All-century track teams

The University Interscholastic League, the governing body for public high school extra-curricular activities in the state, is celebrating a century of service. The UIL continues to ask the public to vote for the top high school athletes over the previous 100 years in the sports under its umbrella.

Currently, they have ballots online for the spring sports at the uil website. Voting continues through Sunday.

In track, there are approximately five to seven in each event on the ballot. Most events have one from each classification. Plus there is an opportunity for a write-in.

Here are the ones from the Panhandle on the ballot. In boys:

Randy Matson of Pampa in the shot put and discus. Before he set the world record and won a gold medal, Matson dominated in high school. He threw 64-7 and 66-10 1/2 in the shot put in 1962 and 1963, and 192-3 and 185-9 in the discus those same years.

Jim Verden of Wheeler, 185-7 in the discus in 1977.

Ernie Mendez of Canyon, 7-1 1/2 in the high jump in 1983.

Jon Colby Miller, Lazbuddie, 16-9 in the pole vault.

Panhandle's 1600 relay, which ran a 3:17.1 in 1983, a Class 2A record that stood for 26 years. It was broken a year ago.

In girls, there are two in two events. Susan Bean of Class 1A Miami in the 200 (24.34) and long jump (18-11 1/2) from 1981 and Betzy Jimenez of Hereford in the 3200 (10:37.34) and 1600 (4:54.16) in 2006.

Also listed are Amarillo High's Lori Scott in the 1600 (5:05.2) from 1977 and Angel Williams of Clarendon in the 100 hurdles (14.27).

Sure, there are plenty of holes in it and it's a thorough list. But if you are a track geek, take a look at some of the history in this track-rich state and vote.