EC strong in Ricebird Relays

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Air Anthony Anthony Cruz makes a mid-air move in the long jump at the Ricebird Relays.

El Campo became a beacon for area track teams Friday for the Ricebird Relays.

Many local schools and Houston area 5-A programs came to Ricebird Stadium for one final run on the old track.

Demolition crews came Saturday and began tearing down the track in preparations for installing a new look for the next school year. In 2008-2009, the Ricebirds and Lady 'Birds will get the chance to burn fresh rubber as they run on a new track.

In Friday's farewell meet to the track, the Lady 'Birds sent it out with a great performance while the Ricebirds took high honors in several field events.

The boys and girls teams have different schedules this week, but will join soon in preparation for the district meet.

The Lady 'Birds will travel to Texas Southern University in Houston Friday and Saturday for their next meet while the Ricebirds are enjoying Spring Break.

Both teams will travel to Freeport March 28 for the Gulf Coast Relays. The district track meet is scheduled for April 3 and 4 at Seven Lakes High School in Katy.

L-N Photo by Chris Barbee Pushing Through Blythe Nava runs in one of the Lady 'Birds races during Friday's Ricebird Relays.

If the teams perform well at district, El Campo will send athletes on to the regional track meet and then to state in the following weeks.

Listed below are El Campo's top results from the Ricebird Relays.

Lady Ricebirds

Shot Put

1. Shae Solomon, 37-7; 6. Crystal Williams, 30-2

Discus

3. Solomon, 107-6 1/2

Long Jump

3. Angel Brooks, 16-4 3/4

Triple Jump

1. Ebonee Spencer, 36-1 1/4

3200-Meter Run

4. Lupe Garcia, 12:57.1; 5. Laura Aguilar, 13:42.62; 6. Kaitlyn Cain, 13:42.87

400-Meter Relay

1. El Campo (Courtney Cadriel, Jeanaye Owens, Chelsi Robinson, Spencer), 50.09

800-Meter Dash

3. Brooks, 2:26.20; 4. Shanice Thomas, 2:30.53

100-Meter Hurdles

3. Courtney Janak, 16.45

800-Meter Relay

2. El Campo (Laura Echeverria, Cadriel, Robinson, Brooks), 1:45.43

400-Meter Dash

3. Spencer, 1:01.41; 4. Owens, 1:04.47

300-Meter Hurdles

3. Janak, 48.75

200-Meter Dash

5. Robinson, 27.25; 6. Jasmine Allen, 27.50

1600-Meter Run

5. Lupe Garcia, 6:00.31

1600-Meter Relay

2. El Campo (Thomas, Cadriel, Spencer, Brooks), 4:07.90

Final Team Standings

1. Foster, 140.5; 2. El Campo 129; 3. Lamar Consolidated, 110; 4. Fort Bend Bush, 85; 5. Bay City, 60; 6. Katy Taylor, 45; 7. Willowridge, 19; 8. Wharton, 15.5.

Ricebirds

Shot Put

3. Junior Tompkins, 47-10

Discus

1. Chase Bullard, 138-8; 3. Bryan Skow, 135-1

Long Jump

6. Darius Parks, 20-10 1/4

Final Team Standings

1. Willowridge, 112; 2. Katy Taylor, 108.5; 3. Bay City, 96; 4. Lamar Consolidated, 88; 5. Fort Bend Bush, 58; 6. Fort Bend Austin, 52.5; 7. Foster, 48; 8. El Campo, 23; 9. Calhoun, 22; 10. Wharton, 12.