DeSoto girls head track and field coach June Villers just won another Coach of the Year honor for leading her 2019 team to the UIL 6A state championship.
This marked the fourth consecutive team title for her Lady Eagles program and the ninth under her helm. The squad scored a total of 121 points on their way to another dominating team performance and outscoring the second, third, and fourth place teams combined.
Once again, they are the best team in the state of Texas this year. But is it possible that we just saw the best team of all-time?
Yes, it is possible. In fact, we did just witness the best high school girls track and field team ever.
We are talking about them being better than dominant teams in the past, programs like the Lancaster, Houston Westbury, Alief Elsik, and Dallas Skyline teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Those squads all had individual state championships and relay state champions that eventually set state and national records at the time. Well, this DeSoto squad just did the same.
Relay Power
The 4x100 relay just ran the fastest two times ever with their 44.44 from the Region 1-6A Meet and then their 44.24 UIL State Record and National Record at the UIL Track and Field Championships.
The National Record is an impressive accomplishment in itself, but the journey to the final meet of the season is even more impressive. The DFW weather during the 2019 outdoor track and field season did not do anybody any favors in terms of trying to run fast this season. The DeSoto girls were unfazed, as they ran fast all season long despite the cold weather. Their slowest time of the year was a 46.27 in 12 total races. Their season average of 45.35 over those 12 races is so good, it would be fast enough to be ranked as the 20th fastest All-Time mark.
| SEason Average | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.47 | 45.90 | 45.37 | 46.27 | 45.51 | 45.26 | 45.69 | 45.07 | 45.25 | 45.73 | 44.44 | 44.24 | Avg. = 45.35 |
The 4x200 relay was another strength on the season and is an exhibit of how fast the DeSoto girls are. They ran a season best and 2019 state and national leading 1:36.09 at the regional meet. That time is the 13th fastest 4x200 relay time in Texas history.
The 4x400 relay is possibly the strongest relay of the entire team when 100% healthy. Their 3:39.79 from the state meet is also the 2019 state and national leading time. It is also good enough for the fifth fastest time in Texas history.
Sprint Power
Based on the relay action, it is no wonder that DeSoto has some fast individual runners. However, the team are more than just fast girls. These girls can hold their own against all-time runners.
Sophomore JaEra Griffin only managed a fourth place finish at the state meet with her 11.65, but her 11.51 season best ranks her No. 44 all-time in Texas and would have been good enough to get her the win at the state meet.
The 200m sprint crew for DeSoto tallied 14 points at the state meet. They did that on the hinges of second and third-place finishes by Rosaline Effiong and Jayla Hollis. Not only were their state meet performances good enough for points, but their 2019 season puts them high on the national list and Texas' All-Time list. Effiong's 23.16 SB ranks her No. 5 nationally in 2019 and No. 6 All-Time in Texas. Hollis checks in with a 23.36 SB and that puts her No. 10 nationally in 2019 and No. 13 All-Time in Texas.
As mentioned, DeSoto's 4x400 relay is possibly their best relay even though they have the NR in the 4x100 relay. This year's squad has three girls that are in the top 35 on Texas' All-Time 400m list.
Senior Cierra Wash finished third at the state meet with a 54.89. Her 53.76 PR from last season ranks her No. 19 on the Texas All-Time list. Effiong also has a sub 54.00 PR with her 53.90 that she ran in 2017 as a sophomore before she lost her entire junior year to an injury. Her performance from two years ago ranks her No. 29 All-Time in Texas. Senior Bryannia Murphy has also dealt with some nagging injuries. She also had a superb sophomore year when she was completely healthy and ran 54.02 that ranks her No. 34 on the All-Time Texas 400m list.
Hurdle Hysteria
DeSoto's 2019 hurdle crew is the best in the nation and is one of the best group of hurdlers ever assembled at one school.
They have the fourth and fifth best 100H in the country for the 2019 season.
Hollis already proved her sprint capabilities, but like many American professional hurdlers, she uses her speed over the barriers as well. Hollis won the state meet with a 13.40 wind legal race and her 13.39 ties her for No. 5 All-Time in Texas.
| Name | Event | Performance | 2019 State Meet Finish | TX all-time Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto | 4x100 Relay | 44.24 (NR) | 1st | 1st |
| DeSoto | 4x200 Relay | 1:36.09 | 1st | 13th |
| DeSoto | 4x400 Relay | 3:39.79 | 1st | 5th |
| DeSoto | 4x800 Relay | 9:14.70 | N/A | 4th |
| JaEra Griffin | 100m | 11.51 | 4th | 44th |
| Rosaline Effiong | 200m/400m | 23.16/53.90 | 2nd/N/A | 6th/29th |
| Jayla Hollis | 100H/200m | 13.39/23.36 | 1st/3rd | 5th/13th |
| Cierra Wash | 400m | 53.76 | 3rd | 19th |
| Bryannia Murphy | 400m | 54.20 | N/A | 34th |
| Jalaysiya Smith | 100H/300H | 13.42/42.14 | 2nd/9th | 9th/43rd |
| Taylor Armstrong | 300H | 42.19 | 1st | 45th |
Sophomore Jalaysiya Smith was the UIL 6A girls runner-up behind Hollis with her 13.42 at the state meet. That tied her SB and ranks her No. 9 All-Time in Texas. Smith also checks in with a fast 300H time and a ninth place UIL 6A state meet finish. Although she did not have a great race at state, her 42.14 is the No.16 time nationally and No. 43 All-Time Texas.
Smith's teammate and yet another hurdle training partner , Taylor Armstrong was able to win the state championship for DeSoto. Armstrong ran a 42.19 PR to do so, which ranks her right behind Smith No.17 in the nation, and it places her No. 45 All-Time in Texas.
More DeSoto Talent
Coach Villers' squad is so impressive, that there is still more depth and talent. DeSoto's huge point total got contributions from the field events as well. Senior Brianna Washington added eight points with her second place finish in the discus and her sixth place finish in the shot put and added one more point to the championship total. She finished with a 2019 TX ranking of No. 7 in the discus with a 148-5 and a No. 5 in the shot put with a 45-8.25.
DeSoto's 2019 800m crew proved to be the best in Texas as they ran a TX. No 1 9:14.70 to win the Texas Relays championship and the fourth fastest All-Time 4x800 relay in Texas.
They were led this season by junior Rachel Anderson who has a SB of 2:15.99 and freshman Caitlin Shaw's 2:16.36. Junior Lacie Deboskie checked in with a third 2:20 and under with her SB of 2:20.04 to further exhibit DeSoto's depth.
DeSoto's team state title streak is still alive and well. Early signs even point to a possible fifth consecutive UIL 6A state title.
However, that doesn't stop us from enjoying and appreciating what we witnessed at the UIL state meet and for the entire 2019 track and field season.
For the record, that was the best girls track and field team ever!