Lofty expectations at state meet for Grapevine track duo
As the state track and field meet approaches, two Grapevine track and field athletes are gearing up for a competition that presents different challenges for both young men.
Hayden Murphy will represent the Mustangs in the 3,200 meter event, while Peyton Weissmann is headed to state in the pole vault.
Coach Richard Bishop said that regionals proved to be productive for both athletes and said he was really impressed with his team as a whole.
“We had nine boys qualify, and we performed well,” Bishop said. “We exceeded our expectations a little bit. We thought our pole vaulter would win, and he did, under bad conditions. You’re not going to run or jump your best in Lubbock. We won the 3,200, and it is all about placing. Under those conditions I thought we did very well.”
Bishop said there were significant wind issues in Lubbock, but said that Murphy and Weissmann both competed at a high level and said he expects both rival for a medal at state.
“For Hayden, if you look at the qualifying times from region, it does not look good, but if you look at PRs, he’s got a good chance to medal,” Bishop said. “He’s definitely in the mix in the top two or three. Our pole vaulter had the best jump in the state of Texas, and I think that if he jumps well, he has a good opportunity to win the meet.”
Murphy ran a 9:54.20 at the regional meet, but ran a 9:34.76 at the Northwest Texans Relay on March 5 and has an even faster PR time of almost four seconds.
Weissmann had a 14-9 jump in the pole vault to win a regional championship.
He hit 16-6 on Feb. 29 at the Coppell Relays.
Bishop said his goals for each of his athletes at state are pretty lofty.
“I am never going to put added pressure on them,” Bishop said. “But I am a competitor and I want to win ... I want Hayden to run his race and compete and represent Grapevine to the best of his ability. I’ll go out on a limb and say I expect Peyton to win it. The main thing is that they give their best efforts on the biggest stage.”
The state track and field meet will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas at Austin.
This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 2:26 PM with the headline "Lofty expectations at state meet for Grapevine track duo."