GAMES
RANKINGS
Katy's London Jackson-Bray accepts her gold medal at the Region III-6A Meet
FAT BOY’S PIZZA Player of the Month: All smiles for Katy’s Jackson-Bray as she makes her State Meet debut
After narrowly missing out on the UIL State Meet a year ago, Jackson-Bray made a statement in last week’s Region III-6A Meet.
Not only did she take gold in the Girls 100m Dash (11.44 s), but she took that a step further by placing second in the 200m Dash (23.72 s), which ultimately punched her ticket to Austin.
“It feels incredible,” she said. “Sometimes I can’t believe how far I’ve come in the last year. I’ve been so blessed in my time with the team and coaches.
I think what might set me apart from others is that I find fun in the competition. It’s not like a job for me since I just want to go out there and enjoy myself. It’s a sport, and sports are meant to be fun, so I don’t take it too seriously. At the end of the day, I want to leave with a smile on my face.”
Photo provided by London Jackson-Bray
There have been plenty of smiles to be had for the Katy program in recent weeks, and not just for Jackson-Bray.
She will be joined by fellow qualifiers, Elizabeth Brooks (800m), Adam Carter (Shot Put), and Tyler Willis (Shot Put), when the team travels to Mike A. Myers Stadium in May.
It’s not just her teammates that inspire the Katy speedster, either. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Both of my parents ran track at the University of Houston,” said Jackson-Bray. “Plus, my sister ran all four years of high school, so it’s always been in my family. I originally played volleyball and didn’t start competing in track until seventh grade.
While that might be a little overwhelming to live up to for some people, I see it as more of an inspiration. My parents never pushed me into the sport. It was something I found by myself, and they’ve obviously been very supportive of me and my journey.”
Jackson-Bray continues to play volleyball to this day, for both Katy High and her club team, Katy United.
While being a multi-sport athlete can be time consuming, it’s certainly benefited this Katy junior.
Photo provided by London Jackson-Bray
“I feel like the training I’m not able to get out of track, I’m able to get in volleyball,” she said. “I’m able to increase my experience in the sense of jumping, being explosive, and improving my reaction time with everything.
I love volleyball, but I think track is what I’m leaning to more in college. I do have a few offers as of right now, so I feel like that’s the route I’m meant to take when I graduate.”
When she’s not going on a shopping spree at Lululemon with her friends or watching her go-to show Grey’s Anatomy in the coming years, Jackson-Bray intends to pursue a career in dermatology once she reaches the collegiate level.
Although, she’s now preparing to contend for a state title.
With another year left in her high school career, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Jackson-Bray is on the path towards an exceptional future.
It all begins at the starting line.
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.