Former Munday track standout Mindy Myers coaches Haskell to team state title

AUSTIN – It’s hard to believe there’s something Mindy Myers never had achieved in track and field.

The former Munday standout is the most decorated track athlete in UIL history, winning 10 individual gold medals, three silver and two bronze along with three team championships. Add to that two individual gold and one silver in cross-country, along with two team titles and another second-place finish.

Yet, somehow Myers experienced a new first Friday at the UIL state track and field meet, leading Haskell to the Class 2A girls team championship.

The Maidens finished with 60 points, edging second-place Panhandle by two points. Eldorado was a distant third with 38 points.

“Haskell has never had a team state championship on the girls side,” said Myers, who also starred for the Midwestern State women's basketball program. “You know, winning it as an athlete was amazing because they were my best friends. It was a tradition.

“As a coach, the kids have to do it. I can train them and push them to get better, but I can’t go out there and run for them. They wanted it. They were humble, but they were hungry every day. We talked about doing this every day. It huge. I can’t even explain my feelings.”

The championship wasn’t secure until the final race.

Haskell entered the 1,600-meter relay leading Panhandle by six points.

Panhandle set the Class 2A record in the event last year and posted the best qualifying time at regionals. Haskell couldn’t finish more than one place behind Panhandle to win the state title.

Panhandle reset its state record with three-time 400 meter state champion Macklynn Land anchoring them to a time of 3:55.79. But Haskell’s spot in second place never truly was challenged.

The Maiden relay team, featuring Asia Billington, Brittany Andrews, Emma Roew and Savanna Camacho, was in second at each handoff and ran neck and neck with Panhandle for more than half the race.

They took the silver medal at 4:00.37.

“I don’t think you can call it nerves now,” Andrews said. “We just push through and do it. You’re always nervous, you have to get past that. I’m just happy that we did what we did and came out state champs.”

Maybe Andrews wasn’t feeling the nerves, but her coach was.

“It makes my blood pressure high. I’m old now,” Myers joked. “But you know what? This group of girls is just phenomenal. They’re competitors. They really are.”

It could be argued Haskell’s state championship was won Friday morning rather than the final event of the night. While 56 of the Maidens’ 60 points were won in the three relays, it was a pair of fifth-place finishes in field events that put them over the top.

Sophomore Harley Medford got the Maidens two points in the shot put, throwing 37-8½ and edging sixth-place finisher Aleena Nelson of Forsan by 1¼ inches.

Senior Lanayah Green picked up the other two points, taking fifth at 36 feet, 9¼ inches She bettered sixth-place Livi Whitehill of Cisco by less than a foot.

“We went out with a bang,” Roewe said. “Every point counts.”

Earlier this week, Myers went to the bank in Haskell and was stopped by a man there. He told her, “The main reason we brought you here was to win a state title.”

No pressure.

Myers knew the potential she was inheriting as the first-year coach with the Maidens. Haskell finished second at state last year, and with the amount of talent it had returning, a state title was expected.

Driving athletes to reach their potential is nothing new to Myers. She achieved that feat personally as an athlete. She then coached her three daughters, Myca, Temi and Macy, to state medals. Add their medal count to mom’s and the total is 30.

Twenty-six belong to Myers. And none of them were more satisfying than the championship the Maidens won Friday.

“It’s hard to win one of these, and I think when I was in high school at Munday, we took it for granted,” Myers said. “My goal is to coach younger adults and prepare them for the real world. I think track is a great place to start with that. It teaches them dedication, hard work, time management. It teaches them a lot of heart. I think those are things that are going to help them be successful in life.”

So, what’s left? The state’s most decorated track athlete of all time has now achieved a championship as a coach. What else could she possibly do?

“Maybe I should quit while I’m ahead,” Myers joked.

Nearby, more than one Haskell supporter said, “No.”

Myers isn’t going anywhere. Track is in her blood. And she doesn’t need to win championships to feel that way about the sport.

At the same time, winning a state title doesn’t hurt.

“There’s nothing like it,” Myers said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s all worth it.”

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Mindy Myers coaches Haskell to a team track state title