The Rebel track and field team will have several key members wearing the red and blue representing Hays at the Class 4A Region IV Meet May 2-3 at Alamo Stadium.
By JASON GORDON
Although as usual the Hays track headlines were dominated by pole vaulters at the District 27-4A meet, the Rebels will be sending several other athletes to the Class 4A Region IV Track and Field Meet May 2-3 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.
The top three finishers from the District 27-4A meet at Canyon High last week advance to regionals.
Hays’ Taylor Hough smashed his personal best in the triple jump to win the 27-4A title. His jump of 42-feet, 3-inches bested his former top jump by nearly three feet.
“That jump just kind of came out of nowhere,” said Hough. “I just took my time and hit all my marks. It was pretty exciting.”
Joining Hough will be joining several teammates on the boys’ side including Tyler James, who finished second in the discus with a throw of 147-10, Martin Horne (second in the 110-hurdles, 15.45 seconds), and the 4X400-meter relay team of Francisco Marin, Dalton Johnson, Mark Oldham and Hough, which was moved up to third place thanks to a disqualification.
“We knew we were a long shot to get into regionals with our 4X400 team,” Hays coach Gary Gaddy said. “The disqualification definitely helped, and then Taylor never let up running the anchor. He never quits and he got us to regionals.”
Gaddy said he was also pleased with the performances of Horne and James.
“Martin Horne’s almost won his race, so if he keeps improving there’s no telling what he can accomplish,” Gaddy said. “Tyler was a little bit nervous but he finally relaxed enough and got a good throw in. We’re really proud of him because this is his senior year.”
The talented group of Hays pole vaulters certainly didn’t disappoint either, as Meredith Driskell won the district title and Lady Rebel Chaney Turney finished second. Both cleared 12-2, but Driskell beat Chaney, who finished second at state last year, because she had fewer misses during the competition.
Hays finished 1-2-3 in the boys pole vault event at district. Daryl Burrell won the title with a vault of 15-0, Mason Gill finished second and Devon Lambeck was third. Both Gill and Lambeck cleared 14-6, but Gill had fewer misses.
“Getting to state is one of my goals now,” said Burrell, who is ranked in the top-10 nationally. “It’s great that we had so many pole vaulters do well all season.”
Also qualifying for regionals for the Lady Rebels were Jaleasa Jones, who finished second in the high jump with a leap of 5-2, and Ashlee Johnson, who finished third in the 300-meter hurdles (48.55 seconds).
“I’m really excited to have my senior year end like this,” Johnson said. “It’s a great way to end my athletic career. It’s also exciting to have so many great teammates qualify for regionals. Track is like a family.”
The competition will be tough at regionals, as only the top two athletes in each event qualify for state.
Hays coach Mitch Phillips said he was happy with the way the Rebels battled in a very tough District 27-4A.
“The district was a lot tougher than it was the last two years, but we competed very well,” Phillips said. “Our goal this year was to try and build our program up both now and for the future, and we’ve done that. I think we have a very good chance to get some athletes to state again, and that would be a big accomplishment.”
Phillips said not only Turney and Driskell, but also Jones all have solid chances to represent the Lady Rebel track and field team at state.
“Both Chaney and Meredith are amazing class acts with tremendous work ethic, and obviously have a great chance to medal at state,” Phillips said. “Jaleasa has really been coming on lately in the high jump and is just starting to realize how good she can be. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see her qualify for state as well.”
