TRACK AND FIELD: Hanson puts training into use for double

Mar 10, 2013 (Odessa American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Part of Permian junior Lyndi Hanson's mind was content Saturday to concede victory in the Division I girls 1,600 meters to Odessa High junior Amber Suarez.

"I was running the last lap and I was like, 'She deserves it,' " Hanson recalled.

Trailing by several meters heading down the homestretch at Ratliff Stadium, though, Hanson decided to test her extra gear.

In doing so, Hanson produced the most dramatic moment on the second day of the West Texas Relays. Her kick and lean at the finish line earned the 1,600 title with a time of 5 minutes, 41.51 seconds, just a hair ahead of Suarez (5:41.46).

Hanson has been caught from behind at times the last couple of years and said those experiences have been built into her training.

"What's ironic is my kick is what I've had to work on," said Hanson, who much earlier won the 3,200. "I've been trying to improve and that's what we were looking for." Hanson's double equaled the two titles from sophomore teammate Miah Nelson, who cruised to victories in both the 800 and 400.

Those victories were part of a solid showing for ECISD teams on a day where visiting District 2-5A rival Amarillo Tascosa stole the show by sweeping the team titles.

Tascosa's girls won with 170.5 points and the Rebels boys squad won with 162. In each division, and ECISD team was second -- Odessa High's girls and Permian's boys.

The OHS girls were led by senior Aailyah Givens, who won the triple jump while also finishing second in the high jump and 100 hurdles.

"I think I performed pretty good in my hurdle race," Givens said. "I tried to keep it clean and just work hard over each hurdle. I think, as a team, we're in a pretty good place, and I think I'm in a pretty good place myself." Permian's boys won four events, including Keouvion McCalop in the high jump with a respectable effort of 6 feet, 2 inches.

Patnhers junior Garrett Woodall stayed undefeated in the 200 and ran the anchor leg on the winning 800 relay, which also included Robert Thomas, Zachary Garza and Malik Shinsako.

Also, senior Jorrion Wilson made his season debut by winning the 400 and running a leg on the 1,600 relay. Wilson was the only pure quarter miler on the relay, which got gutsy legs out of Woodall, Garza and Tyler Grizzell -- each of whom specialize at shorter distances.

"Track is an individual sport, and when you get to mix the team in, you see how you can depend on each other," Wilson said. "I think they did a great job. Zach, Tyler and Woodall, they all did a great job." Odessa High's boys got a victory from Dayday Wynn in the triple jump.

The senior won with a season-best effort of 43-3.25 and he edged Permian's Michael Franco (43-1) for that title. Wynn also was second in the long jump.

"I feel like I'm getting better," Wynn said. "I feel like I'm improving about a foot a week. I'm doing all right." twitter.com/oachrisgove http://www.facebook.com/oachris.gove ref=tn_tnmn ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

[ Back To Technology News's Homepage ]