EC track runs through region

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Racing to the Finals Shelby May was one of El Campo's runners to advance to the regional finals.

The Ricebirds and Lady 'Birds gave great efforts at Huntsville Friday and Saturday in the regional track meet.

El Campo's teams made a push for the finals and had two girls qualify.

Shelby May competed in the 800- meter run and Chelsi Robinson ran in the 200-meter dash.

"We had a really good year," Alice Barron, the girls head coach, said. "I'm proud of the girls and all their hard work.

"Shelby May in the 800 (meter run) exceeded my expectations. In the 200 (meter dash), Chelsi Robinson went out there and was eighth in prelims and ended up being seventh in the finals. I was real proud of her."

The boys team almost made it to the finals in the 800-meter relay. With a 1:30.77 time, they were only 1.41 seconds away from eighth place.

"I'm very proud of them because they went out and did what I tought them to do," Head Coach Royce Johnson said. "We had to get the handoffs down. We knew we didn't have the best speed, but with handoffs and doing what we're supposed to do, if anything happened, we were going to be right there to capitalize."

The Ricebirds ran their best time of the season at the meet. Johnson attributed his team's performance to finally being able to practice with a complete squad.

"Mainly, we were able to get everybody together," he said. "Before, we had Landon Appling playing baseball and he was out for a couple of weeks. Dominique Murray was injured and still sore after the district meet. We were able to come back and work slowly and get back in shape."

With the track under contstruction, the boys had to turn elsewhere to practice their tehnique.

"Working out on the tennis courts, that's not usual to work track on the tennis court," Johnson said (since Ricebird Stadium is under construction). "They adapted to it and were able to get their handoffs down. The handoffs were perfect."

The following is a list of El Campo's performances at the regional track meet.

800-Meter Run

Girls Prelims

8. May, 2:23.57 Girls Finals

6. May, 2:23.08

800-Meter Relay

Girls Prelims

9. El Campo, 1:44.37 Boys Prelims

13. El Campo, 1:30.77

400-Meter Dash

Girls Prelims

17. Ebonee Spencer, 1:01.99

200-Meter Dash

Girls Prelims

8. Robinson, 25.88 Girls Finals

7. Robinson, 26.38

Triple Jump

Girls Prelims

15. Spencer, 33-10 1/4

Final Standings

Girls

37. El Campo, 1