This season, we could have the last two UIL 6A boys team championship winners slugging it out for the 2018 title.
In 2016, The DeSoto boys swept through the UIL 6A state meet. They scored all over the track including the field events. In 2017, It was The Woodlands doing the exact same thing!
This season, both squads are currently looking like they will hook up and battle it out for the 2018 title.
Two teams that you would think are polar opposites are actually quite similar.
When you think DeSoto, you quickly think of a sprint oriented program. I mean, who wouldn't? Dating back to 2010, the Eagles have run 40 point 4x100 relays every year except for 2011 and 2014 and in those years they went 41.21 and 41.24. Their fastest time during those years was a 40.09. In that span of time they have also run at least 1:25.46 in the 4x200 except for a 1:26.15 in 2011. Their fastest 4x200 relay time was 1:24.04.
The first thing that automatically comes to mind when you think of The Woodlands is their rich distance tradition and their current three straight state cross country team championship streak. They have 20 state cross country titles and they are the winningest cross country program in Texas history. But, to put things in perspective, since it opened in 1976, 42 years ago, The Woodlands has won 48.78% of the boys largest division cross country championships since they opened.
And you thought I said they were similar.
Well they are. DeSoto is more than sprints, and as I found out first hand last year, don't call The Woodlands a distance school around Coach Hamilton because they are more that that!
To win the state meet this year, DeSoto will have to rely on their sprinters of course, but they will also have to get key contributions from their field events and middle distance crew.
Senior Byron Hanspard is the DeSoto high jumper and he is currently ranked #2 in the state with his 6-10 SB. A big 8 - 10 points in Austin would help DeSoto's cause tremendously. Sophomore Nick Drayden could also contribute in Austin if he can qualify and add to the Eagles' point tally in the triple jump. He currently checks with a 46-11 SB.
DeSoto's 400m crew is the real deal. They are a year older, wiser, and stronger than last year. Oh yeah, and they're faster. This season they already have three guys who have run 48s. Juniors Kevin Modesto, Tairyn Ross, and Angel Deloney are the corner stones of the nation's top 4x400 relay, but also key links in the DeSoto chain. If two of these guys can get to the state meet, that could be huge for them.
DeSoto also got a big time performance this weekend from half milers junior Isaac Hastings and senior Carson Traylor. Hastings ran 1:54.98 and 1:57.92 at Jesuit Sheaner Relays giving the DeSoto coaching staff hope for even more possible points.
The Woodlands will always have distance runners, but that alone doesn't move the needle in track and field in Texas. That is where their sprint and field athletes come in.
The Highlanders got their top sprinter back on the track and he is looking in good shape. Kesean Carter went straight from football to basketball and is now on the track for another state title. If he adds another UIL 6A 100m title that will be 10 points.
However, The Woodlands has more. Jake Lanier ran 21.02 this weekend for the top 200m time in the state. Not to mention the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Highlander sprinters sent a message to the rest of Texas with their 1:24.49 and 40.50 as they lead all of the Lone Star state sprint quartets in both relays.
Senior Ethan Bonner could also give it a shot at the 400m, he has a 48.75 PR this year. He is a key leg on the 4x200, and that may cut it too close for them to even chance it, but never count it out.
Last year's title was more than just earned on the track. They got points in the long jump, shot, discus, and pole vault.
Gavin Hoffpauir leads the distance squad this year in the distances. He is the cross country individual runner up and could make a big impact in either the 1600m, 3200m, or both.
This weekend, both teams made a push for the top spots in the state. DeSoto ran a TX #1 4x100 and a TX #2 4x200 Saturday afternoon. Their 40.54 and 1:24.93 dazzled the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays crowd and set the state on notice. As they say in big time football and basketball match ups, who ever has the last possession will win. That is exactly what The Woodlands did later that evening. The Victor Lopez Classic finals started at 5:30 and The Woodlands would get the last laugh of the weekend. They dropped a 40.50 Saturday evening and a 1:24.49 earlier in the weekend to take the relay top spots.
Either way, this could definitely be quite a battle and chess match between outstanding athletes and coaches on both sides. It'll be a 2018 UIL state meet you won't want to miss!!!
Check out the virtual meet to see how the two teams match up in a dual meet.