Dawson wins state championship in 1,600
Herald Staff Report AUSTIN — Big Spring's Zack Dawson said he was sick and tired of third place and just wanted one win before he graduated later this month.
Dawson had his gold fever cured Friday as the Big Spring senior raced to a first-place finish in the 1,600-meter run at the Class 4A state track meet held at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin. “It feels great. This is exactly what I was looking for,” Dawson said. “I was so tired of finishing in third. I just wanted one gold medal before I graduated.” 
Dawson finished the race with a personal best time of 4:10.23, just four seconds off the Class 4A state record. He finished two seconds ahead of Alex De La Garza from Mercedes. However, Dawson trailed De La Garza entering the final lap. “We were neck and neck for the last two laps,” he explained. “I had to give it everything I had to win. I simply outkicked him for the win. “I couldn't ask for a better way to end my senior year,” Dawson continued. “I've got a lot of great memories running track and cross country at Big Spring, but this one will stand out.” Dawson is already committed to Texas Tech and plans to run both cross country and track for the Red Raiders. He actually qualified to run in the 3,200 meters as well, but decided to sit it out and focus solely on the 1,600. In doing so, he opened the door for junior teammate Jordan Valle to enter the race. Valle ran both the 3,200 and 1,600 races and entered each with one of the highest qualifying times. “I wanted to go out and prove I belonged with these other athletes,” Valle said. “I was going trying to do my best and win.” Valle put up a personal best time of 9:24.34 and nabbed a fourth-place finish in the process. He was in third entering the final lap, but was passed up just before the finish line. He put together a sixth-place performance in the 1,600 and was satisfied with his results at his first state meet. “I know what it's like now. Now, others who run this race next year will know about me,” he said. “I feel like I stack up pretty well and will have a chance to win state next year.” The greatest compliment for Valle was probably given by his senior teammate. “Jordan pushed me a lot this year. I wouldn't have won state if it wasn't for him making me compete everyday,” Dawson said. “He was beating me at the start of the season. We stayed at the top because of the way we competed against each other.”
Woodard brings home silver
Dawson's gold isn't the only medal returning to Big Spring from Austin. Junior LaRay Woodard continued the theme of personal best performances by Steers with 23-feet, 4 ¾ inches Friday in the long jump, giving him a silver medal. He finished behind only Michael Egnew of Plainview, who cleared 23 feet, 9 inches.
It's been a lifelong dream of Woodard's to compete at the state track and field meet as he's attended every one since he was four years old.
“Just making it to state was enough for me,” Woodard said before he made the trip to Austin. “I've wanted to compete in this meet since I was four. My goal is to medal, though.”
Grady's Rodriguez finishes second
A second silver medal will be returning to the Crossroads area. Roy Rodriguez was the only qualifier for the Class A 3,200-meter run who had participated in the race before and his experience paid off. He finished the race with a personal best time of 10:01.37 behind only Evant's Andrew Gordon.
Rodriguez also competed in the 1,600-meter run Saturday. Results from that race will be noted in Monday's edition of the Herald.
Two other Crossroads athletes also participated in their events at the Class A meet Saturday. Grady's Justin Tubb took part in the triple jump while Garden City's Jake Schwartz competed in the high jump. Their results will also be posted in Monday's edition. |
