The Scoop: Near Records, Relays And Qualifying Action

Fort Bend Marshall's Boys Inch Closer To History

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UIL Class 5A 19-20 Area Results 


Just four-hundredths of a second. 

That's how close the Fort Bend Marshall High School boys were away from tying a national record that had stood for over two decades on Thursday at the UIL Class 5A 19-20 Area Meet. 

The clock stopped at 39.80 seconds. 

Just how significant was that performance? Twenty-five years. That's how long Fort Worth Wyatt High School, also of Texas, has held the high school record of 39.76. The members of that team are now in their 40s. 

Could we see it go down this year? 

We're getting eerily close to the mark, and at this point, it seems possible. 

However, this should come as no surprise. 

Fort Bend Marshall, which this year consists of athletes Arveyon Davis, Devin Wilkerson, William Mitchell and Kameron Williams, has now broken 41 seconds in the 4x100 for the 11th straight year. 

That level of consistency at the high school level is nearly unmatched. 

As we head toward the Regional Championships in Texas, Fort Bend Marshall now has to keep their eyes locked on the objective: Get to states. 

A year ago, this team faulted in their regional performance, which eliminated an opportunity for the team to run for states.

If the national record is going to go down this year, it may just have to happen there. 

For good measure, Ford Bend Marshall also won the 4x200 in 1:24.01. It was the top time of the weekend. 

On top of all this, what shouldn't surprise anyone is the level of individual success the team also welcomed at the Area Meet. Wilkerson won the 100m in 10.44, while Mitchell was third in 10.72. 

Nolen Richie, who did not feature on the 4x100, was second in the 200m in 21.38. Davis won the 110mH in 13.67 seconds.