The fastest feet in Wise County will be running for gold this weekend
By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pending a last-second outbreak of a goat flu or some other crazy-named illness, the University Interscholastic League will host the 2009 high school state championship this weekend at the University of Texas in Austin.
The sports biggest event of the year was originally scheduled for May 14-15, but when the UIL postponed the season due to worries over the swine flu, the state finals was moved three weeks to June 5-6. Though the delay has created havoc on scheduling for coaches and training for athletes, the 13 fastest track stars in Wise County will be in Austin looking to bring home a medal.
Wise County will have an unusual mix of athletes in Austin this year. There is a mix of veterans who have been to state two and three times each, and freshman - four to be exact.
Several of the athletes are medal contenders, but of course they are all chasing the gold one, something Wise County has not seen since 2006 when Paradise's Loren Hodges won state titles in the 800 and 1,600.
For Decatur senior Cynthia Carrillo and Alvord senior Paige Klein, the state championships will be just another meet as they are returning for the third time in four years.
"This is my third and last chance to go down to Austin and show everyone what I am capable of," said Carrillo. "There is no turning back."
Carrillo, who will be running for Midwestern State University in the fall, is going to Austin in the 1,600 where she ran her best time of the year and fourth fastest time in Class 3A.
Klein, who just might be the fastest female ever in Wise County, is going back for the third time in both of her specialties - the 100 and 200. The Tarleton State signee has the fastest time in the state in the 100 at 11.98 seconds and has the second best 200 time at 25.35.
Alvord's Travis Montgomery is also competing in the same events as his classmate for the second straight year. The senior is no slouch, either, as he has the fastest 100 time at 10.57 and ranks 6th in the 200 at 22.09.
The area's freshman class will get to see what it's like to run in front of 25,000 fans for the first time. Jordan Ward, who also qualified in the 300 hurdles, and Madi Lynch are ninth graders on Alvord's 800 relay team that also features Kailey Watkins, Jennifer Endsley and Klein.
Decatur's Bianca Morrison is the area's biggest surprise to get to Austin. The freshman, who helped the Lady Eagles win the cross country state championship back in November, shattered her personal-record in the 800 by six seconds in a matter of 24 hours to earn a trip to state.
The 14-year-old, who said she was not nervous at the cross country finals after the starting gun sounded, said this weekend will be business as usual.
"My coaches just told me to run like I usually do," Morrison said. "Coach Byrd thinks I'll run faster because she said I'm a 'crowd pleaser.' I'm not nervous at all. I just hope to run a 2:17 which would break my personal-best of 2:18."
Freshman Bobbi Clemmer is the first athlete from Slidell to make it to the state championship in track in more than 15 years. The move-in from Pennsylvania is quickly making a name for herself as she is also one of the fastest in Class 1A.
The Lady Greyhound has the fastest 800 time this season at 2:21.83, more than two seconds in front of Megan Callier of Lindsay at 2:23.89. She is also one of five Wise County standouts to make it to state in multiple events as she will also run in the 400 where she is ranked 7th.
Decatur freshman Zuleima Palomo is making the trip as well in the 3,200 where she has the fourth fastest qualifying time.
Teammate Hanna Galloway will be joining her as she has the third best time in the event. The sophomore will also be competing in the 1,600.
Katie Mark of Boyd also has a little state experience as she made it last year as freshman in the 800. She will be competing in the same event this time around where she has the sixth best time.
Northwest speedster Chris Bain will be the first Texan to make it to Austin in four years. The junior ranks third in both the 100 and 200, and he has never lost a 200 race.
