For nearly two months, there has been a lot of attention on the boys 4x100 relay. The performances from the Texas boys in the event started the season in an epic fashion.
The finger can be pointed at three main factors. Primarily the amount of elite performances earlier than ever is due to the UIL 2024 track and field season having been pushed up a week earlier than the usual schedule. That makes the attention on chemistry and execution in the 4x100 relay more important and to have things ironed out by the first week of April even more important.
The second reason is the extremely high level of high school coaching in Texas. The knowledge and is off-the-charts and at a higher level than anywhere else. The third factor is the amount of high level athletes is second to none.
TAPPS member school Argyle Liberty Christian is having quite the year themselves.
The quartet of Ewan Curtis, Jaylon Hawkins, Ryan Cain, and Quinton Brown ran 40.83 and a season best 40.67, slotting themselves right in the mix amongst the baddest public school boys from the Dallas and Houston areas.
Electing to compete in the 6A division instead of the 5A/private school division, this past weekend they won the illustrious Jesuit-Sheaner Relays and just missed breaking the meet record.
TAPPS is not affected by the UIL schedule adjustment. In fact, this season, the UIL is on the typical TAPPS championship season calendar.
What Liberty Christian also has in common with the UIL is the level of coaching and the level of talent they have running the 4x100 relay.
Of all the coaches in the country, very few have experienced the level of running and coaching that Coach Jeremy Wariner has.
Yes, that Jeremy Wariner!
We're talking about Arlington Lamar and Baylor University graduate Jeremy Wariner. The four-time NCAA Champion won three Olympic gold medals and five world championships. Yes, the same Jeremy Wariner who was the No. 1 ranked 400m runner in the world for five years.
He looks to have learned a thing or two from legendary Clyde Hart as well as his other immense experiences.
Despite the verified accomplishments and perceived knowledge of the coach, Wariner is giving credit to his athletes. In fact, he is giving a lot of the credit to them. On his X platform account, Wariner said, "This is all them! These boys work hard and want to win. I'm just along for the ride."
While a lot of hurdlers are designated for the curve legs of the relay and specifically lead-off legs, Curtis is demonstrating how that reliability role is in his good hands. He is taking care of business in the 110-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles, but he is also proving to be one of the better scratch legs in the state.
Curtis teams up with aforementioned speedsters Hawkins, Cain, and Brown. Cain has a 10.67 SB in the 100m and Brown has 10.51 and 21.16 season bests over 100m and 200m.
What they've displayed so far could just be the beginning of a special season with more to come for Liberty Christian. Texas Relays is this weekend and they could exhibit to the majority of Texas and out of state competition exactly what they have.
Cain told The Dallas Morning News, "I feel like the way our team works together, we can do anything." He could very well be absolutely correct. Not only are they talented, but they might have a level of quality depth most schools and especially private schools don't often have the luxury to have.
Additionally with the four relay members, last year, CJ Witten was fifth at the TAPPS state meet in the 100m with a 10.90 PR and fourth place in the 200m. Factor freshman Cooper Witten who has already run 11.06 in the 100m into the roster and Coach Wariner could possibly be hoping to put a TAPPS championship trophy in the trophy case.
There is one goal that has been publicly made. Cain also shared with The Dallas Morning News, "by the end of the season, we expect a sub-40."