Italy’s Track Team breezes thru Area despite calm winds

Image: Heath Clemons glides on air to place in the triple jump — Coach Stephen Coleman watches in amazement as Heath Clemons proves that “I” can fly during the Area track meet held at Charles Head Stadium on Alvarado High School campus. Clemons placed 3rd in the event to advance to Regional in May.

Heath Clemons glides on air to place in the triple jump — Coach Stephen Coleman watches in amazement as Heath Clemons proves that “I” can fly during the Area track meet held at Charles Head Stadium on Alvarado High School campus. Clemons placed 3rd in the event to advance to Regional in May. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kaitlyn’s ready — Italy ISD Superintendent Mr. Jimmie Malone fires the gun to start the 3200m race which included, Italy’s own, Kaitlyn Rossa in lane 5. Rossa finished 2nd in the event.

Kaitlyn’s ready — Italy ISD Superintendent Mr. Jimmie Malone fires the gun to start the 3200m race which included, Italy’s own, Kaitlyn Rossa in lane 5. Rossa finished 2nd in the event. (Barry Byers)

Image: Past and present — Former Gladiator track star Lee Hamilton helps Ryan Ashcraft stretch out. Mr. Hamilton knows his stuff, helping Ashcraft to finish in 2nd Place.

Past and present — Former Gladiator track star Lee Hamilton helps Ryan Ashcraft stretch out. Mr. Hamilton knows his stuff, helping Ashcraft to finish in 2nd Place. (Barry Byers)

Image: Helping out — Coach Craig Bales and Larry Mayberry handle the measuring duties at the shot put.

Helping out — Coach Craig Bales and Larry Mayberry handle the measuring duties at the shot put. (Barry Byers)

Image: Making friends — These Lady Jaguars from Hubbard were wanting to be seen on italyneotribune.com. There was just one stipulation. Heath and Ryan, you two owe me one.

Making friends — These Lady Jaguars from Hubbard were wanting to be seen on italyneotribune.com. There was just one stipulation. Heath and Ryan, you two owe me one. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bales brings it! — Kaitlyn Bales finished in 5th place at the shot put.

Bales brings it! — Kaitlyn Bales finished in 5th place at the shot put. (Barry Byers)

Image: One last hoorah! — Senior Jaleecia Fleming launches the shot put to finish in 8th place.

One last hoorah! — Senior Jaleecia Fleming launches the shot put to finish in 8th place. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lauren takes 1st Place — Geralds up, Bales on deck and Fleming in the hole! “I love it when they say that,” stated Lauren Geralds who finished in 1st place at the shot put.

Lauren takes 1st Place — Geralds up, Bales on deck and Fleming in the hole! “I love it when they say that,” stated Lauren Geralds who finished in 1st place at the shot put. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Fab Four — Lauren Geralds, Kaytlyn Bales, Kaitlyn Rossa and Jaleecia Fleming were the 4 Lady Gladiators that represented Italy’s girls at Area. All four earned points for the cause.

The Fab Four — Lauren Geralds, Kaytlyn Bales, Kaitlyn Rossa and Jaleecia Fleming were the 4 Lady Gladiators that represented Italy’s girls at Area. All four earned points for the cause. (Barry Byers)

Image: John astounds — Italy’s John Isaac takes 4th place in the long jump and 1st place in the triple jump.

John astounds — Italy’s John Isaac takes 4th place in the long jump and 1st place in the triple jump. (Barry Byers)

Image: Dez and Snoop — Desmond Anderson works the shades while Heath Clemons sports some bling during the Area track meet in Alvarado.

Dez and Snoop — Desmond Anderson works the shades while Heath Clemons sports some bling during the Area track meet in Alvarado. (Barry Byers)

Image: We’re cool! — The Fab Four, coach Stacy McDonald and her puppy, “Livey”, cool off in coach’s car during the lunch break.

