Arp Track Team Leaning On Relays For Shot At State Championship
Staff Photo By Tom Turner
ARP TRACK ATHLETES (front, clockwise) Randi Wymer, Josh Smith, Lavocheya Cooper, Darrell Shackleford, Jerroid Amie, Tywan Scott, Trumaine Jones, Chris Hussey and Lavocheya Cooper (middle) are competing at the UIL state track meet Friday and Saturday.
By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer
Arp senior Trumaine Jones might only be a student in the subject of geography, but he can profess one thing for certain: Texas is a big state.
Staff Writer
Arp senior Trumaine Jones might only be a student in the subject of geography, but he can profess one thing for certain: Texas is a big state.
That’s one reason he carries so much pride for the Tigers boys track and field team. By the end of the week, it could very well be celebrating a state title.
“In the big state of Texas, everybody wants to go to Austin,” Jones said. “It’s everybody’s dream, and we have a chance to finish on top.”
The Class 2A Track & Field Championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at The University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium. Arp is entered in all three relays, while Jones will compete solo in the 200-meter dash and long jump.
Arp coach Shannon Arrington considers a team championship to be in the realm of possibility.
Though the Tigers finished 15 points behind defending state champ Tatum at the regional meet, medals in all three relays (double points) would be highly valuable in a broadened field — in which the Tigers are eligible for 80 possible points.
“We’ve got a shot at it,” he said. “We are going to have to have some things go our way. We have chance since we have all three relays.
“I’ve seen 35 points win it (some years) and I’ve seen 65 get second (in other years).”
To reach state, Arp finished second in the 400 (42.49) and 1600 (3:24.17) relays at regionals. The best showing came in the 800 relay (gold medal, 1:28.00), in which the Tigers tied the state record last season in 1:26.94.
Arp has the top qualifying time in the 800, the third best in the 400 (the times of two qualifiers haven’t been reported to the UIL) and is rated fifth in the 1600.
Relay members:
Senior Josh Smith, senior Lamarcus Teal, freshman Tywan Scott and Jones in the 400 relay.
Senior Randi Wymer advanced in the girls 1600- and 3200-meter runs.
Teal, Cooper and Jones were members of the record-tying 800 relay team of last season. Prior to the regional meet two week ago, Jones ran a leg for the team but has been limited to two relays due to his competing in other events.
But, in stepped Shackleford and Scott. Part of last season’s fourth-place finish in the 400 relay, Shackleford said the Tigers have placed high expectations onto themselves — but have enjoyed the process.
“I haven’t been this excited in a long time,” Shackleford said. “We just want to practice well as a team. It’s about team in everything we do.”
Jones, who finished first in the long jump (22 feet, one inch) and second in the 200-meter dash (22.19) at regionals, said baton exchanges will be the most important moments of all three relays.
“We will have to be getting handoffs,” he said. “If you have a bad handoff, you don’t know what’s going to happen ... it could cost you. We have to focus.”
Meanwhile, the state meet continues another successful season for Arp boys athletics. The football team made the state quarterfinals and the basketball team the state semifinals.
Track has helped to develop success in those sports, Arrington said.
“Our athletes know that if they want to play football for coach (Dale) Irwin, they have to be able to run,” Arrington said. “Our skilled kids know that they might as well come out for track...We just try to stress it with them.”
Added Shackleford: “It helps my speed out a lot and my endurance, so that I won’t be tired on the football field. It makes you want to be one of the top athletes at the school.”
Arp’s coaching staff consists of Tracy Carpenter (throwers), Brian Keith (jumpers/long distance), George Greer (long distance), Robbie Dane (hurdlers) and Arrington (sprinters/relay).
Other Relays Headed Eying Gold
The area will be represented by seven other relay teams at state.
The area will be represented by seven other relay teams at state.
The Van boys 400-meter relay advanced in 3A. According to the Van athletic department, sending a sprint relay team to Austin is rare for the school.
The team consists of Emanuel Hayes, Michael Terry, Blake Pennington and Jermie Calhoun. The Vandals finished second at the Region II meet in 42.96.
Tradition-rich Alto, meanwhile, accounts for five relays. At the Class A meet, the Alto boys will be competing in all three races while the girls will be entered in the 400 and 800 relays.
The Alto boys recorded regional times of 43.93 in the 400, 1:31.51 in the 800 and 3:27.12 in the 1600 at regionals.
The Alto girls had times of 51.51 and 1:49.37 at regionals.
In 2A, Elkhart’s 1600 relay will be involved in the girls competition after posting a 4:03.56 at regionals.
Editor’s Note: Arp’s Randi Wymer will be featured in Friday’s edition of the Tyler Morning Telegraph as well as tylerpaper.com.
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