The Pirates varsity boys’ track and field team finished second overall behind the Connally Cadets with a total of 143 points. In the preliminaries, Xavier Wagoner made it to the finals in the 400 along with Derek Blocker and Andre Dunn making it in the 100 and 200. In the finals, Wagoner advanced to regionals in Humble Apr. 30 by placing second in the 400 with a time of 50.68, and Zack Furlow made it in both the 110 and 300 hurdles by placing second in 15.83 and 41.96 respectively. Warren Willis also qualified as an alternate in the 110 hurdles by finishing fourth in 16.96.
Just like last season, all three relays made it to regionals with the team of Melvin Allen, Derek Blocker, Garrett Nunley, and Montel Bailey combining for its best time in the 4x100 relay with a time of 42.39 in placing third. The 4x200 relay also placed second with a time of 1:29.24, and the 4x400 relay won first place with a time of 3:25 seconds, its best time of the year, while senior sprinter Andre Dunn took third place with a time of 11.05 in the 100.
“This year we’ve definitely had some up-and-down moments and track meets where we didn’t do as well as we could have, but we all stuck together at the end,” Allen said. “Around district and regionals we always seem to get faster and go on a hot streak, so I’m definitely looking forward to the next round, which is Regionals.
In the field events, Jarvis “Money” Gaines (first) and “Big Mike” Starts (third) both advanced to regionals in the shot put by throwing 46'-10 1/2" and 44'-7 1/4" respectively, while senior Joe Stevens placed third in high jump with a clearance of 6’0”, and Derek Blocker showed off his jumping skills by winning both jumps in distances of 22'-1 1/2" and 44'-4 ½.
“This season I really wanted to give my best and help the team to reach our full potential,” Blocker said “Track is my only sport, so I figured that I might as well make it a good one for my senior year. Last year I didn’t qualify for anything, so I wanted to make sure that I changed that this year.”
Track and Field Boys Win Regional Qualifiers Meet
Despite a heavy rain, the Pirates flexed their track and field muscles at McGregor’s Regional Qualifiers Meet Apr. 22 with a total of 85 points to edge Connally and Rockdale.
In the shot put, Jarvis Gaines placed second at 47’4”, while Derek Blocker placed second in long jump (21’10 1/2”) and third in the triple jump (45’2 3/4”), and Joe Stevens was fifth in the high jump at 5’10”. In the 800 relay, LV was victorious in 1:30.64 and third in the 400 relay in 43.09. Zach Furlow was third in the 110 hurdles (16.73) ahead of Warren Willis, sixth in 18.63.
In the springs, Andre Dunn finished sixth in the 100 in 10.92 and fourth in the 200 (23.87), while Xavier Wagoner came in sixth in the 400 in 52.99. The Modocs came home in second in the 1600 relay with a time of 3:31.04.