By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, June 11, 2009
Rewarding finish
There was no gold found in Austin this year, but there were plenty of medals shared between the 13 Wise County athletes to qualify for the state track and field championships. That's the most medals earned by local athletes in more than two decades.
This could be just the start of something special for some as three of those medals were earned by freshmen - Slidell's Bobbi Clemmer (2nd, 800), Decatur's Zuleima Palomo (3rd, 3,200) and Alvord's Jordan Ward (3rd, 300 hurdles).
Experience did pay off for the more seasoned athletes as three of the remaining four medals were captured by local athletes who have made it to the state finals in the past. Decatur's Cynthia Carrillo (3rd, 1,600), Alvord's Paige Klein (2nd, 100) and Alvord's Travis Montgomery (3rd, 100) have competed in a combined 12 events at the state meet in the last three years. Northwest junior Chris Bain (3rd, 100) took home a prize in his first trip to Austin.
A costly concern
The UIL cared so much about the health of the more than 10,000 fans in attendance at the meet that every 15 minutes for two days the announcer would reminded everyone to stay hydrated. He made it clear that because the meet was being held in June, rather than May, the temperature and humidity could be a problem for some.
However, the love only went so far as it cost $3.50 for a bottle of water at every concession stand in the stadium.
There is an
"I" in team
Last year around this time, a small-school athlete by the name of Bonnie Richardson made national news by becoming a "one (wo)man show" at the state track and field meet where she won the Class 1A team title by herself.
Many at the state meet last weekend knew the name and the feat, but did not realize she is from Texas. That's until her name was broadcast by the announcer and then the buzz about what she did last year spread like wildfire. Well, she did it again Saturday afternoon when she finished third in the 200-meter dash to secure the team state title all by herself for Rochelle for the second straight year as she competed in five events - three running and two field.
Richardson, who has signed with Texas A&M University, is the only girl on the track team at her high school that doesn't even have a track.
Before last year, no Texas female had single-handedly won the team title since the state track meet started back in 1910. This has only happened one time when former Baylor Bear and Pittsburgh Steeler Frank Pollard did it for Meridian High School in the 1970s.
Worth the wait
The swine flu scare created havoc on all spring sports, but track and field paid the biggest price. The state track and field meet is usually held on the first or second weekend of May where the high temperatures are close to 90 degrees.
However, the meet was held three weeks later than usual and runners on Saturday competed in near 100-degree temperatures, which is likely the reason most distance times were slower than those posted at regionals three weeks ago.
According to the UIL, this is the first time the state finals have ever been held in June, and it's also the first time the event was postponed for any reason.
