Warhorse track cruises to 21st District championship in last 24 seasons

Members of the Warhorse and Arabian track teams posed for a group shot after both squads won District. Click here to read about the Arabians’ District title.

The trophy case is way beyond full. Coach Lynn Cozby and the Warhorse track athletes easily wrapped up the District 29-4A championship last Wednesday and Thursday down in Crystal City, also known as the Spinach Capital of the World. It might just take someone of Popeye’s stature to carry the insurmountable amount of district championship plaques that Cozby, his coaching staff, and, most importantly, the runners, jumpers, and throwers that year in and year out bring home the hardware.
“The 194 ½ points scored were the most by a varsity boys team since I have been here,” stated Cozby, now in his 24th season at the helm of the track program. “The great efforts by too many to list, along with great attitudes, has made this one of the most rewarding of all the championships. I have a great group to work with and wish all of those advancing to the Area meet much success in advancing to Regionals.”
Hurdles coach Khera Vay added, “I am very proud of every kid who participated in the district track meet and throughout the season. The hard work, dedication and discipline was at another level this year and proved to be the key in more district titles for Devine’s track program. I am extremely pleased as a position coach as the hurdlers performed well. I am looking forward to the standard each area qualifier sets for them self going forward. We are all looking for a successful area meet and the opportunity to take a bus load of athletes to Kingsville.”
Guido Zapata turned a couple of those outstanding hurdle performances in. “This is my favorite part of the season, when everything starts to fall into place,” stated Zapata. “Our team had a great district meet. Going into the Area meet, I am feeling strong about both hurdle events. I’m turning in good times for the 110m and coming off a personal best in the 300m hurdles.”
Thrower’s coach Devin Rotramel commented on his performers. “I am extremely proud of all my throwers, JV through varsity. Their hard work paid off as we have five kids advancing to area. Dakota Wofford, Marques Burford-Zawahreh, and Analea Brooks all advanced in discus while Tristan Ortiz and Tanner Hardcastle advanced in shot put.”
Boy’s high jump coach Quenton Sanders sent out a big shout-out to his unit, “First I want to thank all the boy high jumpers for coming out and making my spring afternoons enjoyable. Chase DuBose, Damian Martinez, and Brady Cardenas are great young men. At the district meet, Chase was injured but Justin Contreras stepped in, and stepped up. Justin tied for fifth and earned 1.5 points for the team. I am very proud on Justin’s competitive nature. Damian battled hard and cleared three heights, but was not able to earn any points. Brady Cardenas is the epitome of grit and determination. Brady has been battling an injury all year but was recently cleared to begin activities. He finished 3rd place, which qualified him for the area track meet. The sky is the limit, and I look forward to seeing Brady compete next week.”
Team places: 1st-Devine-194.5, 2nd-Carrizo Springs-131, 3rd-Lytle-125, 4th-Crystal City-106.5, 5th- Pearsall-53.
