Perfect timing

Back in 1957 when the Rockdale Relays first started, it was the sprint events that captivated the crowd. Male athletes (there were no female events until the 70s) from 26 schools ran on a state-of-the-art lighted cinder track and Brenham’s 440-yard-dash relay team helped christen the new track by defeating Lampasas in front of a crowd of 400 people.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This weekend it’s Rockdale’s 4x100 sprint relay team that will take center stage on a two-year-old track.

The team of Cam’Ron Valdez, Kesean Raven, Levi Baggerly and of Jabez Dunn, who replaced Will Storey, who graduated last year, will matchup against a Cameron relay team that lost two seniors.

The Yoemen won a close one last year with a time of 43.25 over Rockdale 43.46.

“The good thing about this meet is that we get to see exactly where we stand,” said Coach Lewis Edmonson. “The Caldwell meet was cancelled due to basketball playoff games, but it gave us more time to focus on technique.”

The Relays will offer 13 area schools a chance for athletes to show early hands heading into the 2020 track season, after a majority of first of the season meets were called off last week due to basketball playoffs and weather.

This week will be the first time Edmonson and his staff will get a chance to see what kind of skin their squads have in the game.

Edmonson is also expecting good things in the 4x2oo relay of Baggerly, Valdez, Raven and Qua’shawn Crawford, Valdes in the 200 and Raven in the 100. In the distance races, he’s looking at his 4x400 relay with Baggerly, Albert Silva, Colby Mitchell and Marion Butler to do something special as well as the Isaac Fuentes in the mile and Albert Silva in the 800.

“This will give the guys a chance to get an early look at strong teams outside our district,” Edmonson said. “They get to see different talent and get a look at teams in district.”

Teams like Cameron, who won last year’s relay, Taylor, who came in second, and East View of Georgetown, third. The rest of the schools competing are: Academy, Brentwood Christian, Caldwell, Elgin, Hempsted, Lexington, Manor New Tech, Smithville and Thorndale.

LADY TIGERS – Coach Cheryl Meuth, who is assisting Edmonson with sprinters and long distance runners, said coaches are excited about sophomore, Tatum Young’s sprinting and pole vaulting.

“We don’t know yet, if she’ll be running the 4x1s, 100 or 200, but she’s fast,” Meuth said. “Coach (Eric) Willard is excited about her pole vaulting routine, as well as freshman Sage Robertson. She broke the junior high record in the pole vault last year.”

Freshmen Emma Whitsel is also expected to do well in the hurdles.

“On the throwers side we have high hopes for Andrea Salazar and Julie Bartche, in the shot put and discus,” she said. “Our distance kids’ goals are to run sub fives and sub sixes. One girl hit under six minutes for the mile and two boys hit under five.”

Sophomore Ivanna Luna will run the mile, Jesenia Navarro will run the two mile race, Meuth said.

“On the boys side, Isaac Fuentes our junior miler has been dropping times. I’m excited to see what he does in the relays along with Chris Perez and AJ Hicks,” Meuth said. “We have Albert Silva (800), who advanced to area last year in mid distance race.”

The 61st annual Rockdale Relays start Thursday with the junior high school runners and continues on Friday with the high school teams. For a list of events and times see page 1C, and for a historical record of the best times and distances see below.

Edmonson also said he hasn’t had a really good look at his entire team since most runners have been on the basketball team.

“This is a way for the team to find much tougher competition, because we never want them comfortable this early in the year,” he said.