BY JUSTIN THOMAS, JThomas@acnpapers.com
Published: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 8:30 PM CDT
When competitors from throughout Texas began heading to Austin late last week for the UIL Track and Field State Championships, it appeared potential bad weather could be a “black cloud” over the event.
But when the squads arrived for the Class 5A Championships on Saturday, they were greeted with sunshine and great running weather.
And while the event was peppered with competitors from District 6-5A, only one runner was able to distinguish himself as a state champion.
Flower Mound’s Connor Adams grabbed gold in the 1,600-meter run, finishing in 4:12.12 to outpace Humble Kingwood’s Justin Brinkley (4:13.08) and fellow 6-5A competitor Craig Lutz of Marcus (4:15.08).
Adams had previously finished as runner-up to Lutz in the 1,600 at both the district and regional championships, but rebounded to take gold at state.
Lutz still had a productive meet, however, as the junior added to his bronze in the 1,600 with a silver medal performance in the 3,200 (9:01.20), where Klein Oak’s Ryan Dohner took first (9:00.25). Carroll’s Neal Smith, meanwhile, competed in the 3,200 and took fifth (9:09.32).
Smith had previously finished second in the event at the district and regional meets.
“Craig gave a great effort and ran incredibly hard,” said Brad Telaneus, Marcus coach. “I think he was a little disappointed because he went there with the idea of winning state. But it’s so hard to compete at such a high level in both races. He ran a great second mile in the 3,200 but just got caught in the last 50 meters.”
Telaneus added that Lutz was the top finisher in each race among competitors who competed in both the 1,600 and 3,200.
Adams and Lutz helped lead their respective squads to the middle of the team standings amidst other 6-5A members.
Galena Park North Shore finished first as team with 88 points and was followed by DeSoto (64) and Fort Bend Willowridge (28). Hebron finished tied for seventh (18), with Marcus, Carroll and Coppell tied for eighth (14). Flower Mound came in tied for 17th (10) with Lewisville tied for 50th (2).
Hebron earned a top 10 finish on the strength of its relay squads.
The Hawks 800 team, consisting of Wes Hammer, Ryan Pierce, Chad Barlow and David Jenkins, finished as runner-up (1:26.14) behind DeSoto (1:24.46).
“I was really pleased with the way they ran,” said Jason Grennier, Hebron coach. “We went there with the goal of trying to medal and they ran hard and let the rest take care of itself.”
The team, which set a program record earlier in the season, and was ranked ninth in the country in the 800, according to Grennier, and finished just off its record-setting pace.
“It’s just unfortunate we were in it the same year as the best team in the country (DeSoto),” Grennier said.
The Hawks also took sixth in the 400 relay (41.66) with the same members, save for Javon Robison, who replaced Barlow. The 400 team had also previously set a program record.
“They were a little faster at regionals but still had a good time,” Grennier said. “But I don’t know, the teams had three of the same guys and maybe taking sixth in the 400 gave them some more motivation for the 800. It was a great year for us. It was our first time getting through to state and hopefully it will set the stage for us to keep qualifying in the future.”
Lewisville’s squad of Miles McCloyen, Jordan Holt, Cass Brown and Trevon Caudle were behind the Hawks in seventh (41.73).
It was part of a busy day for McCloyen, who also competed on the 800 team, which was disqualified, in addition to placing seventh in the 200 (21.86).
“He ran a lot of events real quick,” White said. “But he is just a junior and will be coming back next year. There is nothing but experience that can really prepare you for running at state and hopefully it will pay off next year.”
Fort Bend Dulles’ Sheroid Evans took gold in the 200 (20.82).
“It was a good day for us,” said Ray White, Lewisville coach. “I know the kids were a little disappointed in how we finished, but we sat them down afterward and said ‘Hey, this isn’t seventh place at the Max Goldsmith Relays, this is seventh place at the state meet. A friend of mine summed it up well when he said ‘A lot of teams would just like to have the opportunity to have an OK day at the state meet.’ And I knew what he meant. Anytime you can compete there it is a great year and our kids ran there hearts out.”
The 800 team actually finished in third but was disqualified after a being out of the exchange zone with a squad from San Antonio Wagner.
“I saw them put the yellow flag up and I was hoping it was just on [Wagner],” White said. “But it was against us, too.”
The Dragons relay teams also performed well, including taking bronze in the 1,600 (3:15.37). The team, which featured members Scott Peterson, Roman Namdar, Peyton Williams and Mac McGuire, finished behind gold medal-winning Conroe (3:14.65), with Lewisville’s team of Alex Alvarez, Lonnie Tipton, Erik Worrall and Dexter Taylor in sixth (3:18.42).
Coppellwas paced by Jake Wohlford, who missed out on gold but managed to grab medals in multiple events.
The senior, who previously placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles at the state meet last season, again found himself on the medal stand.
Wohlford grabbed silver in the 110 hurdles (13.85) behind Kenneth Minkah of DeSoto (13.62) and also took bronze in the 300 hurdles (37.21) behind Northside Warren’s Gregory Coleman (36.86) and Lavon Collins of Fort Bend Willowridge (37.11).
“I think it was a great meet for him,” said Roxanne Farris, Coppell’s girls track and field coach. “He was the only hurdler to medal in both events and even though he wasn’t able to get gold he still ran very well.”
Coppell was the top finishing team on the girls side (4) with Flower Mound earning two points to finish tied for 49th. Skyline finished first as a team (46) and was followed by DeSoto (36) and Houston Lamar (26).
The Cowgirls were led by Elizabeth Kerpon, who finished fifth in the 400 (55.31), where Houston Westside’s Diamon Dixon took gold; and joined with Valerie Osamor, Megan Kalu and Chiamaka Ukoha to take sixth in the 1,600 relay (3:51.34.) Houston Lamar won the 1,600 (3:42.31).
“I think it was good meet for us because of the experience we gained,” Farris said. “We only have one senior on the team and it is so important to get experience. Sometimes state can be very overwhelming.”
http://www.flowermoundleader.com/articles/2010/05/20/sports/schools/flower_mound_marcus/645.txt