May 11th, 2010
SMBA takes third at state track meet

With the finish line of the 400-meter dash in sight, San Marcos Academy’s John Nealon presses on to take second place at the state 4-A TAPPS track meet last weekend.

STAFF REPORT

The San Marcos Baptist Academy (SMBA) Bears four-man track team is an object lesson in determination as the small team won out over 20 other Class 4-A schools to take third place at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state track meet last weekend. The meet took place at the Hart-Patterson Complex at Baylor University on May 7-8.

Senior Michael Latham became the state champion in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.07.

Senior Brady Wickersham, who placed third in the high jump in 2008 and 2009, this time brought home the silver in a second place finish with a leap of six feet, two inches. He also placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles.

Sophomore John Nealon placed second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 22.07.

Josh McIntyre, a junior,  placed second in the 300-meter hurdles. He finished in 40.73 seconds, .06 seconds behind the winner.

The Wickersham,  McIntyre, Nealon, and Latham team took fourth place in the 4×440-yard relay. The team placed sixth  in the 4×100 meter relay.

“I am really proud of how well the guys did this weekend,” SMBA Athletic Director Toby Wade said. “To place third in state in TAPPS 4-A with only four runners is an amazing feat. What makes them so good is they are ultra-competitive. They were actually disappointed that they didn’t get second place. I think now that they have had time to reflect on this weekend, they now realize and fully appreciate how much they really accomplished.”