A rare double

Canadian High School certainly benefited from a drop from Class 2A to Class 1A this past school year. The Wildcats rolled to the Class 1A Division I state championship in football after having won it all in 2007 in Class 2A.

Then over the weekend, Canadian won the belated 1A state track title in Austin. The meet was postponed three weeks after the swine flu concerns delayed UIL activities in early May.

The twin titles was something that hasn't been done by a Texas Panhandle boys team in 38 years.

Canadian won the 1A portion of the state meet with 35 points. It usually takes around 50 points to win a state title, but the lack of dominating relays teams plus the points being split up resulted in lower point totals.

Entering the final event, the 1600 relay, Canadian had to finish at least fourth and beat Bremond (located near Waco) to clinch the title. Canadian did just that, finishing fourth by a second in 3:25.23. Bremond was eighth in 3:31.80.

Canadian's 35 points edged Meridian's 32.5 points and Tolar's 29.

Going on memory here, the football-track double was the first double state team championship from an area boys team since Dumas won 3A (now 4A) state crowns in 1971 in basketball and baseball.

Canadian will likely go up to Class 2A in the next realignment for the 2010-2011 school year, but the Wildcats are certainly making hay while in 1A.