Chronicles of a Race Foretold: Two Days at the UIL State Track Finals

I know I'm alone in this but I have always enjoyed Austin -- being there, living there, going for work or just visiting. Among my favorite things to do there is attend the state track finals.

The primary reason is you get to spend two days outside in Austin in great weather. Spending two days in the Drum for the State Basketball Tournament is enough to make me suicidal. Baseball regionals are usually when the weather has started to get too hot and the view of a fake grass field, asphalt, and the back of the softball complex is not exactly scenic. All the more so when the Texas bats go cold. Not that I don't savor a great day at the Disch, but there are 20 homes games every year. The state track meet is just a unique event.

Second, while I miss the atmosphere generated of having 40,000 watch the meet at DKR, I do like Mike A. Myers Stadium, even if the pitch on the stands could be a bit steeper. UT obviously didn't use the same architecture firm as they did in building the upper deck on the west side. And the view out of the South end of the stadium is beautiful.

Third, speaking of beautiful views, track meets combined with item number one means plenty of talent and I’m not talking about the kind leaping hurdles. Elite class of spectators on hand as well.

Fourth, the spirit of competition. Track and Field is a relatively simple sport. It basically comes down to who runs the fastest, jumps the highest, or throws the farthest (I do realize there are a few sport specific verbs I failed to mention.). It is a pure sport and often times one of courage and guts. Nobody is going to get hit on a crossing route, but Kyle Thompson (remember that name for later) showed incredible toughness winning the 5A 800 meters running 1:50:54. Somewhere around the 550-600 meter mark his muscles basically used all the energy they had stored and there really wasn’t enough time for his aerobic system to kick in to reverse his body's oxygen debt. Nothing quite like running a 200 effectively holding your breath.

And that’s the unheralded beauty track and field -- the battle waged in the competitor's minds to overcome exhaustion, doubt, fear, and a whole host of preternatural challenges to best elite competition.

"I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it." - Steve Prefontaine

It often comes down to who wants it more.

As for other interesting moments, I have seen Michael Carter scatter spectators off the wall in the Southeast corner of Memorial Stadium when his shot put one-hopped the pit at some 77'. And I remember Joe DeLoach break the national record in the 200 on Friday night only to see Roy Martin breaks his record the next night, Henry Neal set a national record in the 100 by posting a time of 9.9 only to have the time adjusted because the UIL at that time still hand time race results.

Maybe I am biased because our son runs and I really gained an appreciation for what is involved in the sport and the beauty and purity of a race. I suppose it's also because as I get older I appreciate the simpler things, but the enjoyment of this year's meet was as good as I can remember . Before I mention any specific athletes/football recruits I do need to mention the efforts of Galena Park North Shore. There is fast and then there is what GPNS showed at the meet. This meet was basically over before it started. A dominant effort to defend their team title and someone from Texas needs to talk to Jermaine Arthurlee.

In any case, here are the football recruits and prospects I saw:

Ty Slanina (East Bernard) - Yes, I start off with Ty in recognition of the great job Tipsy did in discovering the young diamond in the rough. The sophomore won the 2A Long Jump with a very good mark of 23' 9 1/4”. A number of athletes get overwhelmed at the State Meet, but not Ty. He looked like he loved the opportunity (Heck, with his bloodlines this is a kid who thrives off competition.) and Is a name I hope Patterson and his staff have filed away.

Jordan Roos (Celina) – The most impressive looking big kid at the meet. Easily over 6'4” and the listed weight of 300 lbs looks legitimate. Won the 3A Shot Put with two marks of 60' 10 1/2” and hit that distance with just pure strength. Great combination of strength, balance, and explosion across the ring. I don't know what Roos prospects are on the football field, but this kid passes the eyeball test. As an aside, outside of GPNA and WOS I would have to say Celina had one of the most impressive group of athlete at the meet between Roos and three relay teams that scored points.

Cedric Reed (Cleveland) – Cedric looks good. Very long and rangy he took 2nd in the 3A Shot with a mark of 53' 11 ½'. When I look at him I thought “This is what an SEC defensive end looks like". The frame is there and you can see he has been putting the work.

Le'Raven Clark (Rockdale) – Big body that isn't as massive as Roos or the physique of Reed, but when moves in the shot (3rd in 3A at 51' 10 1/2”) and the discus you can see the quickness that had Stacey make a late run at him. A raw kid, but what a great blend of frame, long arms, and quickness.

Cameron White (DeSoto) - TCU signee who will be one of 5 freshmen receivers who compete for playing time. Cam took 4th in the 5A long jump at 23' 7 3/4”. Over 6' and has long arms, but looked thin and most likely will need to gain some upper body strength.

Mykkele Thompson (SA Stevens) – A very good looking athlete with a long easy stride and explosion when he hit the board. I know what you are saying, “Davey, what about what you said about Thompson on Jesus' post?” I said I couldn't find where he officially ran 10.6 and District 27 5-A is bad. What I also said was this is a great athlete and he should kill it on Saturdays. Easily over 6' and carrying I would say closer to 200 than his listed weight for football at 185 so he has growth upside. I have been told that against Pearland he didn't back down which is a highlight video I would rather see than him running past a horrible SA Southwest team. He looks the part of an elite defensive back and his body build reminds me a bit of Lance Gunn.

