a little bit more special than the others, just because of the competition we had to face. But we were able to push through it. It didn’t go as smooth as we liked in some events. We overcame that with effort to get people qualified.”
“Winning four in a roll is an believable feeling,” said Cross.
The top two finishers in each race advance to Austin on May 11-12, along with the top third place finisher for a shot at a state title.
In girls action, it was the Lady Hurricanes of Hightower renewing its dominance by winning the region.
District 23-5A, where the Lady Canes rein from, is known to be one of the state’s toughest districts. The upside of that, it keeps Hightower prepared for the traditionally competitive region III, according to Coach Graham.
Year in and out, Hightower expects to compete for the region title. Saturday was no different as the Hurricanes left a cushion behind, in out-distancing second place district foe Fort Bend Bush and North Shore, 102 – 42 at Turner Stadium.
To no one’s surprise, three out of the top four teams hale from district 23-5A, which include Bush, Hightower and Marshall.
“We just came out here to take care of some business. We’ve had a great season, we started off great. We knew it would be great competition out here. We knew we came in with three strong relays. We’ve PR. We’re peaking and we have two more weeks before state,” said Hightower Coach Andy Graham.
With 76 points coming from three relays, Hightower won the 4×100 (46.78) and 4×200 Meter Relays (1:38.50) and finished second in the 4×400 Meter Relay (3:47.60). The individual performance of the day was turned in by Jordan Highsmith who silvered in the 300 Hurdles (44.42), second in long jump (18-08.75) and was fifth in the 100 Meter Hurdles (14.79) to give the Hurricanes 18 more points. In field events, Jeia Gilliam placed second in both the discus and shot put.
District rival Bush battled for a while, winning the 4×400 Meter Relay (3:45.59) in front of Hightower which marked the first time all season. Other points came from a second place finish in the 4×200 Meter Relay (1:38.58) and Jarra Owens third place finish in the 200 Meter Dash (24.91).
To see final results, please visited, http://flashresultstexas.com/2012/region3track12/