Wharton boys qualify for regional track meet
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

COLUMBUS - Two Wharton boys relay teams and a hurdler earned a trip to the Region III Class 3A Championships at Humble in two weeks.

They qualified by winning or placing second or third in Saturday's District 24-3A running finals at Cardinal Stadium on the campus of Columbus High School.

Chris Taylor finished second in the 300-meter hurdles with a 40.18 time.

The Wharton 800-meter relay team of Ronnie Ray, Jonovan Jones, Keemon Jones and Kevin Turner finished third with a 1:30.79.

The 1,600-meter relay team of Taylor, Ray, Jonovan Jones and Turner finished second with a 3:29.72.

The 400-meter relay team of Taylor, Ray, Dustin Lewis and Tyrik Dickerson finished fourth with a 44.14.

Sealy athletes totaled 163 points to take the team championship.

Sweeny was second with 99 points, Royal was third with 93 points, Wharton was fourth with 81 points, Pearland Dawson was fifth with 54 points, Needville was sixth with 52 points, Stafford was seventh with 29 points, Columbia was eighth with 25 points and host Columbus was ninth with 24 points.

In last Wednesday's field events Keemon Jones won the long jump competition with a 21-0 effort. Tyrik Dickerson was fifth with a 20-5.5 attempt.

Chris Owens won the shot put with a 51-4 toss. Raymond Felder finished third in the discus with a 123-3 throw.

Chris Taylor finished third in the triple jump with a 41-11.5 effort.

Dustin Lewis was sixth in the high jump with a 5-10 clearance of the bar.

Wharton Junior Jal'essa Jones was Wharton's lone female to qualify for the regional meet.

She finished second in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles with a 47.46 time.

The Wharton 400-meter relay team of Tenechia Armstrong, Jones, Shermyra Malone and Vernequa Taylor finished fourth with a 49.82.

The same foursome finished fourth in the 800-meter relay with a 1:45.79

Needville totaled 114 points to win the team championship.

Royal was second with 96 points, Pearland Dawson was third with 94 points, Sealy was fourth with 76 points, Stafford was fifth with 64 points, Columbia was sixth with 61 points, Sweeny was seventh with 48

points, Columbus was eighth with 43

points and Wharton was ninth with 24

win 27-2A points.