Competing in a Region the size of France that is widely recognized as the best High School Track & Field region in the world. The qualifiers from the Italy HS Track Team did our school and community proud the last two days during the Region III Track Meet in Palestine.

The common denominator was season, personal, and career bests.

Leading the parade of stellar performances was John Issac who finished third in the Long Jump and missed qualifying for the State Meet by 1/4 of an inch with a jump of 21-9. This jump came on his final effort and was over a foot better than his previous best. John is the first alternate to the state meet from Region III in the Long Jump. The top five finishers in Long Jump were only seperated by three inches.

This effort served to inspire John in the Triple Jump the next morning as he once again went more than a foot over his prior personal best with a jump of 43’-9". This distance put John in second place and a spot in the state Track Meet in Austin on May 14. John has competed at the Regional level all four years of High School and to earn a berth at the state meet in his senior year is a fitting conclusion to an outstanding High School Athletic career.

Also competing in the Long Jump was Heath Clemons who finished in ninth place with a personal best of 39’-10 1/4".

The Mens 4×100 Relay Team qualified for the finals with a season best effort of 44.50. Competing for the Gladiators in the Sprint Relay was Deandre Sephus (Jr.), John Issac (Sr.), Chase Hamilton (Fr.), Jasenio Andersen (Jr.), Desmond Andersen (Sr.), Heath Clemons (Jr.). In the finals on Tuesday we turned in another great performance finishing in fifth place with a time of 44.75, the second best time all season.

Deandre Sephus competed in the 100 M. and Ryan Ashcraft in the 800 and both represented our team very well.

The Mens Track Team finished in 11th place an outstanding conclusion to the team portion of the season.

Representing the ladies were Kaitlyn Rossa in the 3200 and 1600 and Lauren Gerald in the Shot Put.

Lauren gave a season and career best effort with a put of 34’-11" which placed her in fourth. Lauren has been a stellar member of the Ladies Track Team all four years of High School and she will be missed.

In the 3200 Kaitlyn finished in sixth place and gave a great effort fighting through a leg cramp the entire race. In the 1600 the next day Kaitlynn overcame her injury from the day before finishing in yet another personal best for an Italy athlete in a time of 5:48, the first time she has ever finished under 6:00.

It has been a fantastic track season from the seventh grade teams all the way up to the varsity Men and Ladies. Please join me in congratulating these fine athletes.