Cotton Ford Relays set to go today
April 2, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- After getting their track and field meet called off on March 13 because of inclement weather, the Greenville Lions and Lady Lions will try again today with the Cotton Ford Relays.

The meet starts at 3 p.m. with the fields events. The 3200-meter run is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the other running events to follow.

Teams expected for the meet include Greenville, Royse City, Sachse, Dallas Lincoln, Forney, Sulphur Bluff and Celeste.

“I just want to get it in,” said Ivory Dillard, the Lions’ head track and field coach. “It’s kind of been a rainy season this year, rainy and cold.”

Rain and cold temperatures forced the Greenville coaches to call off the meet on its scheduled date on March 13 and move it to this weekend, which also happens to be the same time as the Texas Relays. Because of the Texas Relays, some of the top athletes from some of the teams may not be in the Greenville meet.

Forney’s the defending champion in both divisions. Forney outpointed Greenville 172-111 to claim the boys team title last year. Forney outdistanced Royse City 197-70 to win the girls team title last year.

The Lions will be looking to Dijoun Sheppard for another big meet. Sheppard won the high jump (5-9), long jump (20-0) and the 110-meter hurdles (15.77) to lead the Lions to third place behind Rockwall-Heath and Sachse in the Royse City meet last week.

Greenville also won the 4x200-meter relay (1:35.98) and picked up a victory from Cobbie Johnson in the 100-meter dash at 11.35.

Forney’s girls claimed the Royse City team title last week with 288 points as Royse City was second at 110.