Results (top 4 advance to Area Meet): 1st-Austin Sanchez-Crystal City-11.36, 2nd-Joe Angel Rodriguez-Crystal City-11.79, 3rd-Isaiah Oropeza-Devine-11.951, 4th-Kobe Castro-Lytle-11.956, 5th-Vicente Torres-Pearsall-11.99, 6th-Grant Collins-Devine-12.11, 7th-Juan Sic-Devine-12.22; 200m Dash—1st-Luis Mercado-Crystal City-23.72, 2nd-Oropeza-Devine-23.78, 3rd-Aaron Terrazas-Devine-24.13, 4th-Jesse Sambrano-Pearsall-24.14, 5th-Collins-Devine-24.38, 6th-Matthew Swinney-Lytle-24.68; 400m Dash—1st-Brian Cardenas-Carrizo Springs-52.21, 2nd-Mercado-Crystal City-52.40, 3rd-Jayce Hackebeil-Devine-52.44, 4th-Xavier Guevara-Crystal City-53.26, 5th-Mark Cantu-Lytle-53.38, 6th-Tristan Elizondo-Pearsall-54.73, 7th-Donavon Camacho-Devine-53.21, 12th-Roy Gutierrez-Devine-58.1; 800m Run-1st-Edson Hernandez-Lytle-Carrizo Springs-1:58.4, 2nd-Cardenas-Carrizo Springs-2:00.5, 3rd-Cantu-Lytle-2:01.8, 4th-Justin Sekula-Lytle-2:05.6, 5th-Kutter Karnes-Carrizo Springs-2:09.2, 6th-Jesse Ruiz-Crystal City-2;13.8, 7th-Cruz Tovar-Devine-2;14.9; 1600m Run—1st-Hernandez-Lytle-4:29.6, 2nd-Rudy Gallegos-Carrizo Springs-4:30.1, 3rd-Isaiah Gomez-Lytle-4:36.4, 4th-Devin Robles-Pearsall-4:36.7, 5th-Edward Cerna-Crystal City-4:42.6, 6th-Cardenas-Carrizo Springs-4:47.2; 3200m Run—1st-Gallegos-Carrizo Springs-9:55.9, 2nd-Robles-Pearsall-10:08.6, 3rd-Carlos Tamayo-Lytle-10:29.1, 4th-Gomez-Lytle-10:31.2, 5th-Cardenas-10:40.2, 6th-Cerna-Crystal City-10:41.7; 110m Hurdles-1st-Guido Zapata-Devine-15.15, 2nd-Paul Olvera-Crystal City-16.86, 3rd-Harold Gonzales-Pearsall-17.2, 4th-Brady Harrell-Devine-17.65, 5th-Rudy Lopez-Crystal City-18.29, 6th-Tristan Kramer-Devine-18.61; 300m Hurdles-1st-Zapata-Devine-40.69, 2nd-Darian Jobe-Carrizo Springs-42.83, 3rd-Harrell-Devine-43.30, 4th-Gallegos-Carrizo Springs-43.29, 5th-Kramer-Devine-43.78, 6th-Olvera-Crystal City-44.32; Long Jump—1st-Jobe-Carrizo Springs-20’5 ½”, 2nd-Xsavior Martinez-Devine-18’9 ½”, 3rd-Mercado-Crystal City-18’9”, 4th-Justin Contreras-Devine-18’7 ½”, 5th-Tristan Elizondo-Pearsall-18’6”, 6th-Vincente Torres-Pearsall-18’3 ½”; Shot Put—1st-Howard Sherrick-Carrizo Springs-45’11”, 2nd-Tanner Hardcastle-Devine-42’8 ½”, 3rd-Tristan Ortiz-Devine-41’6 ½”, 4th-Orosco Agapito-Carrizo Springs-41’4”, 5th-Victor Garcia-Lytle-40’9 ½”, 6th-Michal Cuevas-Crystal City-39’6”; Discus—1st-Dakota Wofford-Devine-129’5”, 2nd-Cuevas-Crystal City-128’2”, 3rd-Marques Burford-Zawahreh-Devine-124’0”, 4th-Mathew Castro-Carrizo Springs-121’8”, 5th-Sherrick-Carrizo Springs-115’1”, 6th-Alfonso Mata-Crystal City-113’6”; Triple Jump—1st-Shaquille Smith-Carrizo Springs-39’5”, 2nd-Keyanthony Miller-Crystal City-38’11”, 3rd-Thomas Dominguez-Lytle-38’7 ½”, 4th-Josiah Vaquera-Pearsall-38’4 ½”, 5th-Contreras-Devine-37’7 ½”, 6th-Jociah Cruzzi-Lytle-37’3 ½”, 7th-Damian Martinez-Devine-37’2”; High Jump—1st-Mercado-Crystal City-5’10”, 2nd-Dominguiz-Lytle-5’8”, 3rd-Brady Cardenas-Devine-5’6”, 4th-Sekula-Lytle-5’6”, Tie 5th-Olvera-Crystal City-5’6”, Tie 5th-Contreras-Devine-5’6”; Pole Vault—1st-Javi Torres-Devine-11’6”, 2nd-Gibert Balderas-Carrizo Springs-11’0”, 3rd-Jacob Featherly-Devine-10’6”, 4th-Daniel Salaiz-Pearsall-10’6”, 5th-Matthew Ornelas-Devine-10’6”, 6th-Sekula-Lytle-9’6”.
Relays: 4x100m—1st-Devine-Terrazas, Martinez, Zapata, Luke Torres-44.19, 2nd-Lytle-45.19, 3rd-Carrizo Springs-41.52, 4th-Crystal City-45.81, 5th-Pearsall-46.41; 4x200m—1st-Devine-Collins, Terrazas, Martinez, L. Torres-1:31.8, 2nd-Lytle-1:35.59, 3rd-Carrizo Springs-1;35.88, 4th-Pearsall-1:36.54; 4x400m—1st-Devine-Martinez, Hackebeil, Camacho, L. Torres-3:28.896, 2nd-Lytle-3:30.979, 3rd-Crystal City-3:31.94, 4th-Carrizo Springs-3:56.99, 5th- Pearsall-3:37.31.
The Area Meet is in Devine at Warhorse Stadium on Wednesday, April 18 with 3200m and field events beginning at10:00am. Running events will begin at approximately 3:45pm. More information will be in next Wednesday’s Devine News.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer