Notebook: Brown uses faith to calm nerves
Leigha Brown is nervous. But not really.
Her mother and coach, Selena Brown, explained that Leigha "tossed and turned" Thursday night and couldn’t get any sleep.
The Browns made their way to Austin on Friday and Leigh "didn’t even eat breakfast."
All signs of a young hurdler running at her first UIL State Track and Field Championships.
The sophomore hurdler qualified when she came in second in the 100-meter hurdles at the Region IV-5A meet earlier this month in San Antonio.
Selena said Leigha has run in the Texas Relays before so she knows what to expect. But being the state meet adds to the anxiety.
"For starters she’s never run just one race," Selena said. "She’s used to competing in five events but she’s going up there and running just one race. No prelims just one race."
As part of their pre-meet routine, Selena usually "chats" with her young daughter the night before a race. But this time, Selena and Leigha read scripture to each other.
The Browns rely a lot on their faith in God. Selena said they read from Colossians and she reminded Leigha that her talent is God-given. What she can accomplish with it, is her gift back to God.
So in the end, even when Leigha tosses and turns or when she can’t muster an appetite because she’s nervous, her faith in God always calms her down.
"We’re not self-made," Selena said. "We know that what we have is from God and try to testify to that God is strong in our family."
STATE LEAP
Mercedes’ Deandra Barroso didn’t get the result she wanted in Austin.
The Lady Tigers’ senior jumper, qualified for the state meet by winning the regional title in the long jump.
But Barroso – who also made it to state as a freshman – came in eighth of ninth place with a jump of 17-6.
Richmond Foster’s Tiana Dockery was first with a mark of 18-10 ¾.
JUMPIN’ ORLY
Rio Grande City’s Orlando Oviedo was walking on cloud nine after winning regional titles in the long and triple jumps earlier this month in San Antonio
Oviedo didn’t do too well at state as he came in ninth place in the long with a jump of 21-7 ¾. Oviedo was also ninth in the triple jump with a mark of 43-6 ¼.
Lancaster’s Devin Field won both events. He cleared 24-11 ¼ in the long and 50-1 ¾ in the triple for double gold.
ZACH’S ATTACK
Edcouch-Elsa high jumper Zach Griffith didn’t fare too well at the state meet.
Griffith finished in eighth place clearing a height of 6-4. Canyon Randall’s Logan Brittain cleared 7-0 to win gold.
Griffith cleared 6-0 and 6-2 on his first attempts. He scratched twice before clearing 6-4 on his third and final jump. He scratched all three times at 6-6.
