VARSITY - Victor Lopez Classic at Rice University

It was a big weekend for Spartan T&F at the Victor Lopez Classic (VLC) on the campus of Rice University. Three days of competition culminated with the high school finals qualifiers competing at the same time as the collegians on the big stage on Saturday night. To say that the level of competition at the VLC is strong would be a major understatement. The very best public and private high school track and field athletes from across Houston and a few from the Dallas area were there, and Texas proved once again that the talent level in our state is off the charts.

Although the Spartans went home with only two top-3 medals, the elite competition brought out the best in our athletes and lots of Personal Records (PR’s) were achieved.

To put into perspective just how special this meet was, during the first event Saturday evening, the Atascocita boys 4 x100m Relay team destroyed the former National Record of 39.76 by running 38.92 and becoming the first high school team in history to break 39 seconds. Duncanville sprinted to a U.S. #2 all-time result of 39.65 and finished in second place. Throughout the evening, multiple top-10 and top-20 season U.S. performances were posted, and the Spartans were thankful for the opportunity to compete against the best-of-the best as an invited participant in such a prestigious track and field meet.

Kenneth Owen proved once again that he is one of the best high school high jumpers in the country. His jump of 6-09 was good for first place overall and matched the school record of 6-09 that he set at the KISD Bubba Fife Relays earlier this season. Kenneth is currently is currently tied for fourth in the Texas state rankings and is tied for 15th in the U.S! It’s going to be fun to watch Kenneth in the post-season.

Niamh Collins had a performance that she, her Mom, and her entire family and close friends will remember forever. Niamh’s mother, Alexis Smith Collins, has been the Stratford school record holder in the 800m run since 1994 with her time of 2:13.00. During her junior season last year, Niamh came very close to overtaking her Mom, but fell just short with 2:13.15. With impressive results so far this season, including a 4:55 1600m at the Texas Distance Festival a week ago, it seemed as if it was just a matter of time before Niamh busted through with a record-breaking performance. After advancing to the finals on Friday with the third-fastest qualifying time of 2:17.42, she had her sights set on the big-prize in the final. On the same track that she will run on when she joins the Rice Women’s track and field and cross country teams next year, Niamh ran a patient and smart race and out-kicked Tiffany Mugubi from Shadow Creek down the final 50 meters and won with a time of 2:11.21 (currently #6 in Texas and #16 in U.S.) Along with the victory in a big-time race, she set a new Stratford School Record in the process. To make an already special occasion even more special, Niahm’s Mom witnessed the record from the stands with her own former Rice track and field teammates that were there for a reunion weekend. It was an event that could not have been scripted any better.

Senior sprinter Luke Rives is having a special senior season, and he rose to the occasion again at VLC. In a field of 90 competitors, Luke secured one of only eight finals qualifing spots in the preliminary round by running 10.58 in the100m dash and having the third fastest qualifing time heading in to the big race against elite sprinters on Saturday night. He finished eighth overall in the final and ran 10.97, but just getting there was an outstanding accomplishment.

Ben Pearce was Stratford’s only other athlete that achieved a top-10 result, finishing eighth in the 3000m run in a very good time of 8:59.28.

Full results HERE.