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2023-24 Fort Bend Marshall Boys Track & Field
THE BIG TICKET: Headlines entering the UIL Regional Track Meet
JELANI WATKINS, Atascocita
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Atascocita’s Jelani Watkins is “that” guy. Watkins has made the Eagles a State favorite after transferring from Klein Forest last summer. He led KF to a State title a year ago and is the two-time defending champion in the 200-meters. He will lead the all-time national record holder for the 4 x100 relay team as well as the 4x200. The LSU football signee could almost win a track meet himself with a shot in the 100-meters also in his grasp. Remember Matthew Boling? Well, all eyes will be on Watkins as he continues to build on his resume.
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KEVIN BELLO, Cinco Ranch
Who is this guy? The senior won a the 100 and 400-meters at the Area Meet and finished second in the 200-meters. He also anchors the 4x400 relay. He will be a force to be reckoned with in the Class Region III Meet.
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BATTLE OF THE STICKS
2023-24 Klein Forest Girls Track & FieldJamey Wright (VYPE)
Klein Forest, Paetow, Randle and Summer Creek girls are showing out in the Class 6A and 5A relays. The Klein Forest Golden Eagles are the current queens coming out of Houston, but the competition is heating up. They will be in Region II, and Paetow and Summer Creek will battle it out in Region III. The new school – Randle – is going to be dangerous on the girls and boys side. Are they the new FB Marshall?
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LONDON CALLING
Katy’s London Jackson-Bray in the next big thing in girls track. She has won the 100 and 200 in the Area Meet and is no stranger to elite track and field. Don’t sleep on Celeste Robinson of Cypress Ranch in the sprints along with Avia Jones of Klein Forest.
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H(Hurdle)-TOWN
Ridge Point's Mason DossettJamey Wright (VYPE)
The city of Houston is loaded with tremendous hurdlers. Ridge Point’s Mason Dossett (Baylor football) is a beast in the 100-hurdles and Tompkins’ Jayden Keys carry the flag in the 300 hurdles. Cy Park’s Calvion Fuller (100 meters) and Andrew Jones of Klein Collins (300 meters) are also contenders. On the girls side, Lillian Harden of Bridgeland is a favorite to get to State. Kelly Frederick of Summer Creek and Mackenzie Collins of Shadow Creek are also hurdle specialists along with Aaliyah Booker of The Woodlands.
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SPEED MERCHANTS
Iliya Dryaba of The WoodlandsBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Other names who will emerge this week include Tompkins’ Jhase McMillan (Montana State football), Klein Cain’s Darius Rogers, Tomball Memorial’s Braylin Byrd, Klein Forest’s Lawson Jacobs, FB Bush's Amariya Hardeman, Dekaney’s Tanook Hines and Iliya Dryaba of The Woodlands are legit blurs on the track. Watch out for freshmen Landen Williams-Callis of Randle and Jordan Riggs of FB Marshall, who are looking special and will have big-time careers.
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THE LONG RUN
Klein's Katie KoontsJamey Wright (VYPE)
Pearland’s Maddie Peters is “that” girl. She has dominated the Houston long-distance landscape for a few seasons now. Staucie Lees of Grand Oaks and Katie Koonts (Tulsa-signee) of Klein are also contenders from H-Town. Cool story… Tompkins siblings Griffen and Rowan Saacke are tremendous long-distance talents on the boys and girls side, respectively. They push each other, which makes them solid candidates to reach the podium.
Fort Bend Bush's Amariya Hardeman
FAT BOY’S PIZZA Player of the Month: Hardeman adding onto legacy at Bush
As a junior, she’s taken a starring role in the Bush track program, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
“My big take on competing at Bush is that I know I’m actually able to surpass my limits,” she said. “I’ve always been afraid that if I try to do that, then I might fail or become discouraged. But, realizing how far I can actually go while training in this program has really changed my perspective.”
Lorin Cook (VYPE)
Just how far has she gone, while competing with Bush?
In her freshman year alone, Hardeman was a part of the 4x100 Relay team that took gold in the 2022 State Meet.
Fast forward to this year, and she recently set a school record in the 100m dash (11.51 sec.) at the Texas Relays in March, prior to just recently placing first in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100 relay events at the District 20-6A meet.
Given the mental-aspect of the sport that she’s continually embraced in order to succeed, one has to wonder what compels her to do so.
“In terms of what motivates me, it begins with myself and knowing that the work I put in won’t go to waste,” said Hardeman. “Of course, an even bigger role is played by my family, my teammates, and my friends. They’re obviously important to me and help to keep me inspired to pursue a scholarship in track, or maybe even go pro one day.”
The stars of 2023-24 Bush Girls Track & FieldLorin Cook (VYPE)
It’s no surprise that she sees her family as a motivator.
After all, her grandfather – Don Hardeman – was an NFL running back for the Houston Oilers and Baltimore Colts.
Additionally, her father – Cedric Hardeman – played at the University of Houston prior to becoming the current head football coach at Conroe, and her older brother, Chris, played football at Oklahoma State.
“It kind of makes me feel like I have someone to relate to when it comes to being a young athlete,” she said. “If I ever have any mental problems or I’m dealing with issues, I know I can always turn to my dad, mom, and brother. They’ve always been very supportive and have allowed me to make my own decisions, while also putting in their own advice because they want what’s best for me.”
The junior Bronco still has another left in her high school career, however, she now prepares for another run to Austin with her teammates.
Lorin Cook (VYPE)
But, where might we see Hardeman in the next few years?
“Obviously, I want to run track in college, but what I really want to become is a sports psychologist,” Hardeman said. “I have friends who are athletes that deal with mental health, including myself. I really want to enter that field in order to help the upcoming generation of athletes know how to navigate the athletic world, when it comes to mental blockage in their sport.”
As mentioned earlier, Hardeman has embraced the mental aspect of the sport she’s become so accomplished in.
It’s only natural that she wants to pass down that experience to others, just as her family did for her.