SHREVE'S MARQUEZ STEVENSON (FAR RIGHT) RUNS 6.94 AT THE '22 STATE INDOOR
The new record holder in the boys' 60m of the LSU High School Qualifier has the Dallas Cowboys beating the San Francisco 49ers 21-7 this evening, but only because his mom is a huge Cowboys fan.
Don't tell Texas Tech head football coach Joey McGuire that his recent signee-Captain Shreve's Marquez Stevenson-is not a Dallas fan. Stevenson may have played the part last month when McGuire made an in-home visit with the Stevenson family.
"No offense to Coach McGuire," Stevenson said when asked if he was a Dallas fan, "but, no."
Who was recruiting who when McGuire was visiting the No. 2 ranked 60m sprinter in Louisiana, who friends and family refer to as "Macho"?
"He likes Patrick Mahommes and the Chiefs," Alecima Stevenson, Stevenson's mother, laughed when asked about her son's NFL allegiances.
Of course, the fact that Stevesnon is a huge Mahommes fan may circle back to McGuire and the fact that Stevenson was able to hang out with the Chief's star quarterback while on a visit to Lubbock.
All kidding aside, Stevenson's performance at the LSU Qualifier was no joke. He came out of the blocks in the prelims of the 60m-his first race of 2023-and was all business, going 6.89.
"It felt good," Stevenson said of his first race of 2023. "I've been working. I sat out the first couple of meets to get back in shape after football. I feel healthier than ever."
In the finals, Stevenson was even more impressive-- flying down the track at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse to a meet record time of 6.85.
"I knew I had great competition," Stevenson said of going into the final. "I was excited to run. I ran as fast as I could. It felt good."
One of the sprinters who held the meet record of 6.86-Edna Karr's Ra'hji Dennis-was in the stands watching Stevenson. Dennis will open his season in February at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier. Dennis shared the record with Warren Easton's Leon Elloie.
Stevenson's time on Saturday was the same time Dennis ran on his way to a state championship in last year's LHSAA Division I Indoor Championships. Stevenson finished third in that race with a 6.94.
Stevenson's competition Saturday was Destrehan's Phillip Wright III, who finished second with a 6.88. Wright owns the No. 1 ranking in the US for sophomores.
Stevenson and Wright exchanged laughs after receiving their T-shirts and stepping off the podium.
"We all play football and run track," Stevenson said of the bond shared by elite sprinters across the state. "We keep up with each other and make sure we're all healthy and doing good."
Between 60m races, Stevenson ran in the 400m, where he is the defending state champion both indoors and outdoors. While his time and place (50.15; 3rd) isn't up to his high standards, Stevenson took it all in stride.
"I got out hard and then I started relaxing my body," Stevenson said. "I could have run harder. There's always next time. I'll come get 'em."
If that next time is on Feb. 4 at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier, it will make for must see Louisiana high school track and field sprint action as Stevenson and Dennis will face Warren Easton's Germain Smith-Mata, who owns Louisiana's No. 1 ranking in the 60m with a 6.76. The time is also No. 6 in the nation.