What criteria must be fulfilled to be considered a natural at something?
Killeen High's Antwoine Warren might have answered that en route to a second straight appearance in the UIL State Track and Field Championships.
One year after having to be convinced to participate in the high jump for the Roos track and field team then soaring his way to a regional title and berth into the Class 5A state meet, Warren is set for a return to Austin –– in two events and at the Class 6A level this time Saturday.
And, once again, it took some persuasive means to get the lanky, 6-foot-3 leaper to give the long jump a go.
Suffice it to say, Warren, the multi-sport athlete who also excelled as a wide receiver in football and a forward in basketball, certainly has a knack for gliding through the air and catching on quickly.
Warren had one competition under his belt before posting a long jump of 22-1½ to win the District 12-6A title. He’s increased his personal-best distance twice since, marking 23-7¾ to claim the area meet gold and 24-6¼ in the 6A Region II meet to place second and secure his state spot.
“I think I picked up long jump so quickly because I’m just good at jumping and because I like jumping,” Warren said.
In other words, a natural.
Warren, of course, had some assistance to lock into his long jump technique. There’s a certain running cadence that’s required to navigate the runway before lifting off into the sand. He credited best friend and teammate T’Antrae Thomas and KHS coach Myles Hill for their guidance.
“T’Antrae showed me how to run and things like that, and Coach Hill was giving me pointers,” Warren said. “I want to shoutout Coach Hill for being there and believing in me. Even when I wanted to quit, he kept my head up.”
While the long jump was coming along at a rapid pace, Warren continued to progress in the high jump. He won both the district and area meets, then cleared a PR of 6-10 at the regional meet for silver.
His recent rise in both disciplines has caught the attention of college programs, and Warren spent a couple days earlier this week taking campus visits –– moving closer to a big goal.
“I’m looking forward to expanding my career in college,” the soft-spoken senior said.
Before that, though, there’s some business to tend to Saturday.
His busy state slate begins at 9 a.m. with the high jump and continues at 10:45 a.m. with the long jump at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium. He’s seeded second in both events.
“Going into state last year was a little nerve-wracking, and I was just in my head,” Warren said. “This year, I’m just going to have fun.”
For more state meet info, visit: https://www.uiltexas.org/track-field/state.
To read stories on KISD’s other state qualifiers, click here for Ellison’s Ethan Carranza and here for Shoemaker’s Isaiah Butler-Tanner and relay squads.
