Team Tuesday: Is This The Year For Mansfield Lake Ridge?


A few minutes after the 1600m race finished, the 4x400 relays were getting ready to hit the track at the Lake Ridge Invite. The last event of the day was about to begin. It would go the same was as much of the morning and afternoon had went. That is with Mansfield Lake Ridge running past the competition and making it look very easy.

From start to finish Saturday afternoon, the Lake Ridge girls had won 19 of the 31 events that were competed at the meet. That's right, they dominated both the JV and Varsity divisions.

The day got started when Jasmine Moore decided to forgo the triple jump, deciding to save some legs and put some work in on the long jump. She jumped for an 18-10.5 to get the win by an entire foot over the rest of the competition.

Things just steam rolled from there for Lake Ridge.

The racked up win after win after win both individually and in the relays.


For a team that has placed in the top at the state meet for the last two seasons, the confidence level for this team is very high. However, that doesn't satisfy the ladies or the coaching staff at lake Ridge. Very few teams in the state and no 5A team not named McKinney North could really keep them from conquering all in 2017.

In 2016, Lake Ridge was third at the UIL 5A state track and field championships. They then returned in 2017 with an outstanding team performance just to come up short at state. They would settle for second place and watch McKinney North take another championship trophy home instead of them.

Witnessing the performances this past weekend it is clear that this squad if hungrier than ever and it was nothing short of outstanding. 

Watch: Workout Wednesday with Jasmine Moore and Mansfield Lake Ridge

Sure, they won many events, but that wasn't the only way they impressed. They won a lot, but they also won big!

If they want to win a state title, the state meet will have to very similar as this weekend went for them.

To make things easy for you, let's just say the only place Lake Ridge has a weakness is in the distance events. It will be a very big overachievement for them to score points this year in the 800m, 1600m, or 3200m.

Everywhere else, they seem to be in a good position to score points at state.

SPRINTS

Senior Kelly Rowe is the 5A state leader in the 100m with her 11.79 performance this weekend. That time was just three one - hudredths of a second off her time that earned her second at state last year. 

Rowe can also run the 200m if things work out schedule wise. Behind her, the team is deep with 3-4 sprinter able to possibly qualify for state.

In the 400m, Ariel Ford also took second last year at state. She won her premiere event this weekend, showing that she if rounding into her fitness at just the right time.

FIELD

Jasmine Moore brought in 20 points last year, and why nothing is a given, it is quite possible and maybe even probable that she could do it again. She is currently the 5A state leader in both the long jump and the triple jump.

She is on record as saying she want to be the best high school jumper ever by time she graduates. If that is to come to pass, it definitely has to include adding two more wins this May.

More big points in the field are from another top performer in the state, Faith Ette. She is the defending 5A shot put champion from 2017. Ette currently  sits #2 in the shot put and #11 in 5A state wide. She can definitely haul in some big time points especially if she can get some in the discus!

Hurdles

In the hurdles, They have junior Jamara Jones and freshman Maniah Williams have shown promise. They both won each division of the 100 hurdles this weekend in 15.23 and 15.25 respectively. 

They are also deep in the 300 hurdles. Jones teams up with Arieonna Rosborough and Celestine Annan as the three of them are ranked 18, 19, and 20 in 5A. If any of those ladies can squeeze their way to the state meet, you'd have to like Lake Ridge's chances of having a special day.

RELAYS

Just like last year and maybe even more so, Lake Ridge is relying on some big time relays points. They are off to a good start as they are the state's #1 5A team in the 4x100. Their top ranked 46.77 shows that they are primed and ready to go right now and may even go faster if they need to. They are also the top team in the 4x200 relay as their 1:38.88 has them sitting pretty waiting on their next opportunity to try to run even faster. If they are able to make up ground and drop their 4x400 relay time then Lake Ridge could be in a good position come May. The 4x400 relay is currently the #16 ranked 5A team in the state.

Lake Ridge has been inching closer and closer each year. Can this be the year, those inches and steps lead to the top step of the awards stand at Mike A Myers Stadium?


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