Three athletes advanced to the 5A state championship track meet on May 13 in Austin. Junior Jadyn Robinson qualified in the 300-meter hurdles, senior Ty Cook qualified in the 400 meters and senior Christine Mallard in the 100, 200, and 400 meters.
Coach Detrion Taylor said his athletes are well prepared to compete this weekend.
“We started the season with the end in mind. So we have had a champion mentality from the beginning. We just had to understand that everything we do is with the common championship goal in mind; events, friends, academics, and obviously working out,” Coach Taylor said. “We wanted to start with a championship mentality and then hopefully that would carry out onto the track.”
Cook and Mallard are returning state qualifiers. Mallard has qualified for state every year since her freshman year. She feels confident to compete at the University of Texas once again.
“It’s very different considering there’s no one else I necessarily have to worry about,” Mallard said. “Before my senior year, there was always someone older than me that I had to compete with. But this year I’m competing with myself and essentially the clock.”
At the UIL 5A Region I Meet in Lubbock, Texas, Cook ran a personal best in the 400-meters with a time of 49.55 seconds. Robinson ran a personal best in the 300 hurdles with a time of 44.45 seconds. Mallard got the gold in the 100, 200, and 400 meters. Coach Taylor hopes for the greatest outcomes whether that’s a personal best or a spot on the podium at the peak of their season.
“This stage of the game is more mental than it is physical. So I am just trying to keep them focused and understanding that there are still goals to accomplish,” Coach Taylor said. “The mental preparation is just really them understanding that this is a rare occasion. I want to really help them embrace the moment while not being afraid of the moment.”
