Lady 'Birds start season with last year's momentum at Terry Ranger Relays
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

The Lady 'Birds took on the Terry Ranger Relays Saturday in their first track meet of the year and came through with a good outing.

At the end of last season, the team was improving in several categories and even sent Shae Solomon to state in the discus. This season, the girls are back where they started and working on quicker times and longer distances.

"I was really proud of them because the times that we got for our first meet, we got toward the end of the year last year," Alice Barron, head coach of the Lady 'Birds, said. "For us to be starting off like this, we have a chance to maybe give (Solomon) some company at state this year."

The team finished sixth at the meet against several larger 4-A and 5-A schools.

Barron said she is mixing the track teams up early in the year to find the best combination for the rest of the season. She hopes to have everything settled by March 14 when El Campo hosts the Ricebird relays.

"What I'm trying to do for all the meets is try everybody in different events that they've never done before," Barron said. "In Terry, I had some people anchor who've never anchored before and some people start just so I can get their confidence going and see what else they can do for the Lady 'Birds.

"With me, I base everything on how well you do in practice. If you don't do well in practice, then you will get demoted and someone else will take your spot. I'm never certain on what I want, but I would like to be."

The Lady 'Birds will compete in Ganado Saturday in their second meet of the year.

The following is a list of El Campo's achievements at the Ranger Relays.
Shot Put
2. Shae Solomon, 33-9
Discus
3. Solomon, 103-6

Long Jump
5. Angel Brooks, 16-4
Triple Jump
6. Ebonee Spencer, 33-4
4 x 100-Meter Relay

4. El Campo (Macy Stavinoha, Jeanaye Owens, Chelsi Robinson, Spencer), 50.31

4 x 800-Meter Relay

6. El Campo (Lupe Garcia, CeCe Coleman, Shanice Thomas, Laura Echeverria), 10:46.22

4 x 200-Meter Relay

3. El Campo (Owens, Brooks, Robinson, Spencer), 1:46.87

Distance Medley Relay

5. El Campo (Echeverria, Coleman, Brooks, Garcia), 14:19.00

300-Meter Hurdles

5. Courtney Janak, 48.41

4 x 400-Meter Relay

4. El Campo (Echeverria, Spencer, Brooks, Owens), 4:10.50