By Greg Ford
Sports Editor
Speed kills, and in Devin Duvernay’s case, fleetness of foot did in the opposition at last week’s Class 6A, Region II meet.
That rapidness produced a first-place finish in the boys’ 100 meters, and anchored the first-place 400 relay team, which means the Sachse junior will appear in two events during the May 14-16 state meet at the University of Texas in Austin. The other three runners also heading to state as part of that Sachse team are Nick Alexander, Chris Hill and Malcolm Woods.
The top two finishers in each event at regionals advanced to the state meet, as will the best third-place finisher in each event out of Texas’ four regions.
Duvernay, a junior, bolted his way to a 10.48 in the 100, which was .16 seconds better than the second-place finisher, Deandre Haynes of Killeen Shoemaker (10.64). Meanwhile, the 400 team took first in 40.89, with Spring Westfield finishing second (41.26).
“Right now, he’s got the best time in the 100 (the best qualifying time),” said Sachse head coach Jeremy Colvert, “and our 4 x100 has the second-best time. So we’re sitting at the top of the ladder so to speak.”
Duvernay’s speed wasn’t enough to carry him to state in the 200, though, as he finished seventh (21.81) in a tight race that saw the first- and eighth-place runners separated by .48 seconds. On the girls’ side, Sachse sophomore Agang Tac was 12th in the 800 (2:32.06).
As for the state meet — Duvernay’s 100 race and the relay will be in the evening on Saturday, May 16 — Colvert said anything can happen.
“Once you get down there, everybody is just as fast,” he noted, “and any one has the potential to run any time … The good thing about us (in the relay) is that our time has slowly dropped. We have been very consistent … We like the opportunity we’re going to get.”
Part of that “opportunity” includes running in front of a large crowd, which can be both exhilarating and intimidating. That’s why Colvert is taking his runners down a day early, and will have them watch the 5A races on Friday, May 15 at Mike Myers Stadium.
“I don’t want the first time they are walking into that horseshoe is when they’re going to run and see all the crowd,” he said. “That’s 10,000 people strong and exciting.”
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