The Devine Warhorses captured the team tile at the Area Meet held at Warhorse Stadium last Wednesday. The Horses scored a whopping 115 points, easily outdistancing themselves from second place La Vernia who tallied 80.
Of the sixteen Warhorses that competed at Area, eleven now move on to the next big stage in Kingsville for Regional on April 26 and 27.
“I am extremely pleased with what our guys were able to accomplish,” stated Head Coach Lon Cozby. “We had some minor injuries and some bumps and bruises that hampered us at times but it also allowed others to step up into the spotlight.
We expect good things going forward and will continue to push the intensity at practice and increase their workload while at the same time giving those that need time to heal a chance to do so.”
Bright spots for the Warhorses included Guido Zapata taking the best time in the Region for the 110m Hurdles to Kingsville; he also won the 300m Hurdles. Isaiah Oropeza went into the 200m Finals in 8th place but ran his PR for the season to finish fourth and a chance to compete at Regional.
Tristan Ortiz won Shot Put by over four feet while Justin Contreras tied for first in Long Jump. Donavon Camacho won the 400m and Christian Gerlach ran PRs in both the 110m and 300m Hurdles.
Fresh face, young legs
Coach Cozby heaped a lot of praise on all of his athletes for their ability to overcome obstacles throughout the last few weeks. One particular runner earned his stripes in a big way, according to Cozby.
“Freshman Brady Hackebeil stepped into one of the biggest spotlights in track as the anchor for the Sprint Relay, which was the first time ever he had ran at the high school level. Three seniors, Guido Zapata, Donavon Camacho, and Grant Collins promised Brady before the race they would get him the stick in first place and all he had to do was to hold on to help the team qualify for Regional.
Honestly, we were hoping for top 4…maybe. Not only did Brady hold on, he kept the lead to help us win the thing! The 4x100m ran their fastest time of the year and it was just an awesome experience for all of us involved.
He also stepped in on the Mile Relay and ran a PR by 3 seconds handing off to his older brother. It was definitely an exciting time.”
Quote/Unquote
Dakota Wofford, Discus—I was really nervous going to Regional last year as a junior but with it now being my second year going, I feel more comfortable. It is also my last year as a Warhorse and I plan to make the most of it. I want to make everyone proud of me and I want to thank my friends pushing me to better. Tristan Ortiz, Tanner Hardcastle, and Coach Rotramel make me work hard, like a true Warhorse should.
Warhorses qualifying: Grant Collins (4x100m, 4x400m), Brady Hackebeil 4x100m, 4x400m), Donavon Camacho (400m, 4x100m, 4x400m), Guido Zapata (110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, 4x100m), Jayce Hackebeil (4x400m, 400m), Justin Contreras (Long Jump), Tristan Ortiz (Shot Put), Dakota Wofford (Discus), Brady Cardenas (High Jump), Jacob Featherly (Pole Vault), Isaiah Oropeza (200m, alt. 100m), Xsavior Martinez (relay alt.), Aaron Terrazas (relay alt.).
Team standings: 1st-Devine-115 2nd-La Vernia-80 3rd-Navarro-72 4th-Cuero-69 5th-Carrizo Springs-63 6th-Gonzales-62 7th-Hondo-61 8th-Pleasanton-50 9th-Pearsall-23 10th-Crystal City-22 11th-Poteet-3.
