Lamar Consolidated Girls shine at Texas Relays
Austin – A packed house of more than 20,000 fans crowded the stands at Mike A. Myers Stadium Saturday afternoon to get a glimpse of this year’s track and field talent.
Temperatures reached a soaring 94 degrees at the 84th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. That broke the previous high of 91 degrees for this spring in Austin, Texas.
With loads of action, more than 5,500 athletes from all over the country showed up to participate in one of the nation’s premiere track and field meets.
Rosenberg’s Lamar Consolidated Girls Track Team competing in Division II made the most of their visit to the State’s Capital by way of sweeping three relays, the 4×100 Meter Relay with a time of 47.61, 4×200 in 141.10 and the 4×400 with a time of 354.59. A feat that haddon been accomplished since 2008 when Woosman (Division I) and Lancaster in (Division II) did it.
In other girl’s action, Benton high, La. Kaitlin Ftattmann swept the 3200 Meter Run and the 1600 in Division II. Plano East Jennifer Madu posted an 11.69 to win the Girls Division II 100 Meter Dash.
Dallas Roosevelt’s 4×100 Meter Relay anchor leg, Xavier Hicks came from four places behind to edge Crockett’s Denell Parker at the tape in helping his team to a victory in the race in Division I.
In Division II Boys, Hightower recorded two relay victories by winning the 4×100 Meter relay in 41.64 and the 4×200 with a time of 126.71. Cy-Falls finished second in the 4×100 and the 4×200 behind the Hurricanes. Louisiana’s all everything Bradley Sylve of South Plaquemines High School blazed a 10.30.
Some small schools look for ways to build from the experience of the marquee event.
“We’re excited about it, we’re a small 2A school in East Texas. We were able to bring five athletes here. It’s just away to compete against the best competition in the state for all classifications and I’m real excited for upcoming district. It’s one of the best meets in the nation and it’s an honor for these high school kids to run with the college athletes and the elite national athletes. We’ve been here about the last three years,” said Kenny Phelps Athletic Director of Grand Saline High School.
In College, Texas Men and Women teams impressed the crowd. In the 110 Hurdles LSU’s Barrett Nugent upset Texas Tech’s Omo Osaghee, who was previously No. 1 in the nation.
It felt great, I didn’t get out like I really wanted to but I felt like I was able to get middle part of my race like I normally do,” said Omo Osaghae. “Towards the end I had one false step like right at the line, that’s where he passed me. It was a pretty good race. You really can’t complain when you PR. Especially, this early in the season against top flight competition.
Seven of the top Hurdlers in the nation competed in the star studded lineup.
Barrett Nugent said, “I knew that whole field out there was going to be the best. I thought, might as well perform to my best. You don’t get that lucky to be in a field like this. I took advantage of it. My strategy was my first step has to be a good step, after that pickup my knees.”
Most Outstanding College Team: Texas A&M (Combined)
-Won the most relays by one school in the history of the Texas Relays (six)
-Men claimed relay titles (4×100, 4×400, 4×800 and the Sprint Medley)
-Women claimed two (4×100 and 4×400)
-had 10 event wins overall on the weekend
Most Outstanding High School Team: Rosenberg Lamar Consolidated (High school Girls)
-Swept the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 Meter Relays in Division II. The last sweep of those relays came in 2008 by Woosman (Division I) and Lancaster in (Division II). This is also the first time Lamar consolidated has won the girls relay at the Texas Relays.
Most Outstanding Male Athlete: Gerald Phiri, Texas A&M
-Won the 100m in meet record of 10.03 (1.3 wind)
-Ran the second leg of the 4×100 that ran the second-fastest time ever at the Texas Relays
Most Outstanding Female Athlete: Kaitlin Flattmann, Benton HS (La.)
-swept the high school girls 3,200 and 1,600m races
Friday’s Prelims
On a high school note, Louisiana brought three standouts Preps who received a warm welcome after winning the 100 Meter Dash, 400 Meter Dash and the pole vault. Bradley Sylve of South Plaquemines in Port Sulphur, La blistered the 100 with 10.18 (3.9 wind). A interesting note about Sylve who have competed at the varsity level since his freshman year and have amazed as he’s grown through track accomplishments. He’s also earned first team Louisiana All-State honors as a WR. Kaitlin Flattmann of Benton High was in top form wining the 3200 Meter, that race was a final. Morgann Leleux of Catholic High School in New Iberia, La set a Texas Relays Meet record in the Pole Vault, clearing 13-5 to inch out Rachel Laurent’s 13-4 set in 2007 of Vanderbilt Catholic High School in Louisiana. She then set her sites on the national record of 14-2.50 but after three failed attempts she wasn’t able to achieve the feat.
Morgann Leleux said, “I came in wanting to go for the national record, we wasn’t sure about how I was going to feel because I came in with Epstein Bar Virus which is mono on steroids. We’re just hoping that I was feeling good today.”
On Friday, in College women’s action, Texas A&M Junior Dominique posted the top preliminary time in the world in 100 Meter Dash with 11.05 with Baylor’s Tiffany Townsend right behind at 11.09. USC’s Nia Ali recorded a time of 13.00 in the 100 Hurdles that was good for the top time in the nation.
Florida State’s Ngonidzashe Makusha produced the longest long jump in the world under any conditions, with a wind-aided 27-6 ¾ (8.40).
To view full results of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays visit www.texassports.com