Bordelon heads solid Memorial performances at 21-5A meet

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Bordelon heads solid Memorial performances at 21-5A meet

By Tom Halliburton

The Port Arthur News

HUMBLE -- They may seem as baby steps compared to Port Arthur's remarkable past but Memorial's boys tracksters could gain more momentum from this week's accomplishments.

  The Titans of coach Darrell Granger sported one of two boys Golden Triangle gold medalists at the District 21-5A track and field championships and they amazingly outscored West Brook's program for a fifth-place team finish.

  Memorial garnered 71 points, reaching the 5A regional level in two relays and three individual events. The Lady Titans of coach Sandra Bradford finished sixth with 29 points and qualified for regionals in only two individual competitions.

  Kingwood stormed to the team titles in both boys and girls divisions. The deep and tradition-rich Mustangs compiled 151 points to down Baytown Lee at 118 for the boys title. Kingwood's girls proved even more dominant this year, compiling 219 points and nearly doubling runner-up Baytown Sterling's 114.

  Turner Stadium also will host the top three finishers in each of these events at the regional meet Apr. 27-28.

  This is still a far cry from the success level established by Hall of Fame coach LeRoy Leopold in Memorial's first three years but it's a positive continuation of encouraging numbers in Granger's second season. Those numbers first began to surface last month at the Texas Southern Tiger Relays.

  Sam Bordelon got to wake up, knowing he won Port Arthur's lone district championship in track and field. Bordelon cleared 6-2 in the high jump on Tuesday to surpass three Baytown Lee contestants at 6-0.

  West Brook also won one boys and one girls individual event. Both WB district champs established new area-best performances in their events with their gold medal performances. Jeremy Blueitt won the boys long jump in 22-8 and Whitney Williams the girls shot put in 38-8.

  Memorial's girls brought home silver medals in two field events. Junior Terrell Robertson closed out her district meet with a season-best 18-6, still a good ways from the winning leap of 18-11.5 by Baytown Sterling's Kieyana Wright. Robertson's previous 2007 best had been 18-4.

  Lady Titans' Danielle Smith was second in the shot behind West Brook's Williams with a throw of 37-6.

  The duo of Craig Bailey and Freddie King soared to second and third in the boys triple jump. Bailey was a silver medalist with a season-best 44-1.5 followed closely by King at 44-0.75.

  Rashaud Brown continued his strong season in the open quarter by nudging under the 50-second clocking once again. Brown was timed at 49.71, slightly less than a second behind 21-5A champion Steven Tillman from Baytown Sterling at 48.96. Brown was the third-fastest qualifier in Tuesday's prelims with a 49.60.

  Memorial's relays -- ranked among the area's best all season -- took home silver medals in the 400- and bronze medals in the 800-meter exchanges. The team of Jordan Charles, Patterson Clay, Decovan Gorrer and Brandon Harrison combined for a 42.89, exactly one-half second behind champion Baytown Lee's 42.39.

  The 800-meter relay squad of Craig Bailey, Jordan Charles, Solomon Delaney and Decovan Gorrer did not challenge Ozen's area lead (1:28.34) but outlegged Kingwood for a regional trip and a third-place time of 1:31.81. Kingwood ran a 1:32.29.

  Granger and his athletes had to feel the worst for senior hurdler Keary Armour, who qualified third in Tuesday's 300-meter hurdles prelims at 40.21. Armour finished fourth in Thursday's finals with a similar time of 40.20.