We’re cool! — The Fab Four, coach Stacy McDonald and her puppy, “Livey”, cool off in coach’s car during the lunch break. (Barry Byers)

Image: The exchange — John Isaac hands the baton to Chase Hamilton as the two helped Italy’s 4 × 100m relay team finish in 3rd Place and advance to Regional.

The exchange — John Isaac hands the baton to Chase Hamilton as the two helped Italy’s 4 × 100m relay team finish in 3rd Place and advance to Regional. (Barry Byers)

Image: Proud Coach — Desmond Anderson, Chase Hamilton, John Isaac, Coach Stephen Coleman, De’Andre Sephus and Jasenio Anderson are feeling proud after overtaking Crossroads for 3rd Place in the 4 × 100m relay to advance to Regionals.

Proud Coach — Desmond Anderson, Chase Hamilton, John Isaac, Coach Stephen Coleman, De’Andre Sephus and Jasenio Anderson are feeling proud after overtaking Crossroads for 3rd Place in the 4 × 100m relay to advance to Regionals. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan on the outside — Ryan Ashcraft overcame having his ankle stepped on during the 800m race to finish in 2nd Place.

Ryan on the outside — Ryan Ashcraft overcame having his ankle stepped on during the 800m race to finish in 2nd Place. (Barry Byers)

Image: Crossing the line — Injury prone, Ryan Ashcraft, finishes in 2nd place despite a sore ankle. Just kidding, Ryan.

Crossing the line — Injury prone, Ryan Ashcraft, finishes in 2nd place despite a sore ankle. Just kidding, Ryan. (Barry Byers)

Image: That burns! — Honorary nurse DeeDee Hamilton treats the damage done to Ryan Ashcraft during his 800m race.

That burns! — Honorary nurse DeeDee Hamilton treats the damage done to Ryan Ashcraft during his 800m race. (Barry Byers)

Image: It’s our day! — After delaying out of the blocks due to what seemed to be a false start, De’Andre Sephus realized the race was continuing and turned on the speed to claim 4th Place and advance to Regionals. Coach Stephen Coleman stated after the misfire, “It’s just our day!”

It’s our day! — After delaying out of the blocks due to what seemed to be a false start, De’Andre Sephus realized the race was continuing and turned on the speed to claim 4th Place and advance to Regionals. Coach Stephen Coleman stated after the misfire, “It’s just our day!” (Barry Byers)

Image: Proud of his team — Ryan Ashcraft experiences a moment of pure joy, excited at how well he and his teammates were performing during the Area track meet.

Proud of his team — Ryan Ashcraft experiences a moment of pure joy, excited at how well he and his teammates were performing during the Area track meet. (Barry Byers)

Image: Try a 3-point stance — Lee Hamilton talks race strategy with Kaitlyn Rossa before her 1600m track event. Rossa finished in 2nd place and will advance to Regional in two events.

Try a 3-point stance — Lee Hamilton talks race strategy with Kaitlyn Rossa before her 1600m track event. Rossa finished in 2nd place and will advance to Regional in two events. (Barry Byers)

Image: Good start — Kaitlyn Rossa, dressed in all black, rounds turn one in the 1600m race.

Good start — Kaitlyn Rossa, dressed in all black, rounds turn one in the 1600m race. (Barry Byers)

Image: Big “D” relaxes — Desmond Anderson seems right at home resting on the letter D, in “Indian”, which was painted across the Alvarado endzone.

Big “D” relaxes — Desmond Anderson seems right at home resting on the letter D, in “Indian”, which was painted across the Alvarado endzone. (Barry Byers)

Image: Quarterback keeper — Jasenio Anderson resorts to his football form while taking the handoff from De’Andre Sephus in an effort to salvage the race.

Quarterback keeper — Jasenio Anderson resorts to his football form while taking the handoff from De’Andre Sephus in an effort to salvage the race. (Barry Byers)

Image: In good shape — Kaitlyn Rossa holds off the rest of the field to claim 2nd place in the 1600m race.

In good shape — Kaitlyn Rossa holds off the rest of the field to claim 2nd place in the 1600m race. (Barry Byers)

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