State state track contenders? Atlanta, Gainesville, Forney, Burnet, Everman, others?

[j_dog]

Per the UIL, here are the 2002 top five boys teams at state:

2002 State Track Meet Results - 3A Boys
Team Results
1. Atlanta 53pts.
2. Gainesville 48pts.
3. Forney 40pts.
4. Yoakum 26pts.
5. Elgin 22pts.

What are your predictions for the boys teams for 2003?

To start it off, I predict that Jasper will build on its 2nd place finish in 4a last year and be a strong contender for its fifth state track campionship. Jasper has been on a roll the past 4 weeks, running mainly against larger schools. They have picked up 3 team first places, and a second. This past weekend at the Ty Terrell Relays in Beaumont they edged out 4a West Orange-Stark and 5a Port Arthur Memorial.

I assume that teams like Atlanta, Gainesville, Forney, Burnet, Everman, and Marlin will be strong also? What other 3a teams have strong programs this year? Just curious to see who will show up in Austin to compete for the team champhionship.

<small>[ April 02, 2003, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: j_dog ]</small>

[vet93]

Abilene Wylie has fielded some pretty strong teams in the past. They have been doing well at some of the regional meets but I am not sure if they have any state champion contenders this year.

[bc 76]

Wharton looks to be tough to beat in region 4,they have been running against some very tough 4a&5a schools.They won there own meet a couple of weeks ago beating out schools like sealy,bellville,lamarque,bay city,and victoria memorial.

[3afan]

Forney girls are contenders this year but not the boys

[crzyjournalist03]

Basically all of Forney's varsity squad graduated last year. Long distance runners should be fine, but don't expect to see any Forney sprinters at state on the boys side.

[Wtx_coach]

What are some of the best times in the east texas area in the 100m and 200m, Rashad Terry from Pecos is by far the best 100m and 200m man in west texas.

[southern_thunder]

The amazing thing about Jasper winning the Ty Terrell relays is that they did not place first in a single race. They did have some first in feild events. The Bulldogs are loaded with talent across the board and will be a real force tobe reckoned with. Should be a great State Meet!!!

[kaorder1999]

forney's girls will be very strong...they have a chance to win Region 2! Boys arent very strong. They will fare well in District but not Regionals and state!

[j_dog]

southern_thunder:
The amazing thing about Jasper winning the Ty Terrell relays is that they did not place first in a single race. They did have some first in feild events. The Bulldogs are loaded with talent across the board and will be a real force tobe reckoned with. Should be a great State Meet!!!Yes, isn't it amazing that a 3a team won with DEPTH against 4a and 5a teams which had some super speed. 5a LaPorte was there with supposedly the fastest hurdler in the nation, and Beaumont Central I think it was that was supposed to have one of the fastest sprinters in the nation. And 5a Port Arthur Memorial has the former Port Arthur Lincoln speedsters. Yes, to me, that was a very impressive team victory for Jasper. Now, it is up to Jasper to execute from here on out. No room for injuries, bad grades, or dropped batons. If they can avoid those three things, yes, they should be a force at district, region and most likely state. But, one step at a time.

[Old Cardinal]

Bridge City won 4 District Champions tonight for the Junior High....Girls 7th & 8th grade plus Boys 7th & 8th. That's in an 8 team District. They are building an awesome young Cross Country contention and these youth also swept the longer races tonight, plus they did OK overall, on the rest of the events. High School does fine, but not as strong as Jr. Hi., in regular track events.

[Ladykat5]

Kennedales girls are coming really strong this year. They got 1st in the 4x2, 3rd in the 4x1, and 2 in the 4x4 at Texas Relays.

[big daddy russ]

Sinton will be strong out of Region IV, but I don't know how they'll stack up against the Daingerfields and Atlantas. Those are the two traditional powers in 3A. Also, Aransas Pass should send a couple to the State Meet. They have a girl who went last year as a sophomore in the high jump. They also have several boys who make up a great sprint relay squad. As far as the rest of the Region, Port Isabel should be strong and Hallettsville usually has some speedsters. I know Hallettsville had a tough squad last year, but I don't know what they're bringing back.

[ricky_jasper]

2 of jaspers top runners didnt even run at the relays. all of that is sorted out and believe me they will win state across the board this year.

<small>[ April 07, 2003, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: ricky_jasper ]</small>

[kaorder1999]

jasper gets my vote!@!!!!!

[Keith7]

Gainesville gets mine.. they didnt have all their runners at full strength.. they should all be healthy by the state track meet

[kaorder1999]

jasper has studs in a lot of evengts...relays will win...thrower(s) will prolly win and get second

[southern_thunder]

Jasper won the 4x100, 4x200, and 100m dash and got 3rd in the 4x400M relays this past week in Austin at the Texas relays without 2 of their best runners it will be a great regional and state meet, with Jasper bringing home the Gold.

<small>[ April 08, 2003, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: southern_thunder ]</small>

[RBARKER]

NO doubt Jasper is one of the favorites in track but didn't you Jasper folks learn anything during football. Stop counting those chickens’ 3A is not a push over class. Good luck to Jasper just don't get to over confidant. :)

[southern_thunder]

Not counting chickens just making preditions.

[big daddy russ]

And remember everyone, you have to have kids who actually make it to the meet to win State. You may have the fastest team, top to bottom, in the Region, but if your top guys can't beat the other top guys at District and then Regionals then it doesn't really matter. That's what makes track such a crapshoot. One bad race from one competitor could throw an entire team off.

