And they’re off ... to Austin

By Zack Cunningham/sportsreporter@trcle.com

June 03, 2009 05:36 pm

— After a tumultuous three months that saw swine-flu induced delays and the near-cancellations of the regional meets altogether, Johnson County athletes are finally headed to Austin for the UIL state track meet, which starts Friday.
Students from Rio Vista, Grandview, Godley, Burleson and Cleburne high schools will be competing in events ranging from the high jump to the 1,600-meter relay.
Tyler Chappell will be representing the Yellow Jackets in the 1,600 run after winning the Class 4A, Region II championship.
Cleburne head coach Don Spaulding said coaching an athlete like Chappell takes care of itself.
“The thing for him is, and I’ve said it all along, is his work ethic,” Spaulding said. “He is a driven young man and it makes it easy for me to coach. With cross country, they wake up early every morning and he has a passion for it. It makes it a lot easier if you have people like that working for you.
“He’s easy to coach and he’s got the varsity motivation and the desire. I didn’t expect him to go out and do what he did at regionals, which was to be in first the whole way. We were hoping for an opportunity and he went out and seized it and he’s only a junior.”
With Chappell running cross country for the Yellow Jackets in the fall, Spaulding said the junior is well-suited to meet his goal in Austin.
“There are some very impressive times, especially from down south,” Spaulding said. “He’s aware of the times, but his goal is to break the school record of 4:25, set by Donald Gathings [in 1983].
“I want to see him win, but he’s going to have to run. You know what the expectations are and he’s exceeded those. I think he’ll come out and he’ll run his fastest time of the year.”
Chappell will be joined by a contingent of Johnson County athletes from four other schools.
Grandview is sending several athletes, including Marissa Cooksey, who will be attempting to medal in five events.
Cooksey will be participating in the triple jump, long jump, 400 dash, 400 relay and the 1,600 relay.
Grandview head coach Stacy Bartosh said results will take care of themselves at the state meet if the Lady Zebras don’t hold back.
“I always expect them to go out and compete at their best,” Bartosh said. “If they give their all, it gives us a great chance at state. Wherever that leads us, knowing we’ve done our best, if they give their all, I think we’ll feel successful no matter what.”
Bartosh said the prospect of sophomore Charley Taggart making two more potential return trips to Austin on top of this year’s performance is something to look forward to.
“I’ve had fun watching her the last two years, first as an eighth grader and then as a freshman,” Bartosh said. “After seeing her potential so young and knowing she wasn’t terribly far off as a freshman, I didn’t know it would come to fruition so early. I definitely expect to see her return the next few years.”
Bartosh said seeing Cooksey perform at her final high school track meet is a moment well-deserved for the standout athlete.
“It’s bittersweet,” Bartosh said. “She’s prepared all this time for this meet and it’s going to be a great culmination of the last four years. How much better can it get to go to state in five events in your senior year?
“It’s just amazing. She’s so worthy of this opportunity and because of her work ethic, leadership and attitude. I’m really pleased and excited for her, the hard part about it is it having to be her last meet that she’ll run for Grandview. I hate to see her go, but she’s been fun to coach and fun to watch and she’s been a great asset in so many ways. It’s the way the story should end, I think, with her.”
Along with Cooksey will be Taggart (3,200 run), Angie Hughes (400 and 1,600 relays), Vanecia Spencer (400 relay, 1,600 relay and 100 meter dash) and Sam Wallace (400 and 1,600 relays).
Rio Vista High School is sending Chelsea Hutchinson (400 dash and 1,600 relay), Lauren McFarland (pole vault and 1,600 relay), Katy Welty (1,600 relay) and Maggie Judd (1,600 relay).
Also going for the Eagles is Trey Doggett in the 110-meter hurdles.
Burleson High School is sending Blake Jakobsson (discus) and Chris Vanderlinden (high jump).
Godley High School will send Ashley Allen (100-meter hurdles), Vradley Cerna (400 relay), Landry Martinez (400 and 800 relays), Riley Good (400 and 800 relays), Victor Cerna (400 and 800 relays), and Ty Young (800 relay).
The meet will start at 8 a.m. Friday with the girls Class 2A and 4A 3,200-meter runs.

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