AUSTIN — As Westbury fans swarmed near the podium to get a glance of the Class 4A girls state track and field team champions, many of them donned a blue Westbury track and field T-shirt. On the back were words that spoke volumes about what this season has been all about for the Rebels: “We didn’t come this far to only come this far.”
A year removed from a third-place finish and 10 years removed from their last state title, the Westbury girls capped off their season on top as they claimed the University Interscholastic League 4A title. It is the Rebels first team championship since 2000, when they won their fourth consecutive title in Class 5A.
“The legacy continues,” Westbury coach Sherita Jackson said. “This is the beginning of a new program — and we’re back.”
Though they competed in just five events, the Rebels made the most of every one of them. The quartet of Normaria Lane, Kristian Austin, Tiara Cross and Christy Udoh started the night by winning the 400-meter relay in 45.75 seconds. Cross, Kathy Lenore, Lane and Austin led the Rebels to a second-place finish in the 800 relay (1:38.24) and Austin (fifth in the 300-meter hurdles) and Udoh (first in the 200-meter dash) combined to give the Rebels a chance at the title heading into the final event, the 1,600-meter relay.
With co-leader Beaumont Ozen sitting at 48 points and out of events, the title was up for grabs between the Rebels and Lancaster, the eight-time state champion who trailed Westbury by just eight points.
Cross, Lane and Lenore did enough to give the Rebels the lead heading into the final lap, and Udoh ran a 54.13-second anchor leg to seal the win and the title with 68 points. Lancaster finished second with 56.
“I was very confident,” said Udoh, a Texas signee. “I just told myself, ‘Put us out there and if I break down and get tired, hey, we’re still in it.’ But I was happy my team put me in that position.”
On the boys side, Angleton (38 points) finished second overall in the team standings behind Lancaster (72) despite competing in just three events. The Wildcats quartet of Ryan Jackson, Henry Josey, Quandre Diggs and Terrence Franks won the 400-meter relay (41.28 seconds) and finished third in the 800 relay (1:28.18) while Josey finished third in the 100-meter dash (10.97).
“I’m proud to death of these guys,” Angleton coach Paul Eby said. “They’ve performed all year and they always do well on the big stage. Three races, three medals — we’re excited.”
The Kingwood Park boys concluded the night with a win in the 1,600-meter relay. Ian Ebow, Nick Rollo, Kolby Chandler and Brett Parker won with a time of 3:14.01.
Brenham junior Will Antkowiak stood out in the distance events. He set a Class 4A state meet record in the 3,200-meter run (9:07.6) and also finished second in the 1,600 (4:16.55). Huntsville senior Justin Gilbert won the 200-meter dash (21.59). Kingwood Park’s Mariam Amadu repeated as state champion in the 300-meter hurdles, winning in 43.13 seconds. Sharpstown senior Ryesa Whigham claimed her first state gold medal, winning the 100-meter hurdles in 14.3 seconds.
