The Monahans boys track and field team nearly won the Region I-3A team title Saturday but instead settled for second. The Loboes will send four individuals and a relay to Austin.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Russell Covington. “I’ve been there to watch but never to compete.”
All of the athletes, except Chris Roberson, are going to the state meet for the first time. Roberson went as a sophomore on the sprint and 800-meter relays.
“I still can’t even believe it,” said Roberson, who ran the third leg on the sprint relay. “It won’t hit me until (today).”
Monahans finished second with 70 points, while Sanger won with 81 points.
Monahans was seeded third in the sprint relay, but Roberson put them in the lead on his leg and Oscar Ruiz held off a Vernon runner to send the group to the state meet.
“He came up pretty quick, and I just had to focus,” Ruiz said. “I did my job and got it done. It was pretty close.”
Sweetwater won the relay in 42.14 seconds, Monahans finished second in 42.97 seconds, and Vernon was third in 43.2 seconds.
“I’m proud of (Ruiz) and glad he did what he did,” Roberson said of his teammate holding on for the win.
Michael Murphree in the shot put, Russell Covington in the triple jump and Jarred Till in the high jump qualified for state. Arnold Rodriguez made it in the long jump on Friday.
Murphree looked as if he would come up short Saturday before putting up one of the best throws in the state.
He opened with a 48-foot throw and threw 55 feet to reach the finals. Once there, he threw 57 feet, 11 inches.
“I was real nervous, but once I went 55, I wasn’t worried about it,” Murphree said.
Covington leaped 43-9.75 to finish second to Sanger’s Jacques Neyrey (45-2.5) in the triple jump.
Till advanced by clearing 6-4, tying him with Neyrey and Greenwood’s Lane Flowers. Neyrey and Till moved on based on jumps.