Port Arthur Memorial has its first representative for the Class 6A Track and Field Championships at Mike Myers Track Complex in Austin May 13-14.
J’Koven Celestine qualified for the meet in the triple jump Friday. Celestine had a leap of 46 feet, 1 inch, and finished second in the event held at the 6A Region III meet at Challenger Columbia Stadium in Webster.
Celestine now has a new goal for the state meet.
“I want to get 48 feet,” Celestine said. “I know I can do it.”
Celestine’s reaching the state meet is big for the Titans as a team. The regional running finals are today in Webster, and all three relay teams and Kary Vincent Jr. in the 200-meter dash could make the state meet.
The more events the Titans compete in at the state meet, the better chances Memorial brings home the team title.
“My teammates have been pushing me all year,” Celestine said. “I have been putting in a lot of hours. I was nervous going into today. I even had butterflies. That all went away and I was able to settle down.”
Bridge City sophomore Hunter Denton also qualified for the state meet. Denton won the long jump at the 4A Region III meet held at Sam Houston State University on Friday.
Denton jumped 22-5.75 Friday. He will compete at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Mike Myers.
Also for Bridge City, Kaitlin Thayer finished second in the shot put at 39-3 to make state and fourth in the discus, missing the podium by one inch.
Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s Trey Guillory finished second at the triple jump with a leap of 45-8. The state triple jump is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, May 13.
West Brook’s Julian Perez finished second in the 6A Region III 3,200 meter run to qualify for the state meet.