After their season ends in late fall, most football players find ways to stay busy in other sports.
The Odessa High and Permian football teams had athletes competing in multiple events at the 2022 West Texas Relays Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.
The meet was originally scheduled to take place Friday, but was moved up a day due to inclement weather expected in the area.
Field events like the boys discus throw showed the most influence from the city’s high school football teams.
Permian had Harris Sewell, Frank Alvarado and Grayson Proffitt competing, while Odessa High was represented by Marcos Marquez and Da’Mareon Gray in the event’s final.
Sewell said competing in field events gives him a chance to stay active while having time away from the football field.
He has made a name for himself dominating on the Permian offensive line, but he showed that he can be just as successful as a thrower by taking first in the discus.
His first throw of 149 feet, four inches held up through the entire event, giving him the gold medal.
“It’s kind of something fun to do, not as serious,” Sewell said. “Just kind of relax and just have fun.”
A common theme around the football athletes competing in the throwing events revolved around their positions on the gridiron.
Each spends most of their time on the offensive and defensive line.
Marquez doubles as an offensive and defensive linemen for the Bronchos and placed sixth in the discus throw, with his best throw coming in at 120-1.
He said he enjoys knowing his teammates are staying focused over the spring to try and accomplish a more team-oriented goal in the fall.
“It feels good knowing my teammates are doing the same thing, putting in the extra work so that this next season we can go to the playoffs,” Marquez said.
Sewell also had a number of his football teammates competing at the meet, with a large portion of them competing in multiple races.
He has been taught over the spring by a coach he knows well, as Permian assistant track and field coach James Hanlan also has a spot on the Panthers’ football staff.
Hanlan believes his players’ hard work from the fall carries over to help them achieve new personal bests.
“All of our football players have great attitudes, great work ethic and they like to be involved,” Hanlan said. “They like to do more than one sport.”
Seeing Sewell’s improvement in the discus throw has been a positive for Hanlan, as he believes the athlete has made consistent improvement in each meet.
Sewell said he wants to keep improving on his numbers throughout his junior season.
He felt confident he had secured the top spot in the discus event after his first throw.
“In the last one, I kind of just knew I won so I was just going all out and seeing how far I could throw it,” Sewell said. “It didn’t really work out, but that’s alright.”
Although Marquez placed in the top 10, he still feels that he has improvements to make to his routine to achieve stronger results.
Making sure his technique is sharp is a point of emphasis.
“I had some good throws but sadly, I spun out of the ring,” Marquez said. “Just need to work on my control.”
Sewell, highly sought after as a football recruit, doesn’t know if he’ll continue his track and field career next season as a senior.
He wants to make the most of the opportunity he has now.
“I just hope I can go far,” Sewell said. “See how far I can take it.”
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
