IN THE WORLD of Texas high school sports, everyone over a certain age knows the Legend Of Johnny “Lam” Jones. At the ’76 State Meet, Jones took a mile relay baton in last place, at least 40y behind the leader, and ran down the entire field, propelling Lampasas to the team title. At the time the fastest prep leg ever, 45.1 for 440y, it is still spoken of with a hushed reverence, and by so many “eyewitnesses” that one wonders about the capacity of the Longhorns’ stadium.
On May 11 of this year—also at the Texas State Meet in Austin—the Legend Of Matthew Boling was born. Sure, the saga was already in an embryonic stage—after running an all-conditions HSR 9.98w at Regionals, the Houston Strake senior became the object of a national media frenzy, riding a runaway hype train fueled by a track-ignorant internet making idiotic comparisons to Usain Bolt (“High schooler almost breaks World Record!”).
The Legend became fully formed in Austin, however, first with an easy long jump win (a windy 25-4½), then a national federation record 10.13 in the 100, and capped off by an amazing 4×4 anchor that will reside in historic memory right next to that of Jones. Just like his historic predecessor, Boling took the baton hopelessly behind, in this case with about a 30y deficit in front of him.
Okay, we’ll say it first: Is @matthew_boling1 the second coming of Johnny Lam Jones? #UILState pic.twitter.com/wyzVAMPvoE
— Track and Field News (@tandfn) May 12, 2019
With all due respect to Jones, Boling wasn’t chasing down small-town kids. He was trailing DeSoto, whose all-senior crew came into the meet ranked No. 2 nationally. But just like Jones, he began reeling in the opposition, slowly and methodically, as the announcer shouted, “Can he do it?” About 20y from the finish, he did. His anchor was a stunning 44.74—a time only 4 other preps have ever bettered—capping off a nation-leading 3:10.56. (Continued below)
When the 10.13 was announced to the crowd as a national record, it roared its approval. Despite being only the =No. 5 HS time ever by T&FN reckoning, the 10.13 broke the federation record of 10.15 set by fellow Texan Henry Neal in ’90 (T&FN recognizes Trentavis Friday’s 10.00 at the ’14 USATF Juniors as the HSR).
Boling 10.13 legal at Texas state. Ties the Texas HS record, breaks meet record. #uilstate pic.twitter.com/55ZujedWfp
— Track and Field News (@tandfn) May 12, 2019
In the long jump, Boling set aside his desire to pursue Marquise Goodwin’s national record of 26-10. Facing chilly, wet conditions, he opted instead for a legal 25-1½ and the windy winner and then zipped up his sweats for good, saving himself for the track races to come. Boling even had the opportunity for more: Again starting well behind, he anchored his 4×1 to an apparent come-from-behind 3rd, but a lane violation resulted in disqualification.
Boling 2nd jump: 25-4.5 nwi #UILState pic.twitter.com/vVUmR3kmlg
— Track and Field News (@tandfn) May 11, 2019
TEXAS STATE HS BOYS RESULTS
Austin, May 10-11 (6A Division unless otherwise noted)—
100(1.3): 1. Matthew Boling (Strake, Houston) 10.13 (HSL) (=4, =5 HS);
2. Tyler Owens (East, Plano) 10.38; 3. Lance Broome (Seven Lakes, Katy) 10.40.
200(0.2): 1. Broome 20.83. 5A 200(1.1): 1. *Devon Achane (Marshall, Missouri City) 20.69. 400: 1. *Omajuwa Etiew (Franklin, El Paso) 46.51. 1600: 1. *Cole Lindhorst (Tompkins, Katy) 4:07.41; 2. *Ryan Schoppe (La Porte) 4:07.47. 3200: 1. Schoppe 8:52.72. 110H(1.6): 1. *Kirk Collins (Clear Spring, League City) 13.82; 2. Ryan Williams (Bowie, Arlington) 13.88. 300H: 1. Williams 36.81; 2. Collins 36.86; 3. *Clayton Keys (Tompkins) 36.87.
4 x 100: 1. Summit, Arlington 40.42; 2. Klein Forest, Houston 40.49;… dq[zone]—DeSoto & Strake. 5A 4 x 100: Marshall 40.24. 4 x 200: 1. Judson, Converse 1:24.09; 2. Klein Forest 1:24.13; 3. Summit 1:24.67; 4. DeSoto 1:24.85.
5A 4 x 200: 1. Marshall 1:23.38 (HSL) (3 HS).
4 x 400: 1. Strake 3:10.56 (HSL) (Boling 44.74);
2. DeSoto 3:11.13. 5A 4 x 400: 1. Marshall 3:14.22.
LJ: 1. Boling 25-4½w (25-1½, 25-4½w, p, p, p, p). 5A LJ: 1. *Johnathan Baker (Paetow, Katy) 24-10w; 2. DeCorian Clark (Wyatt, Ft Worth) 24-8. TJ: 1. *Stacy Brown (Ellison, Killeen) 49-6½; 2. Henry Kiner (Atascocita, Humble) 49-4¼. SP: 1. Patrick Piperi (The Woodlands) 64-6; 2. **Bryce Foster (Taylor, Houston) 64-3¾. ◻︎
