KFDM COOP Posted February 16, 2007 Report Posted February 16, 2007 Hall heads list of talented returneesHIGH SCHOOL OUTDOOR TRACK SEASON OPENS TODAYBy Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News NEDERLAND -- By the middle of last May, Derrick Hall even had surprised himself as a long jumper extraordinaire. That's at the very end of the Beaumont Central wizard's sophomore year. It may be wise for the speedy and acrobatic Hall to keep his talents under wraps on this chilly Friday. It also may prove a most pathetic climate for this opening day of the Golden Triangle outdoor track and field season at the 43rd Nederland Bulldog Relays. Many members of the adjacent list of talented high school track returnees would use prudent judgment to hold off on extending their gifted limbs for another warmer day. That's unfortunate for Nederland because coaches Steven Beagle and Dale Dial have corraled their best-ever field of 33 teams for the annual meet which frequently kicks off the area's outdoor high school season. Hall and Little Cypress-Mauriceville distance star Drew Bean should rank among this area's most dazzling track athletes. "I'll tell you what, he's the most talented athlete that I've ever coached," Beaumont Central's athletic director and head grid boss Donald Stowers has said. If Hall, seniors Charles and Morris Thomas can add a fourth, Central may position itself to be thinking of state meet opportunities in the two shorter UIL-sanctioned relays. Those three athletes helped to bring the Jaguars regional bronze medals in the 400- and 800-meter relay events last April. It all culminates May 10-12 when the University Interscholastic League hosts its 96th annual state track and field championships. And it all has to come together by April 10th or 12th when most of the area's districts host their backyard eliminators. But the weather will improve much more than this in March... perhaps even later this month. One strange item in the early schedule should occur next Saturday when Orangefield will host West Orange-Stark's annual Mustang Relays. Hey, the WO-S track needs time to be in shape for hosting a meet, but the Mustang Relays can still go on anyway. Competition begins around Bulldog Stadium at noon, but it figures to run deep into the cold night because the large number of entered schools will force officials to use several heats in most individual races.TOP AREA TRACK RETURNEES Derrick Hall, Beaumont Central, Junior, 2006 4A state long jump bronze medalist, 24-1 1/4.
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