The 2019 Season is Upon Us
Hard to believe that 2019’s already upon us, but that means we can look forward to another great track & field season. And with track & field in Texas, we know our athletes will not only achieve personal bests, but also climb toward or be at the top of the national ladder in numerous events.
The Texas A&M High School Indoor Classic is less than 48 hours away, and the excitement is palpable for the start of the season – even though vaulters have treated themselves to several indoor meets: Lovejoy and Belton with Joshua around the corner, too.
One thing that makes this indoor season special is the collaboration of the University of Houston and FasTrak Athletix on stationing one of the world’s faster indoor-banked tracks into the University of Houston’s indoor facility. Look for this track and the University of Houston / FasTrak Athletix partnership to be a game-changer in Texas and beyond.
So – can we get an indoor facility in north Texas?
Picture from @FasTrakAthletix Twitter
Can a sanctioned indoor season be far behind?
When the Outdoor Season begins, look for familiar names to dominate, while a talented crop will certainly challenge and soon reign. Among those who’ll continue to dominate headlines in Texas and the U.S. are:
Jasmine Moore (2019; Mansfield Lake Ridge; University of Georgia) – looking to own the US High School Girl’s Triple Jump record
London Culbreath (2020; McKinney North) – hasn’t lost a UIL-sanctioned race, either XC or TF
Carter Cheeseman (2019; FW Christian; Notre Dame) – looking to improve upon TAPPS all-time marks in 1600 / 3200
Mackenzie Hayward (2019; Flower Mound; Baylor University) – looking to inch closer to Lexi Weeks’ national high school vault mark
Adoette Vaughan (2019; Hockaday) – SPC dominance in XC and TF; continuing to make a national name
Matthew Boling (2019; Strake Jesuit; University of Georgia) – dominant in both the 400 and long jump
DeSoto Girl’s Relays – an event dynasty, they’ll garner points at the UIL State meet and challenge national records
Patrick Piperi (2019; The Woodlands; University of Texas) – enters senior season at 62-10.50 and 184-00, one of nation’s dominant throwers
Bryce Foster (2021; Katy Taylor) – 64-00.50 and 180-02 – his shot put over the summer is 2nd-furthest by a freshman in US history
… while youngsters who made a name for themselves last year and will continue to do so include:
Graydon Morris (2020; Aledo) – 9:08.34 3200
Kirk Collins (2020; Clear Springs) – 110H (13.84; 1.6w) and 300H (37.30)
Ryan Schoppe (2020; LaPorte) – 4:12.85 1600
Kendal Taylor (2020; Klein Oak) 10.46 100 (2.8w)
Esther Oboye (2020; Alief Taylor) 5-09 high jump
Lexie Leinneweber (2020; New Braunfels) 13-0 vault
Cierra Wash (2020; DeSoto) 53.76 400
Bailey Goggans – (2021; Marble Falls) – 2:09.76 800
Kenondra Davis – (2021; FW Trimble Tech) – 11:43 100 (3.1w); 23.40 200 (2.2w)
Jalaysia Smith – (2021; DeSoto) – 13.62 100H
Ireon Brown – (2020; Port Arthur Memorial) – 20.61 200
Kietron Jackson – (2021; Lancaster) – 24-04.50 long jump
Jalon Williams – (2021; South Grand Prairie) – 100 10.52 (4.6w); 21.69 200 (4.6w)
Montana Welch – (2021; Taylor) – 15-00 vault
Dynasty McClennon – (2021; Humble Summer Creek) – 53.91 400
Heidi Nielson – (2021; Katy Cinco Ranch) – 10:31.92 3200
Brynn Brown – (2021; Denton Guyer) – 4:53.23 1600
Crystal Herpin – (2021; Pearland Dawson) – 150-03 discus
Katie Schlather – (2021; The Woodlands) – 12-8 vault
Ashley Smith – (2021; Whitehouse) – 5-07 high jump
This list is by no means comprehensive. There’s no way it can be. There are simply too many talented athletes in Texas to list every single one who has made an impact on his or her school and the Texas track & field community while projecting who will continue to make a positive impact. But this is a great start to what should be an amazing season filled with PRs, record-breakers, individual and state champions, and perhaps the challenge to long-standing state and national marks and times.
