Boys track and field: Reagan fends off challenge from Bushland stars

Coached by his father, Russ, Idalou senior Sean Reagan has put together the kind of throwing resume that should make the rest of his opponents cringe.

A state title in the shot put as a sophomore. A state title in the discus last year. Five state medals in three years.

Guys like Reagan should roll through meets like the Region I-2A Track and Field Championships without much trouble.

But most guys like Reagan don't have to face a team like Bushland.

Competing Tuesday at Ratliff Stadium, Reagan held off a pair of talented Bushland throwers to win regional titles in both the shot put and the discus for the second time in his career.

He didn't mess up. He simply ran into another talented thrower.

Reagan pulled off the regional throws double as a sophomore, then came back to win the shot put last year.

Bushland's Andrew Hudson beat him in the discus.

"He threw good," Reagan said. "We compete well against each other most of the time."

Reagan got his revenge by winning the UIL Class 2A state discus state title in Austin. Hudson finished second.

Bushland throws coach Lanny Crow brought Hudson back to battle in the discus Tuesday. Crow also brought another powerful thrower in Weston Richburg, a threat in both the shot put and the discus.

Both of Bushland's throwers have plenty of physical gifts.

Hudson is a 6-foot-5, 235-pound athlete who will play defensive end at Oklahoma State in the fall. At 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, Richburg is headed to Colorado State to play on the offensive line.

Reagan is a pocket howitzer, a short, compact athlete who barely reaches the 6-foot mark. He weighs 235 pounds. Playing football, he quarterbacked Idalou to a 12-2 mark and a spot in the Class 2A Division I semifinal.

He has signed to throw at UT-San Antonio.

Under almost any circumstance, the lineman should beat the quarterback in a track and field throwing event every time.

But Reagan's foot speed helps him make up for his lack of height.

"I'm a lot shorter than the average thrower," Reagan said. "My quickness is my best asset."

Size nearly beat speed on Tuesday.

Heading into the shot put finals, Richburg only trailed Reagan by two inches. Reagan immediately responded with a 57-foot, 9-inch toss that proved to be plenty.

Richburg finished second at 56-7.

"I wanted to hit a big number," Richburg said. "I wanted to beat Sean, he's a good thrower, but he came out with a big throw in the finals."

Reagan waited even longer to make his move in the discus.

With only one throw left in the competition, Hudson's best throw - a 179-11 - held the lead by a few inches.

Reagan set up, spun around and launched a 182-foot throw to take the lead. Hudson's final throw slipped out of his hands.

"We have had that kid pinned three years in a row," Crow said. "More than anything, that kid's got a phenomenal heart. You can get him wherever you want, he won't give up."

And that's how the pocket howitzer consistently beats the big guns.