Jace Amaro (SA Brandeis) – I know there have been things said that he was a Tech lock, Texas never really had a chance, and with the prior staff's preference for low hanging recruiting fruit it isn't a surprise if they didn't make a much of a run at Amaro. All that considered who ever made the decision not to go all in on this kid based upon the current TE situation in Austin should at least take a big damn pay cut. Great looking kid with a body that looks prototypical for playing the position (No TE starter kit of having to gain 30 lbs.). What I loved most about him was not the strength and explosiveness, but the way he competed. He hit a mark early of 61' 10 1/4” to take the lead and the kid from North Mesquite seemed to be struggling with the ring before he uncorks an effort of 62' 2+” on his fifth throw to reclaim the lead. So there is Amaro, who has fouled on his previous two efforts with one last chance to win. Kid goes balls out and comes up just short at 61' 10” and he was not happy about the results. After watching three years of offensive linemen turning around to see their quarterback on the ground and not doing anything more than helping him up I really did like the idea of an athlete who just finished second at state who truly felt he could have done better. Not saying he was a poor sport, anything but, you could just see on his face he knew he could have done more. Tech got a good one.

Orlando Thomas (Copperas Cove), Matt Davis (Klein Forest), and Travosky Garrett (Lufkin) - All three ran on relays so it was a bit tough to watch Garrett and Davis as they did not run the lead leg like Thomas. Orlando showed acceleration out of the blocks for Cove and you can see the quickness Texas liked about him. He isn't a big guy like Garrett so it will be interesting to see where he plays for Texas. Davis still isn't quite as quick as he was as a sophomore, but you can see where he is starting to regain that burst that made him so dangerous. Kid is a competitor and it was a very good decision for him to run this Spring.

Justin Thomas (WOS) – Had the best acceleration for a sprinter that didn't have a red horse on his chest. Justin exploded off the curve in the 200 and ate up staggers on his leg for WOS' two winning relays. The only down side is much like Orlando Thomas he is small with a slighter frame. I have been told Earl wasn't the biggest when he got to Austin either and you would think Mack and Akina have to know this fact. Kid is explosive and if Texas doesn't want him I will be happy to give him the directions to Ft. Worth.

Daniel Brooks (Rockdale) – Same type of situation as Orlando and Justin. Great explosiveness with the only concern being speed. What I love about Daniel is that he came in 3rd in the 3A 110 HH and then less than 30 minutes later won the 3A 100 by 0.01 with a time of 10.61.

Jonathan Gray (Aledo) - Gray didn't show the speed in the second half of the 4A 100 to stay with the kid from Corsicana, but that really isn't important. Gray showed great acceleration out of the blocks and actually was a bit bigger than expected. He won't be confused with Ricky during his time in Austin nor Jamaal, but based upon what he showed on Friday when he plants that foot in the ground and goes there is plenty of speed.

THE FUTURE

Four names to remember for next year are Jermaine Arthurlee, Craig Nowak, Cale Wallace, and Justin Brinkley.

What positions do they play? They don't play football as far as I know, but each are kids that I hope are on the Horns radar for the track program.

Arthurlee won the 5A 200 meters in a time of 21.00 and was part of both nationally ranked relays. Texas has struggled in recruiting sprinters head to head with Pat Henry of A&M and this is a kid who I would love to see in Austin.

Two years ago when George Hayes returned to Austin the Texas track program has slowly started building a highly competitive middle to long distance program and has a very solid base with Patrick McGregor (So.), C.J. Jessett (RS-Fr.), Austin Roth (RS-Fr). Ryan Dohner (Fr.), Nathan Christenson (Fr.), Will Nations (Fr.) and Michael Quercia (Fr.).

That group is about to get help in a big way, I seriously mean a class that Rivals damn near any class Mack has signed in Craig Lutz of Flower Mound Marcus (5A – 2 Mile and National Cross Country Champ), Kyle Thompson of Kileen Harker Heights (5A 800M and Nationally Ranked), Will Antkowiak of Brenham (4A Mile Champ, Placed in the 3200, and Nationally Ranked) and Mark Pinales of Cedar Park (5A Qualifier in Mile and 3200 and Nationally Ranked) and then possibly Bubba's biggest recruit at Texas Ryan Crouser of Idaho. Crouser is a national champion in the shot and has the ability to be world class in the shot.

A&M dominated the sprints and therefore the relays so how do you compete? The Arkansas model which is dominate the middle to long distances with a number of great runners and score in the field events. It might not be enough to win a conference title, but you don't have to win a conference title to win a national title with Crouser and their current field event athletes they are getting close to that level. What they need to do is continue to build depth in the distance events to compete in the conference (Oklahoma State is among the very best in this area) and the nation.

That is what makes Craig Nowak (Cy Woods), Cale Wallace (Cy Ranch), and Justin Brinkley (Kingwood) so important. The three juniors finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the mile all going under 4:10. More importantly each has shown the ability to run in the low 1:50's in the 800 and low 9:00's in the 3200. Running in the Houston area they compete at an elite national level in cross country and track (Dohner has a younger brother who as a freshman went 4:17 for Klein Oak along with elite programs at The Woodlands, College Park, Kingwood, Seven Lakes, and the Cy-Fair schools just to name a few), so they are experienced racers who in some cases face a tougher time getting out of their districts than some kids face getting out of their regions. More importantly they know the names of the kids Texas have signed in the last two classes in Dohner, Christianson, Lutz, Thompson, Antkowiak, and Pinales.

If Texas can add another great class of mid to long-distance kids the idea of Texas finally winning that national title in track won't be so far fetched.