GAMES
RANKINGS
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.
Coach Remon Smith of Klein Forest Track & Field
THE MOTIVATOR: Smith gives credit to Klein Forest upon national recognition
Given that fact, it makes sense that he was recognized as both the Milesplit National Coach of the Year, as well as the Houston Chronicle’s Greater Houston 6A Coach of the Year
However, he didn’t give all the credit to himself.
“Words can’t really explain how great it feels to be recognized,” Smith said. “I’m excited. For me, I feel like the award is for my team, my community, my coaching staff, and the school itself. I just happen to be the recipient of it, but it was thanks to their efforts.”
As previously mentioned, Smith has had the privilege to work with numerous talented individuals throughout his tenure as a coach. His scope of influence began with his first coaching job, as the MacArthur girls coach in the mid-90s, before coaching the Nimitz boys track coach, and ultimately joining Klein Forest, seven years ago.
Of course, Smith recognized this too.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with some phenomenal young athletes, ranging from the girls I coached at MacArthur, to my first stint as a boys coach at Nimitz, before being blessed with the unbelievably talented athletes I’ve gotten to know at Klein Forest.”
“Through my career, I’ve learned how to understand the individuals--to motivate them and help them to succeed, which is all a coach can do. But again, I’ve just been blessed to be around such talented athletes. I just tell them, ‘Hey, I’m going to make sure the bus gets there on time, and get you home safe,’ and they do the rest.”
As a coach, it certainly can’t hurt to have some of the most well-rounded competitors in the state.
2022-23 Klein Forest Boys Track & FieldBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I think what separates the [Klein Forest] guys I’ve worked with is the fact that they are willing to do what others aren’t. They try to make the uncomfortable comfortable in their pursuit of titles. Those guys work hard and they are very resilient, both mentally and physically, which allows them to go to the next level.”
Talent aside, what’s the secret ingredient that coach Smith incorporates into his program--one that turns exemplary athletes into champions?
“I make them believe in themselves,” he said. “I try to help them understand that the only limits you have are the ones you put on yourself. They buy into that, and a lot of them will go on to exceed their own expectations. I think that’s another thing that has allowed me to succeed as a coach.”
You had better believe that coach Smith--and, by extension, Klein Forest--are far from done, when it comes to state championships.
Expect the team to be hungry for more, come next Spring.