News and notes: area tracksters reap medals in regional meets

A few notes from here and there, starting with some track and field updates:
Congrats to the members of the G-Town Striders, who picked up two gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the South Texas AAU Championships in Converse last weekend.
Leading the charge for the local contingent was Maria Aguayo in the young women’s 3,000 and 1,500 meter events. She finished first in the 3,000 with a time of 11:28 and was second in the 1,500 at 5:18, and should be among the favorites in the upcoming state games.
Krisslynn Sexton also grabbed a gold, winning the 400 meters in a time of 1:02.
Khelsea Cray scored two silvers, taking second in the shot (22’8”) and discus (62’8”), while Kendra Cavit took bronze in her age group in the 1,500 with a 6:45 time. Carson Reese got Gonzales’ final bronze with a third-place finish in the 800 meters in a 3:06 time.
Other top-10 finishes came from Bailey Patras (8th in her age group 800 meters), Shakayla Clack (fourth in the 400), Kenneth Cavit (sixth in the shot put), Timtrell Stovall (seventh in the shot, fourth in the discus), Kendra Cavit (seventh in the 800), Angelica Mathis (eighth in the 800, fourth in the 1,500), Valeria Aguayo (fifth in the 1,500) and Keaudra Cray (fourth in the discus).
Also participating in the regional qualifier were Caleb Camarillo, Veronica Moreno, Kaitlyn Shelton, Chris Camarillo, Maraia Mathis, Kenneth Cavit and Misa Ontiveros.
The qualifiers now move on to state competition.
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Shania Ford, daughter of former Gonzales football defensive coordinator Eule Ford, ran in the USA Track and Field Gulf Championships in Houston on June 25-26.
Shania, 11, who is going to be in sixth grade this coming up year, qualified in three events to move on to the regional finals in Abilene July 13-17. If she finishes in the top three she will continue to the National Championships in California July 27-Aug 1.
Shania’s 4x800 team placed second with a time of 10:42.30, with Shania running a split of 2:33; second in the 4x400 with a time of 4:29, her split 1:03; and third in the open 400 with a time of 1:04. Coach Ford and Shania wanted to thank all the Gonzales kids and parents who encouraged and helped on her training.
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I know that congrats are also in order for several of the area’s little league baseball and softball all-star teams — but my apologies, because I don’t know which ones to congratulate since no one has responded to my call for contacts. If you’re associated with one of those teams and can pass along the info, I’ll be happy to help spread the word. Shoot me an e-mail to sportseditor@gonzalescannon.com or call 830-672-7100.
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If you happen to be both a baseball fan and a Selena fan, you’ll want to be in Corpus Christi July 30 when the Hooks host Midland in a 7:05 p.m. TexasLeague baseball battle, celebrating “Selena Tribute Night” at Whataburger Field.
The iconic Tejano singer was a Corpus Christi native.
For tickets to Selena Tribute Night, order online, visit the Whataburger Field box office or call 361-561-4665.
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From the diamond to the gridiron: if you’re going to hit that game in Corpus July 30, slide over to Victoria’s Memorial Stadium the next day for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff of the South Texas Amateur Football showdown between the Cuero Gobblers and the Victoria Red Rage. The game may well decide final pecking order before the STAF playoffs begin.
Coming off their bye week this week, the Gobblers remain unbeaten at 8-0 and the contest against the Red Rage will be a rematch of their season opener, a game Cuero won 12-7.
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And sticking with football, our 2010 Fall Sports Preview is starting to take shape already as we line up picture days for area teams and begin compiling some neat information to accompany the info on the local high schools.
For example, do you know how many former Gonzales players have made it to the NFL? The number isn’t a big one, but it’s packed with some quality names, including one man named to pro football’s All-Time All-AFL Team and a former member of the Dallas Cowboys.
Find out more in August.