Boys Track	Collins, Cartwright Medal In UIL Track Championships
Girls Track	By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News ~~ May 16, 2006

The Monahans track team converged on Austin over the weekend in search of both individual and team titles at the Class 3A UIL State track and field championships.

Although the Green would have certainly like to bring home more hardware to add to their mantles, Chris Collins and Chelsea Cartwright used gutsy performances to place in the finals and represent MHS on the podium.

Monahans senior Chris Collins captured the silver medal in the boys 800-meter run Saturday, highlighting the Loboes' trip to the State capital.

Collins' time of 1:56.73 was second only to Miles O'Neill of Lufkin Hudson, who won the event title with an impressive 1:56.35.

However, Collins did surpass his own time of 2:00.2, previously run at the Region 1-3A meet in Odessa two weeks ago to qualify for the State championships.

In an effort to avoid being boxed in by the competition, Collins ran with the leaders the entire race.  He gave a final kick in the last 100-meter hurdles, looked to improve on the seventh place finish he mustered at the 2005 championships.

As a junior last year, Cartwright battled a very fast field only to return home as the seventh fastest in the State of  Texas in the event.  She vowed then to return to Mike Myers Stadium and bring home a medal in 2006.

And indeed she did.  Cartwright raced her way to a third place, bronze medal finish in the finals with a time of 14.99.

Nikki Lopez of Cameron Yoe won the girls 100-meter hurdles title by posting a time of 14.45, and Katie Miller of Bandera edged Cartwright for the second position with a time of 14.84.

Cartwright came to Austin with the State's fastest qualifying time after winning the Region 1-3A championship with a blazing 14.49 two weeks ago in Odessa.

But the day did not end for Cartwright with that race.  She also anchored the girls 400 and 800-meter relay teams.

In the girls 4X100 meter relay, Cartwright was joined by Jordan Latham, Crystal Madrid, and Amanda Hernandez.

The 400-relay team ran hard but couldn't close the gap on the field in the race like they did two weeks ago at the Odessa Regional.

At the Region 1-3A championships, Cartwright made up big chunks of ground to finish in the top two and secure MHS a position at the State meet.

The Lady Loboes picked up two-points in the race toward the overall title, but finished sixth in the race with a time of 49.07.

Monahans entered the race as the seventh seed after qualifying for the State meet with a time of 49.87 at Ratliff Stadium two weeks ago.

The ladies shaved valuable time from their Regional performance, but could not make a move on the leaders down the stretch.

Dallas Madison won the gold medal with a time of 46.90, followed by Mexia (47.67), Needville (48.43), Carthage (48.48), And Navasota (49.00).

The Ladies also took a shot at the 4X200 meter relay title while in Austin.

MHS qualified for State by posting a 1:44.45 at the Region 1-3A meet and were seeded eight in the UIL finals Saturday.

Unfortunately, once again fast starts by the competition proved to be more than the Green could overcome to win a medal.

Monahans finished eight in the State with a time of 1:45.82.

Much like the 4X100 relay race before, Dallas Madison won the title with an impressive time of 1:40.04, with Mexia 91:40.98) finishing second.

Dallas Roosevelt took the bronze medal with a time of 1:41.18, followed by Standford (1:41.58), Needville (1:43.04), and Gatesville (1:43.63).

Abilene Wylie edged the Lady Loboes with a time of 1:45.00.

Monahans senior Steven Richardson also went to Austin with aspirations of claiming a medal.

Richardson entered the class 3A championships as the number seven seed after winning the Region 1-3A championship in Odessa two weeks ago.

In his first ever appearance at Mike Myer Stadium, the big Lobo uncorked a huge heave of 50-05.00 in the State finals, and claimed the seventh best effort in the State in Class 3A Saturday.

Jamie Hodge of Atlanta won the men's title with a monster throw of 55-05.00.

Perhaps the day could have gone better for MHS athletes, given a break here of there, but overall the men and women who donned the Green in Austin made us all proud one final time.

Congratulations Loboes and Lady Loboes.

Keyed by Melissa Ramirez, Senior