'God's plan': How Seagraves' relay turned devastation into a state track meet berth

SEAGRAVES — Jace Humphries knows better than most how cruel postseason track can be.

The Seagraves senior hit the final obstacle and fell just before the finish line of the 300-meter hurdles, placing fifth at the area meet. His career in the event was over.

Humphries cried out in devastation, having to be pulled off the ground as if he was adhered to the track.

He has also experienced the sport's rare second chances.

Little did Humphries know, his personal disappointment was the first domino in a chain that would get him — and his teammates — to Austin.

"It sucked, but I guess it was all part of God's plan," Humphries said. "If I didn't fall on the hurdles, I would have never been on the 4x2. I guess it was God's bigger picture. He put me in that place for a reason. It all happened for a reason, I just thought to myself."

'You gotta get back up'

Seagraves will compete in the Class 2A boys 800 relay Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Eagles expected to be there for an earlier race.

District and area champions in the 400 relay, Humphries, LaRon Hamilton, Dacian Wilborn and Julian Munoz were among the favorites to win the region. A dropped baton ended that dream in the prelims.

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"It was very sad, very emotional, very quiet," Munoz said. "Some of our teammates were in their heads about it, but we all comforted each other. We all came together."

That left the foursome with one last shot to extend their season: the 800 relay.

"Coaches came up to us telling us we still have another chance, when most people didn't," Wilborn said. "So we used that as motivation."

Seagraves coach Jim Dougherty "couldn't be prouder" of the response.

"Through our athletic program, we've always talked about you get knocked down, you gotta get back up," he said, "and at some point you're gonna get a second chance. Well, fortunately, that day at the regional meet they got a chance an hour later."

Humphries returns to familiar spot

That chance would be the first time the group ran the 800 relay together this season. It was the same lineup as the previous year, but Humphries wasn't on the team while he competed in both hurdle events.

Humphries said he "put my pride aside and went with my gut feeling" to scratch out of the 110 hurdles before the Region I-2A meet and save energy for both relays.

"It says a lot about him," Munoz said. "That was thoughtful for the team."

Dougherty saw a more "cautious" approach to handoffs in the prelims, which he expected, but Seagraves entered the finals with the fourth-best time. The Eagles "let one go" and placed third in a school-record 1 minute, 30.15 seconds.

Thus started the waiting game. And Mother Nature tacked on extra time.

Seagraves looks to 'shock the world' in Austin

Because of inclement weather that hampered most of the state, Seagraves had two days of added anticipation to see if it secured a state wildcard berth. Having confirmed their time beat two other contenders, the Eagles awaited Region II's results from a delayed meet.

"I was looking on my phone; we kept on refreshing, refreshing, refreshing," Humphries said. "Eventually the results got up."

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Humphries and Wilborn got to celebrate together in class. Munoz had a muted reaction during quiet writing time in English, and Hamilton "started jumping around" the restroom when news reached the group chat.

Seagraves hopes to add another triumphant twist to its story. The Eagles enter with the state's fourth-best qualifying time, providing optimism they can leave with a medal.

It would be quite the wrap in the final Seagraves athletic event for Humphries, Hamilton and Wilborn.

"We got ourselves there," Hamilton said. "We're just gonna put it up to God and try to shock the world."

UIL state track and field meet

Who: Classes 2A and 5A

Where: University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin

When: Friday (Field events and 3,200 meters begin at 9 a.m.; other running events begin at 5 p.m.)

Seagraves: Julian Munoz will compete in the 100 at 6:05 p.m. The 800 relay is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Seagraves 800 relay makes state track meet after prior disappointment