Regional meets next for local track and field talent

   
    For the past three years, Xavier Prep’s track and field team has finished third in state Class 3A. Now with the news that the 98-year-old school will continue to operate as St. Katharine Drexel Prep, an independent Catholic school, the team is concentrating on bringing home the title trophy.
    The Yellowjackets are 10-3A champions again by winning five of seven field events in that district’s meet as Shannon Ray reeled off victories in the 100- and 200-meter dashes to give the school 165.5 points.
    Ray and teammates Mykia Scott (long and triple jumps) and Maya Evans (discus and javelin) each won two events and will spearhead Xavier Prep in the Class 3A regional meet at Jewel Sumner High.
    Cabrini repeated as the District 10-4A champion, but the Crescents had to score their 199 points without the help of one of the best long and triple jumpers in Louisiana, Dominique Clegget.
    Favored to win both events at the state meet on May 4, Clegget suffered a thigh injury during practice and was unable to compete in the district meet. The senior has a best long jump of 18-7.25 and a 36-7 in the triple jump. She also ran the starting leg on the Crescents’ 400-meter relay team that has a best time of 49.77.
    She will be missed, but the New Orleans-area Catholic schools will have a contingent of outstanding athletes with state meet experience who will compete this week in one of several regional meets.
    St. Paul’s hopes for gold rest with seniors Zack Albright and Cameron Robichaux.
    Albright has ruled the distances throughout the season. He has run a 1:55.64 in the 800-meter event, a 4:16.55 in the 1,600, and a 9:14.01 in the 3,200.
    Although Robichaux has yet to reach his maximum height in the pole vault, he has cleared 15-8.
    If Albright has any competition in the distances, it could come from Jesuit senior Neal Fitzpatrick, the defending Class 5A 3,200-meter champion. He recorded a 9:29.55 in March and won the 1,600-  and 3,200-meter events at the District 9-5A meet.
Gold on their minds
    Other title contenders:
    ➤ Archbishop Rummel’s Matthew Trammel will attempt to better his high jump of 6-7 in the 5A regional.
    ➤ Mia Meydrick’s victories in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs helped Dominican win the girls’ District 9-5A team championship.
    ➤ Victoria Young of Archbishop Chapelle won the 9-5A 400-meter dash and hopes to score in the 200 meters.        ➤ Kettera Ray of St. Mary’s Academy is the reigning Class 3A 400-meter champion. She has run a season-best time of 58.47, and added the District 10-3A title to her credentials.
    ➤ St. Scholastica’s Samantha Zeldon has thrown the javelin 130-6 and her teammate, Mary Grace Gitz, has a best of 5-6 in Class 5A high jump.
    ➤ Archbishop Shaw’s Kent Shelby won the 9-4A long jump at 22-7 and the 110-meter hurdles in 15.55.
    ➤ Cabrini’s Courtney Schmitt gave her school first-place points in the 800-meter run (2:33.01) and the 3,200-meter run (12:58.25) and teammate Tayla Celestine won both hurdles events.