Italy Junior High Track Team keeps pace with District’s best

Image: Taylor Turner defies gravity during the District track meet — 8th grader Taylor Turner was a force to reckon with at the district track meet in Hubbard. Turner placed in both the triple jump and the long jump during the field events.

Taylor Turner defies gravity during the District track meet — 8th grader Taylor Turner was a force to reckon with at the district track meet in Hubbard. Turner placed in both the triple jump and the long jump during the field events. (Barry Byers)

“I felt like we set a good standard for the junior high Track program this season. The kids worked really hard especially the young ladies. This was the first time I have ever coached girls, and I must admit, I was a little nervous about the prospect. But I was really thrilled with how hard they worked and their desire to get better every day.

The ultimate goal is to keep these kids interested in Track as they go into high school and keep on running. Track makes you mentally and physically better for every other sport and I really hope they stick with it. There are more than a few kids that are capable of competing at the state level in a few years if they will just stick with track and keep working hard. I am committed to being here and helping those that hope to achieve that dream.

I would like to thank the parents and apologize for the late nights. I realize that it is really hard to get up here after 11:00 on a weeknight and get the kids up for school again the next morning. Unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil and I tried to keep those nights to a minimum. I appreciate the parents supporting their kids desire to participate in Track. I would especially like to thank Kelly Lewis and Sandy Eubank for providing snacks for the kids." — Stephen Coleman/Head Track Coach

The Italy Junior High Track teams had a fantastic season this year culminating with an excellent showing at the District Meet in Hubbard. The Meet standings were as follows:

  • 7th Grade Girls – 2nd Place
  • 8th Grade Girls – 4th Place
  • 7th Grade Boys – 4th Place
  • 8th Grade Boys – 3rd Place

Outstanding Athletes:

  • 7th Grade — Kortnei Johnson-Gold medals in every individual competition she entered the entire season. Finishing with five golds at the District Meet.
  • 8th Grade — Taylor Turner-Outstanding effort and attitude every meet. A true “Gladiator”.
  • 7th Grade — Colton Petrey-Undefeated in the 800m this season.
  • 8th Grade — Cody Medrano-Never missed a single meet while in JH and got better every time he competed. Always tough and tough minded.

8th Grade Girls:

  • Triple Jump – 3rd Place
    • Taylor Turner
  • Long Jump – 5th Place
    • Taylor Turner
  • 4 × 100m – 4th Place
    • Ryisha Copeland
    • Kendra Copeland
    • Bernice Hailey
    • Ashley Harper
  • 4 × 200m – 3rd Place
    • Ryisha Copeland
    • Kendra Copeland
    • Bernice Hailey
    • Ashley Harper
  • 100m Dash – 3rd Place
    • Ryisha Copeland
  • Discus:
    • Paige Westbrook – 2nd Place
    • Monserrat Figueroa – 6th Place
  • 200m Dash – 3rd Place
    • Kendra Copeland

7th Grade Girls:

  • Kortnei Johnson – 1st Place in the following events:
    • Long Jump
    • Triple Jump
    • 100m Dash
    • 200m Dash
  • 4 × 200m Relay – 1st Place
    • Tara Wallis
    • Tylar Wilson
    • Kortnei Johnson
    • Bailey Eubank
  • 4 × 100m Relay – 3rd Place
    • Bailey Eubank
    • Tara Wallis
    • Tylar Wilson
    • K’Breona Davis
  • Shot Put:
    • Maddy Washinton – 1st Place
    • Jaclynn Lewis – 4th Place
  • Discus:
    • Jaclynn Lewis – 1st Place
    • Maddy Washington – 2nd Place
    • Bailey DeBorde – 6th Place
  • 4 × 400m – 5th Place
    • Makenzie Davis-Goodwin
    • Kelsey Nelson
    • Bailey Eubank
    • Lupita Rincon
  • 1600m Run – 5th Place
    • Lupita Rincon
  • 200m Dash – 6th Place
    • Lupita Rincon
  • 800m Run – 4th Place
    • Lupita Rincon
  • 100m Dash – 6th Place
    • Lupita Rincon

8th Grade Boys:

  • 4 × 400m Relay – 4th Place
    • Kyle Mackovich
    • Justin Wood
    • Cody Medrano
    • Deiondre Cockran
  • 4 × 100m Relay – 5th Place
    • Zain Byers
    • Hank Seabolt
    • Tristan Smithwick
    • Kevin Roldan
  • 4 × 200m Relay – 3rd Place
    • Kyle Mackovich
    • Justin Wood
    • Cody Medrano
    • Deiondre Cockran
  • Triple Jump – 1st Place
    • Justin Wood
  • 400m Dash:
    • Cody Medrano – 2nd Place
    • Kyle Mackovick – 5th Place

7th Grade Boys:

  • 4 × 200m Relay – 2nd Place
    • Chace McGinnis
    • Colton Petrey
    • Ben Lewis
    • Jacob Witte
  • 4 × 400m Relay – 4th Place
    • Jacob Witte
    • Colton Petrey
    • John Escamilla
    • Ben Lewis
  • 4 × 100m Relay – 4th Place
    • Tyler Vencill
    • John Byers
    • Kelton Bales
    • Kyle Fortenberry
  • 800m Run:
    • Colton Petrey – 1st Place
    • John Escamilla – 3rd Place
    • Cody Boyd – 4th Place
  • 2400m Run:
    • Cody Boyd – 5th Place
    • Kyle Fortenberry – 6th Place
  • 400m Dash – 2nd Place
    • Chace McGinnis
  • Triple Jump – 3rd Place
    • Colton Petrey

Comment from Stephen Coleman, 4/15/10, 11:10:03am

I would like to thank Dee Dee Hamilton, Kelly Lewis and especially Barry Byers for taking such great pictures of all the Track Team kids this season. The Italy community is really lucky to have so many people that are so willing to work hard to give the kids all the recognition that they deserve and this goes double for all the folks at the “NeoTrib”. I know that the kids appreciate it and the entire Italy ISD Coaching Staff especially does.

Thanks again Barry, I hope you know how much I appreciate your efforts.

Stephen Coleman
Head Track Coach
Italy High School
Italy Texas