HS Field: 13-6A Representatives Put In Strong Showings During Area Meet

CONROE, TX -- Early starts did not bear on the athletes of 13 and 14-6A as they competed at high levels during the field events of the UIL 6A Area Meet at Conroe High School.

Despite multiple events going on simultaneously, the support of fans, families, and coaches was felt throughout the entire Conroe Track and Field layout.

Shining bright amongst the pack were the multiple champions named during the 13-6A District Track and Field Meet. Their talents in last week’s action carried over handily into dominant performances that will push them into the Regional Meet with an expanded pool of competition to face them.

Here are the results of the Field Events from Thursday morning’s action:

Boys Shot Put:

1st: Tyler Grant (Grand Oaks)

2nd: Trey Richardson (Benjamin Davis)

3rd: Jake Dorsett (The Woodlands)

4th: Jacob Saul (New Caney)

Taking the gold medal by a near eight-foot margin was the indomitable Tyler Grant. His 59’ 7” throw was enough to snag the senior a personal best on his way to the next round of competition, highlighting his still-growing talent amongst the competition.

“I’m blessed. I’m just happy that God gave me the opportunity to show my abilities out here,” said Grant. “I thank my coaches for getting me to this point. It’s been a grind, so I’m thankful that the hard work has paid off.”

Events in track and field were not even on Grant’s radar before his coaches got him involved. The steps taken by them and Grant have shaped the Grand Oaks Grizzly into a force of nature in the throw events.

“Their role to me is so important, because they’re the ones that got me into track,” explained Grant. “I wasn’t even thinking about track until my coaches mentioned it. They pushed me, saw the fire that I had, and it's gotten me here.”

Girls Shot Put:

1st: Taylor Smith (Conroe)

2nd: Ocean Scott (Benjamin Davis)

3rd: Ella Boyer (Oak Ridge)

4th: Lexi Chamaeze (Westfield)

Boys Discus:

1st: Tyler Grant (Grand Oaks)

2nd: Jake Dorsett (The Woodlands)

3rd: Chris Georgopoulos (College Park)

4th: Finn Walker (Oak Ridge)

Girls Discus:

1st: Riley Dube (Oak Ridge)

2nd: Kenna McZeal (Grand Oaks)

3rd: Porsha Daniels (Aldine)

4th: Abigail Watson (Conroe)

Dube continues her strong performances in discus by following her District Championship with a personal best throw of 131’ 3” to secure the top spot and another gold medal.

“It’s awesome. It really shows all the hard work that I put into myself, along with my track coaches and everybody who has been working with me,” said Dube. “I’m really glad I could come out here and compete.”

Joining Dube in the Regionals will be a supporting cast of familiar faces from 13-6A. The competition from schools in Conroe I.S.D. will keep Dube performing at a high level so as not to lose her top spot.

“It's so fun to have such a competitive district because, you know the saying, iron sharpens iron,” said Dube. “Having that competition 24/7 pushes you, whether it's area meets or regional meets, Conroe [I.S.D.] is there.”

Boys High Jump:

1st: Mateo Sanz (The Woodlands)

2nd: Alexander Nemzek (The Woodlands)

3rd: Lawrence Spivey (DeKaney)

4th: Caleb Cortez (College Park)

Girls High Jump:

1st: Anastacha McGowen (Conroe)

2nd: Caroline Ploetner (The Woodlands)

3rd: Eva Lantagne (Conroe)

4th: Prosper Bulfinch (Conroe)

Conroe’s presence in three of the top four spots in the high jump was no small feat considering the heights pushed by the competitors.

McGowen managed to clear a height of 5’ 6” to edge out the rest of the field and cement her place in the regional meet as a likely front runner to advance. On top of her gold medal, her height matches the previous school record that was set by Lantagne.

Conroe’s champion and the gold medalist was running with wings on her shoulder, with a purposeful meaning behind her jumps.

“The main idea in my head is to do it for my brother,” explained McGowen. “He passed away, so I’m doing what I can to get to state for him.”

Also pushing McGowen were the numerous other Lady Tiger jumpers who have pushed her and one another to succeed beyond the anticipated expectations. Junior and Sophomore jumpers are leading the way for a wave of Conroe Field competitors that will likely repeat in the coming years.

“It makes me proud, because we go to practice every day,” said McGowen. “We fool around sometimes, but when it comes down to it, we’re going to try and all make it out.”

Boys Long Jump:

1st: Alijah Stokes (DeKaney)

2nd: Byron Brown (Caney Creek)

3rd: Tomi Tanski (The Woodlands)

4th: Brian Nwugbana (The Woodlands)

Girls Long Jump:

1st: Jayla Cooper (Nimitz)

2nd: Journie Williams (Eisenhower)

3rd: McKenna Griffin (Conroe)

4th: Callie Fisher (Spring)

Boys Triple Jump:

1st: Brian Nwugbana (The Woodlands)

2nd: J.J. Hurd (Conroe)

3rd: Jordan Bush (Benjamin Davis)

4th: Michael Henry (Nimitz)

Girls Triple Jump:

1st: Shi’eana Hall (College Park)

2nd: Callie Fisher (Spring)

3rd: Shanti Buchanan (The Woodlands)

4th: Derielle Levy (Conroe)

Boys Pole Vault:

1st: Edward Ziegler (Grand Oaks)

2nd: Francisco Camacho (Oak Ridge)

3rd: Warren Henager (Willis)

4th: Tyler Andrade (Willis)

Girls Pole Vault:

1st: Kherington Andrews (College Park)

2nd: Kaeley Uhlig (Willis)

3rd: Addy Leddy (The Woodlands)

4th: Tiffany Salazar (Aldine)