Mar 31 - Apr 3, 2004 at the University of Texas, Austin TX - DyeStat on-site with Ricky Quintana

Preview - Girls

by Ricky Quintana

Girls 100m Hurdles HS Div II Prelims

9 of this season’s top ten will gather in what promises to a fast final.
Alandra Sherman (Houston Eisenhower) leads the state with her 13.59. Last year, she led the nation with a 13.25(#5 All-Time) and with wins at Golden West and the Adidas Outdoor Championships, she was named #1 by Track and Field News.
Jessica Ohanaja (Houston Westbury) should provide a challenge. In 2003, she placed 3 rd at the 5A state champs and posted a best of 13.74 that was good enough for 11th best in the country. This year, she’s off to a great start, already posting a near best of 13.84.

No one else has yet to break the 14.0 barrier this season, but there are plenty who could.
The other contenders are:

Michelle Bostic (Rockwall), 3 rd fastest this season with her 14.04; Andrea Holland(Dallas Skyline), 2003 5A 8 th placer; Whitney Holmes(SA), 2003 5A 5 th placer and #7 this season,14.24; Tenaya Jones(South Garland), #8 this season with a time of 14.34 and she’s a frosh; Ashley Laughlin(Marble Falls), #10 this season with a time of 14.34; LeeAndrea Robinson(Dallas Kimball), the defending 4A state champ and #4 this season in 14.04, and April Williams(Dallas Skyline), another frosh who has run the #9 best time this season( 14.34).

*Girls 4 x200 m Relay HS Div. II Prelims

The question is, who isn’t here? The field in the 4 x 200m and all the relays may be the best anywhere. There is one important team not here, record breaking Long Beach Poly, but the rest are.

Texas’s top six are under 1:40. That’s pretty awesome!

*Last year, Dallas Skyline swept all relays at Texas and went on to post the #2 time in the nation and # 3 All-Time, 1:35.65. They’ll be tested by: #3 in the nation last year and 2 nd fastest so far this season (1:37.28), Houston Westbury; #1 this season (1:37.09), North Shore; #3 this season (1:38.13), Austin Reagan; #5 in the nation last year with their indoor 1:37.15, Long Beach Wilson; the top three from last year’s the Texas 4A state champs, Crowley,Dallas Lincoln, and North Crowley; Greenville, 2003 #7 placers; Fortbend Thurgood Marshall, #5 this season(1:39.36); and Lancaster, #6 this season

Girls 4 x 800m Relay HS

#9 in the nation(9:04.54) last year, Long Beach Wilson, may be the best of the field.

Girls 100m dash

Another remarkable field that includes 8 of the top ten from Texas including two All-Americans.
Last year’s 5A state champ, # 4 time in the nation (11.43), and Track and Field’s #5 All-American, Krystin Lacy (Dallas Skyline) will try to duplicate her super soph season with a win. She’s only #4 on the state list going into this weekend, but expect her to turn it up a notch as she faces Texas’ best.

4A state champ in the 100m and 200m, and All-American Cleo Tyson( Huntsville, TX) had the fastest 100m time of the Texas state champs with her windy 11.40. She is currently #2 in Texas, just off her no windy best from last year, 11.69. The very competitive Tyson won’t back down and will look to challenge for the title.

5 others are under 12.00 so far this season which makes for a very fast final. They are: #3 in the state this year(11.78) and 2003 4A state runner-up, Gyaisha Hall(Austin Reagan); #5 this season(11.90), Elizabeth Adeoti( Alief Taylor); #6 this season(11.94), Jonisha Boleware(Lancaster); #7 this season, and 2003 6 th placer, Chrystal Mitchell(South Grand Prairie); and #8 this season(11.94), Tanisha Walker(South Grand Prairie). Also throw into the mix; Sharda Lan(Lancaster), 2003 4A 7 th placer and Nicole Lawson( San Antonio Taft), 2003 5A 5 th placer.

Girls 4 x 400m Relay HS Div II

Texas’s class 4A and 5A will be well represented, as 10 of 16 teams from last year’s state final will line-up. 4 of the entries were ranked in the top ten nationally last year.

2003 #2 in the nation and All-Americans, Long Beach Wilson only losses were to record breaking rivals, Poly. They’ve ventured east to face Texas’s best.
Dallas Skyline recorded the 3 rd fastest time in the nation, won the Adidas Outdoor champs, but enters with only the #4 best time this season(3:47.28) The 2003 5A 3 rd placers will surely have to up the ante if they are to run their best in this high profile meet.

Others who have top times from last year and pose a threat to win:

2003 5A runner-ups, #4 time in the nation last year(3:42.95), and owners of the #2 time in Texas this year(3:45.94), Houston Westbury; and 4A state champs, #8 time in the nation last year(3:43.81) and #5 time this season, Lancaster.

Forbent Thurgood Marshall has the fastest time in Texas, 3:44.01, and should be able to challenge last year’s list leaders.

