Summer Creek Takes 'College Approach' To Fielding Elite, Complete Squad In Texas

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Team Photo by MaxPreps/Group photos by Shelton Ervin

Humble Summer Creek, under head coach Shelton Ervin, has become one of the best high school programs in the nation and operates the sport like "a college program."

In 2022, Summer Creek looked very much like a college program on the way to a second straight Texas 6A title.

With a lineup that included standout USC recruit Darius Rainey (45.92 in th 400, 1:50.63 in the 800), and supporting pieces like Myles Thomas (10.49w 100 meters), Donovan Bradley (13.55/36.82 hurdles), Justin Craft (60-6 shot put), Aaron Davis (25-5.50 long jump), Darius Cook (6-6 high jump and 47-0 triple jump) and freshman pole vaulter Josiah Edwards (14-0), the Bulldogs cruised through the sixth DyeStat Dual Meet Championship bracket and beat a very strong Hoover AL team 80-56 in the championship match of the virtual event.

In an event that wasn't even scored during the course of the tournament, the Sprint Medley Relay, Summer Creek ran 3:19.78 for No. 2 all-time in prep history. 

"It's the philosophy that we have to develop all event areas and to establish that depth," said Ervin, who was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, before moving to the high school level in 2006.

"And then you might get lucky and develop one of those areas into elite times and national times. We've benefitted by not neglecting any event area."

Rainey was a standout among the many stars on this year's team and is expected to be named to the relay pool for the USATF U20 national team that will compete in Cali, Colombia in August, following a 45.92 performance June 25 at Hayward Field. 

Summer Creek's track program has thrived in part due to a strong relationship with the football program.  Ervin is the only remaining head coach from the year that Summer Creek opened its doors in 2009.

Track and field is valued and respected as an important part of the school's athletics profile. 

"Track and field is very dominant at Summer Creek and the Humble area," sprinter Blake Gibson said. "This is our third (state championship). Everyone looks at our track program. Everybody's a family at the school."

The future is no less bright as the program looks to build upon its third Class 6A title.

Bradley will return as one of the best hurdlers in the country. Jeyden Coleman, the team's top discus thrower (169-6) will return. And Edwards is already a 14-foot pole vaulter as a ninth-grader.

First-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Second-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional semifinal summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional final summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

DUAL MEET CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Humble Summer Creek TX 80, Hoover AL 56

It's rare to find a combination of talents like this in a single high school program.

A 25-foot long jumper. A 3:09 4x400 relay group. A 60-foot shot putter. A 13.55-second 110-meter hurdler. All of those pieces contributed mightily as the Texas 6A champions took the final step and won the boys dual meet national championship matchup against a formidable Hoover team from Birmingham, Ala.

The format of the tournament scores three in every event. Hoover's three sub-50 400-meter runners didn't score. And it's 54-foot shot-putter didn't score. And two 1:57 guys in the 800 didn't factor in.

Hoover hit Summer Creek in its soft spot, sweeping the 1,600 and 3,200 for an 18-0 advantage.

But elsewhere, Summer Creek dominated. 

Aaron Davis won the long jump with 25-5.50 and placed second in the 110 hurdles in 13.84. Darius Rainey led a sweep of the 400 with 45.92 and also won the 800 meters in 1:50.63, events that were strong for Hoover throughout the tournament. 

Justin Craft (shot put) and Jeyden Coleman (discus) won events where Hoover was also formidable, but not quite strong enough. 

Jay Avery scored in three jumps events for Hoover, winning the triple jump, taking second in the long jump and high jump. Hoover's pole vault lineup was also exceptional and contributed nine points with Carter Ellis and Collin Pate both jumping 16 feet and Connor White clearing 15 feet.

In a close 100-meter dash, Myles Thomas ran a wind-legal 10.60 to beat Hoover's DJ Black (10.69). Thomas also owned a wind-aided 10.49. 

Summer Creek's Donovan Bradley, a junior, swept the hurdles with 13.55 in the 110s and 36.82 in the 300s. 

Meet Results