Boys track and field: Permian's McDowell digs deep to win Region I-5A hurdles title

LUBBOCK Ryan McDowell ran a dream race Saturday, even if it wasn't exactly ideal.

The good part for the Permian High School senior is he has a chance to improve.

McDowell captured the 110-meter hurdles title with a time of 14.12 seconds in the Region I-5A Track and Field Championships at Texas Tech's Fuller Track Stadium.

By earning a top-two finish, McDowell qualified to compete June 6 at the UIL State Championships in Austin.

Because of that, McDowell had a big smile to go along with a gold medal. His victory, a personal-best time and the trip to state didn't come without a little self-criticism, though.

"I think the best part about it is I don't think I ran my best, either," McDowell said. "I felt like I came out real slow. That's what I feel best about, that there's more in me."

Now the key will be for McDowell to keep improving all the way to Austin like he has since winning the District 2-5A title last month in Odessa.

McDowell said the three-week delay of the regional meet - brought on when the UIL postponed extracurricular activities because of the North American flu - served as a great training benefit and paved the way to his victory and first state trip.

His time of 14.12 beat out Coppell's Jake Wohlford (14.14) for the victory, with El Paso Eastwood's Isaac Spoon (14.47) taking third.

"A month ago, I think if everybody was competing at this level, no, I don't think I would've been in the top three," McDowell said. "I don't think I was right mentally to go out there and compete the way I did. At the end of it, right now, that month was worth it now that I'm holding this medal in my hand."

Permian boys head coach Jeep Shanks, who has an entry going to the state meet for the third time in four seasons he has been with the program, agreed that McDowell had to dig down deep to pull out the victory.

McDowell has had some tough times hitting hurdles in his Permian career, but he didn't let a slow start turn into disaster this time.

"The way it started off, he didn't get out of the blocks well and he was sitting fourth after the fourth or fifth hurdle," Shanks said. "Somehow he changed gears and ran the last end of the race like I've never seen him run it before. It was fantastic."

McDowell now will try to earn a medal at the state meet, just like older brother Jon McDowell did in taking state bronze both in 2002 and 2003 before embarking on a standout career at the University of Texas-Arlington.

The youngest of three brothers, Ryan McDowell did feel like he proved something to himself with the victory.

"Just knowing that I PRed and to get through the race and show a lot of people that I could beat people other than people in our district and West Texas, that I could be a regional champ also, it means a lot to me," McDowell said. "Me and my dad talk about it on a daily basis. This is what I've been working for forever, just to go to state and get that chance to win it all."

>> BIG IMPROVEMENT FOR ROLLIE: A day after failing to make the finals of the triple jump, Permian senior Johnny Rollie finished fourth in the long jump.

Rollie's effort of 22 feet, 1.5 inches was just behind the winning distance of 22-6.5 by Allen's Jeremy Reeves and a 22-4 by Euless Trinity's Bobby Brown that finished second.

"It's pretty frustrating because I think I could've made it (to state), but I've got to take it and move on," Rollie said. "It was important for me to come back and have a good day."