PHOTO CREDIT: RODERICK PERNETTER
Humble Atascocita Has Built One of the Best Track Programs in the Country
Even without the Maxwell twins, the Eagles roster is full of nationally ranked athletes worth paying attention to well beyond UIL 6A
Out of Humble ISD in the northeast Houston suburbs, the Eagles have built something that goes well beyond a good sprint program in a good district. The Maxwell twins signed with the University of Texas and won't be competing for Atascocita this spring. Two of the best high school sprinters in the country, gone in the same year. Most programs would feel that, but Atascocita has the roster to absorb it.
Consider what this program has produced in back-to-back years. Mia Maxwell won the Gatorade Texas Girls Track and Field Player of the Year this past cycle. The year before that it was Jelani Watkins, now competing at LSU, who helped the program set national relay records before graduating. Two different athletes. Two consecutive Gatorade awards. The standard didn't move when Watkins left, and there's no reason to think it moves now.
A Dive into the Roster
Eli Nettles anchors the distance side. The senior leads the state and ranks 4th nationally in the 800m at 1:52.87 and is also 32nd in Texas in the 400m at 48.46.
The sprint and hurdles depth runs across both genders. Junior Trent Blaylock sits 3rd in Texas and 5th nationally in the 200m at 21.01. Zyiah Ganaway is 2nd in Texas and 2nd nationally in the 200m at 23.63. In the hurdles, junior Niko Bailey ranks 15th in Texas and 20th nationally in the 300m hurdles at 38.14, and 20th in the state and 30th nationally in the 110m hurdles at 14.24. Sophomore Andrew Shears sits 48th in the country in the 110m hurdles at 14.44 and 41st in the 300m hurdles at 38.80.
Moving to the jumps, this group may be the most nationally competitive unit on the roster. Junior Isaiah Rasheed ranks 4th in both Texas and the nation in the triple jump at 48-8. Sophomore Jordyn Barron is 2nd in Texas and 3rd in the country in the girls triple jump at 40-5, and also ranks 18th in the state and 32nd nationally in the 300m hurdles at 44.51. A 10th grader with a top-three national ranking competing across two event groups. Senior Zoe Brown sits 14th in Texas and 26th nationally in the girls triple jump at 38-6.50. Three athletes ranked nationally in the triple jump alone.
In the throws, Jayden Kimble has thrown 45-8 and 152-0 in the shot put and discus, respectively.
Scroll through the full ranked performances list and you've got sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws covered, most of it from athletes who will still be in an Atascocita uniform next spring.
PHOTO CREDIT: RODERICK PERNETTER
Humble Atascocita Has Built One of the Best Track Programs in the Country
Even without the Maxwell twins, the Eagles roster is full of nationally ranked athletes worth paying attention to well beyond UIL 6A
Out of Humble ISD in the northeast Houston suburbs, the Eagles have built something that goes well beyond a good sprint program in a good district. The Maxwell twins signed with the University of Texas and won't be competing for Atascocita this spring. Two of the best high school sprinters in the country, gone in the same year. Most programs would feel that, but Atascocita has the roster to absorb it.
