TEXARKANA, Texas - Texas High girls track coach Pat Daniels was finally able to wipe off her wet face and crack a smile at the end of Friday's annual Paul Parr Relays at Liberty-Eylau.
Her team battled stiff competition and plenty of the elements.
"It wasn't the severe cold temperatures like we had the week before," coach Daniels said. "It wasn't the wind, it was blowing throughout the day, but it wasn't really that bad.
"It was that nasty misting cold that fell in your face all day long - and I mean all day long. It was steady mist the whole meet and it blew in everyone's face all day."
That's why Daniels was relieved to watch her Lady Tigers roll up 111 points and clinch the girls championship in the Parr Relays.
"We had several girls who came up with some surprising finishes," Daniels said. "Fezeka Barnes was probably our biggest performer this early in this season, and she earned high point of the meet for the girls."
Barnes won the 400 meters (1:04.06) and placed second in the 800 (2:31.78). She also ran the first leg on Texas High's winning 4x400 relay, which clinched the title for the Tigers over host Liberty-Eylau (111-92). Redwater was third with 80 points.
Atlanta's boys posted an impressive performance in their division, totaling 125 points to outdistance runner-up Texas High with 96. The Leopards were third with 73.
Texas High's other first place was by Cashlin Gooden in the 300 hurdles (51.52). The Lady Tigers placed second to Liberty-Eylau in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. L-E's Nevaeh Hill ran on both first-place relays and also earned the gold in the 200 (26.54).
Redwater's Sydney Hornbuckle was a double winner in the 800 (2:29.00) and 1600 (5:46.00). The Dragons' other first place was Jaycie Anderson (18.63) in the 110 hurdles.
Pleasant Grove's lone winner was Emma Henard in the 3200 (13:06.70).
No field events were held because of safety concerns.
"Overall, it was a pleasant experience for us, but we're a long, long way from where we need to be," coach Daniels said. "It's a good start and something to build on, but we've got a lot of working ahead of us."
Atlanta took some time out from its grueling three-game playoff schedule in three days to compete in the Parr Relays. The Rabbits' basketball team returned to the hardcourt to face Mineola Saturday night in the Region II-3A quarterfinals in Hallsville.
The Rabbs' first places came in the 800 (Jaquan Robinson, 2:14.16), 400 (Matthew Cauley, 52.71) and 4x400 relay (3:42.00).
Texas High's Caden Miller won both hurdles races in 110 (16.38) and 300 (42.99).
The Leopards won the 4x100 relay in 43.94 and Tavieon Neal broke the tape in the 100 (10.51). Steven Turner, Jeavon Stewart, Semaj Rose and Neal won the first of three relays, with Atlanta and Daingerfield splitting the other two.
Texas High's girls won the junior varsity division with 182 points while the Leopards were second with 97.
The annual Watty Myers Relays will be held next Friday at Texas High. Jefferson will host the Bulldog Relays on Thursday.