UIL State Track: Refugio boys chasing state title after dominant showing at regionals

Quinton Martinez, Corpus Christi Caller Times

May 11, 2022 at 7:01 AM·4 min read

Many schools would shy away from talking about winning a state championship.

Refugio is not one of those schools.

Since finishing a surprising second in Class 2A at the UIL State Track Meet in 2021, the Bobcats have looked at this season as one that could end with the entire team standing atop the podium at Mike A. Myers Stadium late on Friday evening.

"Finishing second last year showed these kids that this is something we can do," Refugio boys track coach Adam Spiegleman said. "That was the goal from the get-go.

"Our kids are competitive. For us as coaches, it is an advantage that winning is the expectation here. They chase it in baseball, track, and everything. It makes our job easier because that is what they expect."

No different from most Class 2A schools, the athletes that are leading Refugio's charge for a state title are the same that led the charge in football, basketball and baseball.

Many of the names that will be on the track in Austin on Friday will begin an area-round baseball playoff series on Wednesday against Falls City, and resume it on Saturday.

More: UIL Regional Track: Region IV meet results

"We are lucky ... we have a lot of talented kids," Spiegleman said. "You are a kid one time. You only get to do this one time. As a coaching staff, we all promote doing as much as you can and being a kid. You want to play baseball? Great. You want to run track? Great. We promote that and it is what is best for these kids."

The Bobcats split time between sports, but their performances have been stellar in both. Refugio will compete in eight events on Friday at the UIL State Track Meet.

Refugio is coming off a dominant showing in Kingsville where the Bobcats steamrolled to the team title, amassing 112 points — as much as the second and third place teams, Shiner and Goldthwaite, combined to score.

Refugio's Jordan Kelley competes in the long jump event at the Region IV-2A track meet at Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelina Stadium on April 29, 2022.

What makes Refugio's state title dreams even more realistic is the Bobcats have qualified all three relays, including owning top-two qualifying times in the 400- and 800-meter relays, events where they set Region IV-2A meet records last week.

"If you can get a few there, it is a huge help, but if you can get all three there you really set yourself up for a chance to do something special," Spiegleman said. "The fact that they are seeded high is a benefit for us."

Senior Jordan Kelley is scheduled to run all three relays for the Bobcats along with competing in the long jump. Jason Moore and Isaiah Avery return on the 1,600 relay along with Kelley and freshman Karson Herring after the two helped the Bobcats capture an improbable win in the meet's final race last year.

More: Here are 20 athletes to watch at UIL Regional Track Meets this weekend

Refugio was seeded ninth in the 1,600 relay and won with Avery anchoring the victory, propelling the Bobcats to second in the final team standings.

Ernest Campbell was a surprise winner as a freshman in the 100-meter dash in 2021 and is the second seed coming into the meet. He will also run on the 400 and 800 relays, as will Marvin Fox.

Refugio's Antwaan Gross competes in the long jump event at the Region IV-2A track meet at Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelina Stadium on April 29, 2022.

Senior Antwaan Gross rounds out the 400 relay and will compete in triple jump.

Chai Whitmire will run the 300 hurdles after winning the event at the Region IV-2A meet.

"I knew our kids were talented, but to do what our kids did at the regional meet," Spiegleman said, "they exceeded expectations with the way they performed. They set records ... and the fact that they did so well was, I don't want to say unexpected, but to do that with that kind of competition was just awesome."

The Bobcats outdistanced Shiner, a noted rival and last year's Class 2A state track champion, by 50 points.

Refugio's Ernest Campbell celebrates his Class 2A 100 meter dash win during the UIL Track and Field State Championship, Friday, May 7, 2021, in Austin.

Spiegleman said Refugio isn't pushing certain places on individual events as the team chases the Class 2A crown, but instead is just looking for personal bests. If the team can do that, the Bobcats will be in a good position late Friday.

"We want to go and we want to PR," Spiegleman said. "If we do that we will put ourselves in a good position. I try to stay away from 'You've got to get third or second.' There is enough pressure.

"If we can go and PR, we are going to put ourselves in a good spot."

UIL STATE TRACK & FIELD MEET

When: Thursday (Class 3A/4A); Friday (Class 2A/5A); Saturday (Class A/6A)

Where: Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin

Live updates: Follow Quinton Martinez (@qmartinez) on Twitter.

Quinton Martinez covers all things sports in South Texas. Support local coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Refugio boys chasing Class 2A UIL State Track Championship

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UIL STATE TRACK & FIELD MEET

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