Girls 3200m Run HS

4 Texans have already broken 11:00 this season. Unfortunately, the top two, Miranda Walker(SL Carroll), 10:32.54, and Brooke Upshaw(SL Carrol), 10:43.64, are not here.
Callie Wells(The Woodlands), 10:50.53, Christina Henderson(Coppell), 10:52.24, Hallie Bullin( Cedar Park), 10:53.34, and Lydsey Bedell(Plano West), 10:59.44, are here and this very evenly matched field could push each other to a respectable sub 10:40 effort.

1600m Girls Sprint Medley

Wilson, broke William Penn’s( Philadelphia, PA)national record, 3:54.39, with their 3:53.28 last season. They will be tested by two of the nation’s top teams last year, Skyline and Westbury.

Girls DMR HS

Flower Mound and Wilson are the top teams from last year that are entered. Flower Mound was #11 with their 11:58.80 clocking and Wilson was #18 with their 12:11.70.

Cedar Park could also figure into the equation with a middle distance aces Hallie Bullin and Cassie Hostick as could Plano West with the Bedell sisters.

Girls 4 x 100m Relay HS Div II

8 of last year’s top 25 teams in the country will do battle in this always exciting relay.

Alief Elsik, last year’s #1 and 5A state champs will have a hard time replacing Gloria Asumnu. Dallas Skyline’s young group is a year older and should able to mount a challenge for the title despite the presence of last year’s # 3 nationally rated Long Beach Wilson. Last year’s nationally ranked teams that will also contend are: Austin Reagan, #6 in the country last season and Texas’ #2 this season(46.18); Crowley, #21 nationally last season; Ft. Worth Wyatt, #25 last season and 2003 4A 3 rd placers; Houston Westbury, #11 nationally last year and #3 this season; Lancaster, #8 nationally, defending 4A state champs, and # 9 this season(47.34);and South Grand Prairie, #18 nationally and 2003 5A 6 th placers.

Girls 1 mile Run

State leader, Erin Bedell(Plano West) has already posted a top time, 4:50.14, and it’s still very early. She’ll be challenged by defending 4A state champion, Dacia Barr( Lake Travis), and Cassie Hostick( Cedar Park). Those three plus Krystal Rodrigues( South Grand Prairie) could all break the 5 minute barrier with Bedell having a very good shot at a nationally leading sub 4:50 effort.

Girls Pole Vault A HS

Britni Lawrence(Hays Consolidated) had a great showing last year with her state record 12-10 clearance, 5A state title, and #8 mark in the country. This season, she’s starting off where she left off clearing 12-06, the 2 nd best in Texas this season.

Leading the list this season with her 12-08 clearance is relatively(to me at least) unknown Trinity Valley’s Anne Phillips.

Another vaulter who should make this a competitive event is last year’s #17 performer(12-06) and 4A state champion, Ashley Laughlin( Marble Falls). Arlington Martin’s Jessica Trujillo is the only other vaulter over 12-00 this season.

Girls HJ

Texas will be looking at some great high jumping in the upcoming two years, as three sophomores are already posting national leading marks.

The best of the trio is Destinee Hooker(San Antonio SouthWest)who has already improved two inches over last year’s best of 5-10. Epley Bullock(Allen) and Allison Hightower(Arlington Seguin) are the two others who will also be looking to match Hooker’s season best of 6-00.

Girls LJ

Two of last year’s nationally ranked jumpers will be on hand. All-American TJ’er, Erica McClain(Plano East) has the 2 nd best jump this season(19-06) which is just off her 19-07.5 indoors last season. Last year’s #14 nationally ranked(19-05.25), Tara Tyler( Mansfield) is close and will give McClain all she can handle.

Girls Discus

Fans of the Texas Relays may have thought they heard the last of the Carter name with the graduation of high school record holder Michelle Carter(Red Oak) who claimed a record 4 Texas Relays shot put titles. But in steps in her sister, D’Andra, who is the top returnee from last year in the discus(154-00, 21 st best in the nation). Another Carter title may not come easy. D’Andra is rate 3 rd best with her 145-03 and stands behind list leading( 148-02.5), Lindset(DeSoto) who is not here and Christina Mueller(Antonian Prep) , (146-02.5), who is here.

Girls TJ

Track and Field News’s #1, Erica McClain has jumped 41-01 this season and will be looking to match last year’s 43-01 mark. Ahead of her on the All-Time list are only three others, national record holder(44-02.25), Ychlindra Spears(Luling, TX), Juliana Yendork(Walnut, CA), and Michelle Sanford(Woodbridge, Irvine, CA). History could be in the making.

Girls Shot Put

D’Andra Carter(Red Oak) will try to make it five in a row for the Carters. She leads the state narrowly with her season best of 44-05. A half inch behind is Candis Kelley(A& M Consolidated). This should be a good competition and I’m sure D’Andra will get a lot of support from Texas frosh, Michelle, and her father Michael.

 

Texas Relays home page

 


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