Results: 100m Dash—Josh Carrizalez-Carrizo Springs-11.47 2nd-Johnny Alegria-Navarro-11.48 3rd-Zach Davis-Gonzales-11.64 4th-David Patino-Crystal City-11.70 5th-Isaiah Oropeza-Devine-11.79 200m Dash—Alegria-Navarro-22.95 2nd-Austin Garza Reyes-Carrizo Springs-22.96 3rd-Kolten Lentz-Hondo-23.47 4th-Oropeza-Devine-23.53 400m Dash—1st-Donavon Camacho-Devine-50.88 2nd-Lentz-Hondo-51.94 3rd-Orlando Oltivero-Pleasanton-52.24 4th-Kale Loeffler-Pleasanton-52.35 5th-Jayce Hackebeil-Devine-52.55 800m Run—1st-Oltivero-Pleasanton-2:00.12 2nd-Antonio Hernandez-Gonzales-2:01.36 3rd-Bryce Carter-Navarro-2:01.39 4th-Kutter Karnes-Carrizo Springs-2:02.36 3200m Run—1st-Angel Rodriguez-Hondo-10:19.28 2nd-Carter-Navarro-10:20.31 3rd-Devin Robles-Pearsall-10:23.37 4th-Eduardo Serna-Crystal City-10:42.16 5th-William Green-Cuero-10:520.72 6th-Zaine Leal-Pearsall-10:52.02 1600m Run—1st-Carter-Navarro-4:38.39 2nd-Rodriguez-Hondo-4:40.01 3rd-Robles-Pearsall-10:23.37 4th-Serna-Crystal City-4:46.38 7th-Xavier Garza-Devine-4:51.81 110m Hurdles—1st-Guido Zapata-Devine-14.50 2nd-William Benoit-La Vernia-15.88 3rd-Beau Fournet-Cuero-16.06 4th-Keith Schwarzlose-Navarro-16.09 6th-Christian Gerlach-Devine-16.82 300m Hurdles—1st-Zapata-Devine-41.23 2nd-Schwarzlose-Navarro-41.44 3rd-Benoit-La Vernia-42.10 4th-Trey Dickens-Hondo-42.12 5th-Gerlach-Devine-42.32 Long Jump—T1st-Fournet-Cuero and Justin Contreras-Devine-19’11¾” 3rd-Christopher Johnson-La Vernia-19’10½” 4th-Carrizalez-Carrizo Springs-19’4” Shot Put—1st-Tristan Ortiz-Devine-51’11½” 2nd-Kennith Cavit-Gonzales-47’7” 3rd-Robert Moore-Cuero-47’2¾” 6th-Tanner Hardcastle-Devine-44’4½” 8th-Truett Barron-Devine-40’9” Discus—1st-Austin Porter-Hondo-157’3½” 2nd-Cavit-Gonzales-150’7” 3rd-Dakota Wofford-Devine-146’10½” 4th-Jared Esparza-Gonzales-137’1½” Triple Jump—1st-Jasiah Vaquera-Pearsall-43’10½” 2nd-Daryl Dulak-La Vernia-42’8½” 3rd-Byron Green-La Vernia-41’10¼” 4th-Tanner Kotara-La Vernia-41’0½” High Jump—1st-Dalton Hobbs-Pleasanton-6’5” 2nd-Davyon Williams-Cuero-6’4” 3rd-Keldon Runnels-Hondo-6’2” 4th-Brady Cardenas-Devine-6’2” 7th-Damian Martinez-Devine-5’10” Pole Vault—1st-Will Knox-Gonzales-13’0” T2nd thru 4th-Jarrett Lubianski-La Vernia, Jacob Featherly-Devine, and Euler DeLeon-Navarro-12’6” 7th-Joey Seguin-Devine-10’6”.
Relays: 4x100m—1st-Devine-Grant Collins, Camacho, Zapata, Brady Hackebeil-43.59 2nd-Carrizo Springs-43.99 3rd-Cuero-44.40 4th-La Vernia-44.53 4x200m—1st-Carrizo Springs-1:32.18 2nd-La Vernia-1:32.58 3rd-Gonzales-1:34.06 4th-Cuero-1:34.18 4x400m—1st-Devine-Camacho, B. Hackebeil, Jayce Hackebeil, Collins-3:27.70 2nd-Pleasanton-3:31.03 3rd-Cuero-3:32.02 4th-Hondo-3:33.00.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
Warhorses win Area Track Meet; 11 move on to Regional
