Calvert boys win 28-A track title

By DAVID CAMPBELL

david.campbell@theeagle.com

Much of what the Calvert Trojans accomplished in winning the District 28-A track and field meet Wedsnesday at Tigerland Stadium looked like old news. Calvert's boys won a team district title for the 19th time in the past 22 seasons.

But some of it was brand new.

The Trojans competed for the first time this season, in part because head coach Coylin Grimes had jury duty last week when the Trojans were scheduled to run at Franklin.

On Wednesday, they were tried but won enough to send a strong contingent to the area meet.

"We lost [the district title] the last two years, so hopefully we can get back on track right here," Grimes said. "I'm extremely proud of the kids who came out and worked hard. We had to plug in some guys in some different events. [Senior] JaMarcus Ashley went down with a hamstring problem and couldn't run the 4x4, so we had to pull a freshman."

The top four competitors in each event advance to the area meet set for Wednesday next week in Flatonia. The top four in each event at area will advance to the Class A Region IV meet at Converse Judson in San Antonio.

Calvert took the lead in the team race when Andre Ross won the high jump at 5 feet, 10 inches. From there, the Trojans never lost it.

"I got in that late," Ross said. "I just did it to get Calvert some points, so we can win district and bring the championship back home."

When Ross in a long-sleeve white shirt under his uniform stepped forward, he stood out.

A state qualifier in the 200 meters last year, Ross might also have qualified in the 100 had he not jumped the gun at the regional meet. On Wednesday, he eased out of the blocks in both races before accelerating impressively into the lead. Running into a stong south wind, Ross won the 100 in 11.45 seconds. He ran the 200 final in 23.80, pulling away from Dime Box's Kyle Rivers (23.95) and fellow Calvert sprinter Ralph Ballard (24.29). Ross had a time of 23.67 in the prelim.

"Being disqualified last year was disappointing, and now I want to get back in the 100 and 200 this year," Ross said. "Today I did enough just to win. This wind made me feel slow, but I ran enough to win. I was smiling all the way. I know I can go to state, so when I get there this year, I'll be ready."

The area and regional meets should give Ross a good run up to the state meet, if he can continue to qualify.

"He's got to get in better shape, and conditioning is going to play a major role," Grimes said. "He struggled to come out of the blocks and admitted to that, but he's going to get better. He looked great in the 100 and 200, but I think the 100 is his best event."

Ross' leg on the backstrech of the 400 relay overwhelmed his competition and won the race despite a shaky handoff. Ross ran up against third leg JaMarcus Ashley, and the two almost had trouble pulling off a legal handoff.

"We handed it all right, though," Ross said.

All three Calvert boys relay teams qualified for the area meet.

Calvert's Blair Bunns also won the shot put with a throw of 40-10 on his second attempt. The Trojans' football and basketball standout exceeded 40 feet on all but one throw.

Bunns also advanced in the discus by taking third in his first go at the event. Dime Box's Marco Liscano won it with a throw of 122-9 1/2.

Benefitting from a strong wind at her back, North Zulch long jumper Brittany Wiess won comfortably with a leap of 15-9 1/2. The Bulldog boys also leaped ahead into the area round with a 1-2 finish in the long jump. North Zulch's Calvin Curtis, who placed second in the triple jump, won the long jump at 20-3, surpassing teammate Sean VanCour who took second at 19-6 1/2.

Wiess also ran a leg on the girls 400 relay team that finished second to Dime Box. Marquisha Foster, Tori Moore, Tianna San Juan, Brianna Jackson ran exceptionally strong on the straightaways to win in 53.85 for Dime Box. North Zulch finished in 57.56.

Evant won the girls team championship with 186 points ahead of the 129 scored by Round Top-Carmine and 77 for Dime Box.

Evant's Bettye Campbell qualified for area in the long jump, pole vault, 800 and 1,600. She won the 800 in 2:36.38 and the 1,600 in 6:24.77. Kaira Diaz won both hurdle events for Evant.

Lometa's Tricia Williams swept the discus and shot with strong throws. She won the shot at 36-2 1/2 and the discus at 108-2, beating out Evant's Sara LaComb who took second in both events. Dime Box's Victoria Williams threw 100-1 1/2 to place third in the discus.