<small>[ April 08, 2003, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: big daddy russ ]</small>

[j_dog]

big daddy russ:
And remember everyone, you have to have kids who actually make it to the meet to win State. You may have the fastest team, top to bottom, in the Region, but if your top guys can't beat the other top guys at District and then Regionals then it doesn't really matter. That's what makes track such a crapshoot. One bad race from one competitor could throw an entire team off.Russ and RB, you are so right. I have seen some good Jasper track teams fall and let a state championship slip away. It could happen again this year and I think most Jasper fans understand that. As ST said, it is just a prediction.

I do want to say this, the difference between Jasper football and track is this. This Jasper coach has been very good at delivering the goods. Beginning in the mid-80's he not only has picked up 3 4a state championships, his runners have left their marks in the state record books. Here is a link to the top ten times all classes.

http://www.texastrack.com/boys_hs_top_10.htm

A search for Jasper shows Jasper in the all time, all classes top ten in 5 different events. I agree that "drop-down" teams can still have a rough time, just as Jasper did in football this year. Still, based on my observations of the Jasper program over the years, it is my prediction that Jasper will pick up its 5th state championship this year. Their dropping to 3a has absolutely nothing to do with my picking them to win state. Jasper would be a strong contender to win state even if they were still in 4a. I say this because the Jasper coach says he has more depth this year than he has ever had.

I do hope that your guys are right, that there will be some tough competition for Jasper. It takes away from the excitement when one team just runs away from everyone else, as Jasper did in their last championship year in 1997. They had already won the state championship before the 1600m relay was even run. For good measure, they took that event also. Good luck to all the teams, and to all the participants.

<small>[ April 08, 2003, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: j_dog ]</small>

[ricky_jasper]

I run jv for Jasper Track and I have seen some times you wouldn't believe, times that most teams havn't touched at a meet this year and this is in practice. I'm not saying Jasper is gonna flat out win hands down, all I am saying is Jasper has the best chance. I might be wrong but every six years (or so) Coach Spoon wins state and the last championship was in 97. :D

[MyHeyDude712]

wat are some of the times teams got in the mile relay girls or boys?

<small>[ April 08, 2003, 07:01 PM: Message edited by: MyHeyDude712 ]</small>

[j_dog]

MyHeyDude712:
wat are some of the times teams got in the mile relay girls or boys?Probably the best representative times are those from the Texas Relays:
Boys:
1600m relay, Div I:

Finals
1 Wharton 3:21.11
1) Rytret Davenport 12 2) Tim Phynon 12
3) Calvin Ray 11 4) Bryce Allen
2 Jasper 3:22.63
1) James Bass 12 2) Darrius Bronson 12
3) DeKendrick Gilder 10 4)
3 Rockdale 3:23.04
1) Joe Montez 12 2) Jared Maldonado 12
3) Michael Trotty 11 4) David Campbell 12
4 Gatesville 3:23.06
1) Dylan Blanchard 12 2) Justin Estill 12
3) Eric Herbelin 12 4) Jeremy Williams 10
5 Jewett Leon 3:25.37
1) Damien Jackson 11 2) Traswell Lloyd 11
3) Roy Haynes 12 4) Chad Thomas 12
6 Dallas Jesuit 3:25.96
1) Trey Crawley 12 2) Brian Case 11
3) 4) Jose Pietri 11
7 Corrigan-Camden 3:26.57
1) Michael Hood 12 2) Daniel Rigsby 11
3) Michael Smith 12 4) Lovell Foreman 12
-- La Vernia DNS
-- Gainesville HS DNS

Girls:
Finals
1 Ingleside 4:03.08
1) Amanda Sickmiller 12 2) Cynthia Turner 11
3) Terri Otwell 09 4) Sheena Wilson 12
2 Kennedale 4:04.29
1) Jordan Durham 11 2) Tiffany Jones 12
3) Abrufei Asare 11 4) Camari Hoskins 10
3 Cameron Yoe 4:04.37
1) Shakira Harris 09 2) Spells Angela 12
3) Fields Tiffany 12 4) Nikki Lopez 09
4 Ursuline Academy TX 'C' 4:06.01
1) Stephani Washington 11 2) Shannon Tehan 09
3) Gillian Field 10 4) Allie Daus 10
5 Greenhill 4:06.26
1) Mallory Williams 11 2) Lindsay Jaggers 11
3) Kristi Thompson 09 4) Kimberly Briant 12
6 Manor 4:07.95
1) Erica Harrigan 11 2)
3) Keisha Hornsby 11 4) Savannah Daniel 11
7 Cisco 4:11.05
1) Trista Ingram 12 2) Jenna Posey 09
3) Staci Benefield 12 4) JimAnne Baker 12
8 John Cooper 4:15.40
1) Inger Haland 11 2) Rachel Coolidge 10
3) Cassie Meyer 11 4) Nicole Mericle 09
-- Gatesville DNS

Most results have been posted to the "Texas Relays" thread here on 3adownlow. The link directly to the Relay site is:
http://www.deltatiming.com/events/2003/texrel/index.htm

[big daddy russ]

Hey, thanks for the updates J-Dog. Love those girls from Ingleside. :D

[Keith7]

Gainesville had an injury before the race and was unable to run in the mile relay