Darek Hackett gets the 300H win at the Pearland Jim Morris Inv.
Kirk Collins is the top ranked hurdler in Texas and one of the top returners nationally. The Texas A&M commit will have competition coming at him left and right. In the 110s and the 300s, they will be shooting for him and giving their best shot all season long until May comes.
However, very little really matters until April and May.
But, we will get plenty of action leading up until that time comes. In fact, we got some of it this weekend. The Clear Springs senior lined up against one of the hungrier hurdlers in the state, Darek Hackett.
Hackett, the Fort Bend Ridge Point senior had an excellent indoor season and couldn't wait for the season to switch to outdoors. That time came and he had the ultimate challenge of lining up against the state champion Collins in the 100H at the John Morris Pearland Invitational.
The 100H specialist Collins accepted the challenge from Hackett and ran fast and well to take the win in 14.25. An excellent time to start the season, especially in the cool and windy elements from this weekend, Collins showed that even though he didn't run indoors, he had still put in the work and was ready.
However, that impressive season opening time came partly due to the push from Hackett. The Ridge Point star was right in Collins' hip pocket the entire way. Through 10 hurdles, the two were side by side and just one mistake ended up being the deciding factor.
Collins was near perfect through his flight of hurdles as was Hackett until the last hurdle when he clipped it with the ankle on his trail leg.
In the 300H, Hackett was able to turn the tables. He got the close win over Collins in the longer event as he dropped an impressive 37.35 to Collins' 37.70.
Hackett is ready! There is no doubt about that and he may put together a serious push to get to the UIL 6A state meet later this season in both events. He will have a tough road as Region 3-6A is loaded in both events, but don't count this young man out.
As for Collins, he received the first of many swings that will be coming at him this season. Dropping two legit times in the conditions he did, he proved that its only a matter of time for him to find his rhythm and he will look to reassume his winning ways and defend his 110H title and improve from his 300H runner-up finish at the state meet.
One thing is for sure, stay tuned at every meet this season when they start setting up the track with the hurdles!