Conroe Parks and Rec track team members qualify for state meet

The Summer Track Team is a recreational program offered by the Parks and Recreation Department each summer.

The City of Conroe Parks and Recreation Summer Track Team competed in the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation Region 1 Championships, held July 13 at Conroe Independent School District's Buddy Moorhead Stadium.

Region 1 covers an area from Texas City to Jasper, and more than 1,000 competitors from the area performed at the meet. The top four finishers in each age group and event qualified for the TAAF State Meet, which will be held Thursday, July 26 to Sunday, July 29 in Corpus Christi.

The Conroe team will advance 17 athletes in 25 events to the state meet, including Corey Andrews, 14, high jump; John Benson, 7, long jump; Sage Benson, 10, high jump; Nicholas Evans, 12, high jump; Aggie Gomez, 10, shot put and 4x4 relay; Emily Hart, 12, 4x4 relay; Reagan Hinze, 11, shot put and 4x4 relay; Sydney Hinze, 7, long jump; Zharia Jackson, 9, shot put; Sierra Lee, 12, high jump; Ashley Miller, 10, mile; Abby Reyes, 12, 80-meter hurdles, high jump and 4x4 relay; Emma Scott, 10, 800 and 1600; James Scott, 10, mile and high jump; Mikey Sneed, 9, high jump; Patrick Tatsch, 10, shot put and high jump; and Lexi Weinzettle, 16, high jump and 3200 meters.

"This is my fourth year doing this, and this is, by far, the most qualifiers we have ever taken to the state meet," stated Greg Hinze, summer track coach, according to a press release. "I certainly think competing at home helped, and I want to thank the city, Parks and Recreation, Conroe ISD and everyone else who made that possible. I think we have a good group going with several returners. Ashley Miller, Emma Scott, Reagan Hinze and Sydney Hinze have all been to the state meet before and in some instances multiple times, so I think that experience is invaluable. They know what to expect. However, I think several of the first-timers have a chance to do well also. I'm very excited to take this large of a contingent to Corpus and look forward to seeing them perform against a very high level of competition from around the state."

Conroe Parks and Recreation offers the Summer Track Team program each year, and it includes weekly practices and meets in June and July. Children age 6-18 years old may register. For more information, get a copy of the Parks and Recreation Summer Playbook, log onto www.cityofconroe.org or call Javy Pena at 936-522-3906.