Following the conclusion of the 63rd annual Rockdale Relays, Tiger track coach Lewis Edmonson was satisfied with how his team competed. “It was pretty darn good,” Edmonson said. “I think with everything that went down that everyone performed pretty well.
“We went from scoring 98 points last week to 150 and we didn’t even finish the four-by-two, didn’t have our discus throwers and were missing a 400 runner. Having 150 points while getting ready for a district competition five weeks away? That ain’t bad.”
Battling it out with student athletes from Caldwell, Hempstead and Lago Vista, the Tigers opened the day with Ty Mayberry winning the shot put and Anthony Dansby taking the top prize in the long jump. With Mayberry quarantining during the Lago Relays and Dansby only running last week, this was the first time both competed in each event this year. Freshman Wyatt Windham also placed second in the high jump in his season debut.
Rockdale’s team made up of Dansby, Cam’Ron Valdez, Kesean Raven and Alec Silva won the sprint relay with a time of 43.99. Although they ran a 43.44 last week, they were without junior Kobe Mitchell, who was quarantined at the time of the Relays.
The same four ran in the 4x200-meter relay, where Rockdale had the lead going into the final stretch when Valdez caught a cramp and was unable to finish the race. Taking precaution, Edmonson and the RHS training staff are keeping close tabs on Valdez, a Texas Tech football commit.
RHS distance runners also racked up plenty of points. Albert Silva took home a gold in the quarter with a time of 56.76. Freshman Jesus Bocanegra won the mile with a 5:03.28. Bocanegra, a cross country state qualifier this past fall, didn’t get to compete in the 3200-meter run due to not making it back in time from a baseball game in Bremond.
2021 SEASON—With COVID-19 still a major problem in the United States, the UIL only allows for four teams at each track meet this season in order to help prevent the spread of the airborne virus.
Edmonson also talked about the upsides and downsides of less competitors at each meet. He said that with less competitors means he gets to focus on his athletes more and how they technically perform. He also said it’s also an opportunity for kids to try events they wouldn’t normally compete in. However, he said the downside was with less teams to go up against every meet, he has to focus more on getting people to meet marks as opposed to just beating the teams they’re up against.
LADY TIGERS—The varsity girls’ track team also had a solid day with sopho more Julie Bartsch winning the shot put for the second straight week. She also tried the discus and was awarded a bronze medal for her efforts.
Bartsch’s classmate Emma Whitsel won two gold in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles. Whitsel improved her 100 time from 16.67 to 16.59.
The Lady Tigers also had success in the 100-meter dash with a second place finish from junior Brean na Webb and a third from freshman Ciara Miles. Miles also placed third in the 400-meter run and the high jump.
Ivanna Luna also placed third in the 800-meter run and fourth in the mile.
GIDDINGS—Both teams make their way down Highway 77 this weekend to compete at the Buff Relays in Giddings.
Due to no junior varsity meet being held at GHS, they were allowed to invite more than four schools. RHS athletes will compete with Giddings, Bastrop Cedar Creek, Caldwell, Bryan Rudder, Lockhart, Fredericksburg and Gonzales.
The meet itinerary will be posted to our social media.
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