Monahans Will Send Nine to State Meet
    By Jessica Ray ~ Staff Writer, Monahans News, May 1, 2007

Monahans will send nine individuals to the 3A State Track Meet after qualifying in six events at the weekend's Region 1-3A meet at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.  The teams medaled ten times, including two gold, four silver, and four bronze medal event.  All gold and silver medalist will compete at the state level.

Senior Michael Murphree placed third in the discus on Friday, just one place short of a state berth.  His throw of 154-06 was three feet, eight inches behind second place Curry Read of Dalhart.  Murphree did qualify for state by winning the shot put on Saturday, however, with a throw of 57-10.5.

Arnold Rodriguez, another Lobo senior, earned his trip to Austin in the long jump.  His 23-foot jump earned him a gold medal and the regional title.

Kati Holly is the only Monahans Freshman, and the only Monahans girl, who will be on the bus to Austin.  She placed second in the high jump at 5-4.  She will join Emily Eisenrich of Andrews in representing Region 1-3A at the state meet.  Junior Jordan Latham placed fifth in the event with a 5-2 jump.

Latham placed third in the 100-meter dash in a time of 12.96.  Latham, who qualified for the regional in five events, did not qualify for state this year.  However, the junior did make a state appearance on a relay team last year, and still has her senior year to earn another trip to Austin.

Jarred Till placed second in the boys' high jump by clearing 6-4.  First place Jacques Neyrey of Sanger jumped 6-6 for first place.

Sanger's Neyrey also won the gold in the triple jump, where Russell Covington placed second and will compete at State Meet.  Covington had a jump of 43-9.75.

The Monahans 400-meter relay team beat the odds on Saturday when they earned their state trip.  The team on Devin Fann, Chris Bates, Chris Roberson, and Oscar Ruiz was seeded third but kicked it up in the finals to beat the Vernon team and finish in second place in 42.97.  In the 800-meter relay, the same Monahans team placed third in a time of 1:29.57.  Sweetwater won both relays by finishing the 400 in 42.14 and the 800 in 1:27.6.

One of Saturday's biggest heartbreaks happened to Senior Bethany Willmon when she placed third, missing a state berth by just one half of an inch in the shot put.  Pecos's Chantell Mazone placed with a put of 38-11, while Willmon medaled with a 38-10.5.

Before the 1600-meter relay, the Monahans boys' team was in first place, five points ahead of Sanger.  The Sanger team had four gold medals, three of which were from Jacquez Neyrey in the high jump, triple jump and the 300-meter hurdles.  After the 1600 relay, in which Monahans did not have a team, the Lobo boys fell to second place while Sanger moved into first place.  The Lobo boys will send eight boys to state, while Sanger will send four.

The 3A State track meet will be in Austin at Mike Myers Stadium on May 11 and 12.

Girls team totals

1. Canyon, 111; 2. Argyle, 74; 3. Abilene Wylie, 56; 4. Sanger 46; 5. Clyde, 44; 6. Sweetwater, 40; 7. Lamesa, 35; 8. Wichita Falls Hirschi, 33; 9. Borger, 23; 10. Monahans and Iowa Park, 22; 12. Dalhart, Pecos and Graham 16; 15. Andrews, 11.5; 16. Bridgeport, 11; 17. Breckenridge and Seminole, 10; 19. Gainesville, 7; 20. Greenwood and Perryton, 6; 22. Levelland, 3; 23. Decatur, 1; and 24. Fort Stockton, 5.

Boys team totals

1. Sanger, 81; 2. Monahans, 70; 3. Argyle, 64; 4. Sweetwater 56; 5. Fort Stockton, 47; 6. Vernon, 40; 7. Abilene Wylie, 38; 8. Decatur, 35; 9. Borger, 26; 10. Canyon, 225; 11. Greenwood, 22; 12. Graham and Dalhart, 14; 14. Breckenridge, 13; 15. Snyder, 11; 16. Bowie, 10; 17. Iowa Park and Lubbock Cooper, 9; 19. Seminole, 8;20. Pecos and Levelland, 6; 22. Perryton and Andrews, 4; 24. Burkburnett and Brownfield, 2; and 26. Clyde, 1.