One phrase that often accompanies a mention of the Shoemaker boys track and field team is “Shoe Speed.” It’s an apt lead in toward describing what the Grey Wolves do best.
They have another opportunity to show off that quickness, with the fast-approaching UIL State Track and Field Championships around the corner. And this year, they’re bringing along some “Shoe Strength,” too.
The Grey Wolves will be represented by two relays and senior Isaiah Butler-Tanner in the discus when the Class 6A state meet commences Saturday at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium, and the pursuit of a podium spot is just one of the objectives for all involved.
“I’m looking forward to the experience, to be in a college environment and throw at the state meet,” said the 6-foot-6 Butler-Tanner, a UT San Antonio football commit. “Last year it didn’t go as planned, so this year is special for me.”
Check back here later this week for a story on Killeen High state qualifier Antwoine Warren. To read a story about Ellison’s Ethan Carranza click here.
Butler-Tanner surged to a spot at state by increasing his distance and setting a school record at every postseason meet. He won the District 12-6A gold with a throw of 169 feet, 4 inches, bumped that up to 176-5 to win the area title and then muscled up a throw of 186-7 on April 18 at the 6A Region II meet at Waco Midway.
The mark, surprisingly, left him in third place, on the outside of an automatic state bid. Still up for grabs, though, was a wildcard berth, which is awarded to the best third-place distance out of the four regions. There was no debate there.
“It’s definitely an accomplishment for myself, but it’s also a great accomplishment for my coach,” Butler-Tanner said, speaking of coach Cion Hicks. “Last year she had to break my technique down and this year we just built it back up. That’s really what did it –– rebuilding my spin and making it a lot better this year.”
Butler-Tanner, who has the third-best mark in the state field, is scheduled to throw at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Shoemaker enters the state meet after claiming district and area team championships and placing runner-up by one point at the regional meet, which the Grey Wolves capped by winning the 4x400-meter relay with the foursome of Luis Lopez, Tavon Burrell, Michael Bickham and Lamont Reed.
“It was a really great feeling, actually. I was really happy when we won. We did what we had to do –– executed –– to get to state,” said Bickham, who also runs a leg on the state-qualifying 4x200 relay. “We just pushed hard, went strong and ran our race.”
The 4x400 relay’s regional time of 3:17.12 puts the Grey Wolves as the eighth seed, but they’ve run as fast as 3:14.16 this season –– a school record and the sixth-fastest in the state.
Like Butler-Tanner, the 4x200 relay earned its way to Austin through a wildcard berth. The Grey Wolves got in to the 5A state meet last season in similar fashion then went on to win the 4x200 bronze. Three of the four runners –– Reed, Brandon Brown Jr. and Maurice Starr –– are back again.
The 4x200 relay race is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. and the meet-closing 4x400 relay is slated for 8:45 p.m. Jamal Polite and Jasiah Long also will attend with the relays.
“We just have to keep the stick moving. That’s the main thing. We are all fast. That’s not the issue. We can compete with anyone,” said Starr, who is headed to Blinn College in the fall to play football. “So, we just have to keep the stick moving.”
Starr, Brown, Bickham and Reed, in that order, posted a 1:25.00 in the 4x200 regional finals April 19. They are the third seed for the state finals and have gone as fast as 1:24.86 this season.
Starr said they are eying the 1:23 range.
“We’ve definitely built it up,” he said. “We didn’t hit times at some of the early meets but we came to practice, got through it, everybody worked on their form, and we got to where we needed to be.”
And where they most definitely want to be this time of year is in Austin, on the track and wearing their school colors.
“It means everything to me, and senior year is different,” Starr said. “You want to leave a good impression for the younger ones coming in and you want to leave with good memories.”
For more state meet info, visit: https://www.uiltexas.org/track-field/state.
