Cardinals nab 21-3A track meet

[KFDM COOP]

Cardinals nab 21-3A track meet

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

ORANGEFIELD — To have a solid track team that wins championships, you have to not only be deep, but talented as well.

Bridge City proved just that again Friday at the District 21-3A Track & Field Championships as the Cardinals stormed to the team title with 154 points at Orangefield High School.

West Orange-Stark senior Jacoby Franks was a tremendous point recorder for the Mustangs as the standout walked away from the meet with five gold medals after he ran legs on all three first-place relay teams after winning the long jump and triple jump on Wednesday.

BC held off second-place Silsbee (143) and WO-S (134) to claim the title.

The Hamshire-Fannett Lady Longhorns captured the girls division with 136 points with Silsbee (125) nabbing second and Bridge City (112) third.

The Mustangs walked away with all three relay crowns as they prepare for the Class 3A Region III Track & Field Championships that will be held Apr. 27-28 at Humble High School.

The 400-meter relay unit of Franks, Dominique Rhodes, Josh Gloston and Earl Thomas won with a season-best time of 41.99 seconds. The same quartet nabbed the 800-meter relay in 1:29.05 and Franks, along with Josh Gloston, Jerald Gloston, Jacoby Franks, and Nick Reed won with a 3:31.15.

‘Our relays, that’s what we hang our bread and butter on,†said Mustang head track coach Toby Foreman. “The kids really feel like they can get out at regionals and make some noise at state. They know they’re capable of big things. We like our chances in the 400 and 800 relays and I wouldn’t be surprised about the 1,600 relay. They came out and accomplished their goals today. Three of them got home at 11:30 p.m. last night from a baseball game and were here bright and early today. We wanted to be real careful with our exchanges and the kids ran extremely well in windy conditions.â€

As far as Franks’ performance?

“It’s got to be extremely rare for one kid to go out and win five gold medals at one district meet,†said Foreman. “I think this could be the first time it’s happened in school history but we’ll have to check. It was just an amazing effort by an amazing kid.â€

Perhaps the best race at the meet came in the boys 400 meters. Bridge City junior Kevin Young (51.11) nipped both Orangefield’s Caleb Worthy (51.35) and WO-S’ Reed (51.45) in the final 20 meters as all three nabbed regional berths.

“I knew it was going to be a trying race,†said Young. “Reed got a little bit ahead of me on that final turn and I was able to kick it in to an extra gear. It was really windy out here today so I feel good about my time. My kick has been really good for me the last few meets and hopefully that will carry over into regionals.â€

Another big race came in the 200 meters featuring, arguably, Orange County’s top athletes this school season as WO-S senior Thomas (22.36) outlasted Bridge City senior Johnny Dishon (22.46).

“I didn’t know if I had enough energy left in me but I was able to pull it out,†Thomas said. “I could feel Johnny (Dishon) behind me and I knew it was going to be close. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired. This has been a busy week.â€

Dishon also grabbed a second-place finish in the 100 meters with a time of 11.47, just getting nipped by teammate Cody Mills, who finished with an 11.46.

Besides Young and Mills, the Cardinals racked up two more first-place finishes as Logan Stewart claimed the 800 meters in 2:05.56 and Ryan Kelly won the 1,600 meters in 4:51.52.

Also landing regional berths included WO-S’ Jerald Gloston in the 800 meters (second, 2:07.20); and Bridge City’s Troy Bolton in the 110-meter hurdles (third, 16.05) and Tim Cude in the 1,600 meters (third, 5:01.47).

Bridge City also qualified for regionals in both the 800 and 1,600-meter relays by placing second behind WO-S. The 800 relay foursome included Mills, Paeton Landry, Jerry Landry and Dustin Breaux. The 1,600 quartet included Stewart, Young, Dustin Chappell and David Blackshear.

On the girls’ side, one district winning streak stayed intact as Lady Cardinal senior Morgan Broussard won the 800 meters for the fourth consecutive year. She won Friday with a clocking of 2:29.57.

“I haven’t ran against some of the girls here today, so I didn’t know what to expect,†Broussard said. “I went out a little different, starting out fast to see what would happen and I really felt good all day. To win this event four years in a row, that’s a very special feeling. It’s something I’ll never, ever forget.â€

Broussard felt good as well in the 1,600 meters, finishing second behind teammate Erica Garza with a time of 5:55.58. Garza nabbed her second gold at the meet, running a 5:45.81 after capturing the 3,200 meters on Wednesday.

WO-S freshman sensation Hannah Mobley continues to shine. Mobley won the 200 meters in 27.35. She was also a leg on the Lady Mustangs’ two second-place finishes in the 400 and 800-meter relays that also consisted of teammates Vanquanisha Jordan, Dominique Riggs and Brittney Scott.

“I still can’t believe it’s happened,†Mobley said. “To be a freshman and to win district, it feels really great. I really appreciate all my teammates, who have rooted me on this season, especially the seniors, they’ve been a big help.â€

Orangefield’s Laura Riddick captured the Bobcats’ lone gold medal of the day when she dazzled in the 100-meter hurdles winning by almost a full second with a 16.33.

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[Critter]

So Coop Just wondering how they are going to have Regionals on Friday the 27th of April when there is Baseball games going on... ??? ??? With the District this close I don't think anybody can afford to miss a game IMO....

[KFDM COOP]

Good question..

[stang4life]

Decisions. Decisions!