Selected by Staff Writer Brandon George in consultation with area track and field coaches.

CEDAR HILL, SR.

Tyron Stewart could have been thinking "what if" in late December after deciding not to play football and watching his former teammates win a state championship.

But after Stewart's performance during the track and field season, he realized he had made the right choice.

Stewart won a Class 5A state title in the triple jump with a leap of 50 feet, 9½ inches and finished fourth in the long jump (23-7). Stewart's 14 points at state helped Cedar Hill's boys team tie for second overall. It was the only meet all season that the team didn't win.

"We had a really good team, and this was the best year I've ever had," Stewart said. "I progressed so much from what I did last year. It was very exciting."

Stewart (5-11, 150), a receiver on the Cedar Hill football team as a junior, won the triple jump at the 5A Region I meet in Lubbock with a season-best mark of 51-8½, but it was wind-aided. Stewart's mark at state was the best non-wind-aided triple jump in the nation this season by a high school athlete.

Stewart parlayed his strong season into a scholarship. He has signed with Texas A&M.

"He's accomplished more in one year than what most accomplish in four years," Cedar Hill coach Sandra Mitchell said.

At state: Won 5A triple jump (50-9½) and was fourth in the long jump (23-7) to help the Cedar Hill boys tie for second overall.

About Stewart: He has signed with Texas A&M. He's been triple-jumping since the sixth grade.

Did you know? "I was born in Lamar, Calif., and also lived in Guam, Washington state and Nevada before coming to Texas because my dad was a career Navy man."

Sandra Mitchell, Cedar Hill

At state: Led team to a second-place tie in 5A. It was the only meet all season that Cedar Hill didn't win.

About Mitchell: Mitchell, one of the few women in Texas who is a boys varsity track coach, is in her seventh year at Cedar Hill. She played college basketball for two years at Temple Junior College and ran track for a year at East Texas State.

Did you know? "I'm in a book club. It's one of those book clubs you join and you get a couple of books a month."

Howard Shepard, Skyline, So.

At state: Won 5A 800 (1:51.31) in first varsity season.

About Shepard: Shepard's state-winning 800 time of 1:51.31 ranks sixth in the nation this year. He's one of 16 boys nationwide chosen for the IAAF World Youth Championships on July 11-15 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Did you know? "I like photography. I take family photos and stuff."

DeSoto: Reginald Hayter, Sr.; Qualon Childress, Sr.; Isah Muhammad, Jr.; Marcelles Atkinson, Sr.

At state: Won 5A state title in 4x400 relay (3:11.83).

About the team: Turned in a season-best 3:11.67 in the prelims at the 5A Region I meet. That time ranks second nationally this year. Relay team was beaten only twice all season.

Secret to our success: "We worked hard every day and never slacked at all." – Marcelles Atkinson

Shawnbrey McNeal, Madison, Sr.

At state: Finished second in 3A 100 (10.53) and anchored Madison's 4x100 (41.25) and 4x200 (1:25.98) relays to victories.

About McNeal: A running back who has signed with Miami (Fla.), he won 3A state titles in the 100 as a sophomore and junior.

Did you know? "I like fried calamari. I eat it every time I get a chance."

Trevante Rhodes, Little Elm, Jr.

At state: Finished second in 4A 100 (10.55) and 200 (21.37).

About Rhodes: He is a starting cornerback and plays running back for the football team.

Did you know? "I'm involved in YPWC [Young People Who Care] at school. We go around the area and do community service."

Danzell Fortson, Keller Central, Sr.

At state: Won 5A 400 (46.76).

About Fortson: He has signed a track scholarship with Texas. He's one of 16 high school boys nationwide picked for the IAAF World Youth Championships on July 11-15 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. .

Did you know? "I skipped kindergarten and only turned 17 in February."

Marcus Boyd, North Crowley, Sr.

At state: Second in 5A 400 (46.81).

About Boyd: He has signed a track scholarship with Baylor. Boyd's best time in the 400 of 46.81 is tied for eighth nationally this year .

Did you know? "I'm a great chess player. I used to play all the time with my uncles and cousins."

Colby Lowe, Southlake Carroll, Jr.

At state: Won 5A 3,200 (8:59.79) and 1,600 (4:09.28).

About Lowe: Lowe's state-winning 3,200 time ranks fourth nationally this season. His state-winning 1,600 time ranks fifth nationally.

Did you know? "My dad and I like to go to boat shows and car shows, and my grandfather and my dad have motorcycles."

Ryan Lusk, Mesquite Poteet, Sr.

At state: Fourth in 4A 3,200 (9:23.28), eighth in 1,600 (4:33.02).

About Lusk: He has signed with Oklahoma State. Lusk said his personal-best time in the 3,200 is 9:23.28. In the 1,600, it's 4:21.

Did you know? "I've solved a Rubik's Cube in 31 seconds. It took a month or two to get that fast at it."

Oscar Spurlock, Carter, Sr.

At state: Won 5A 110 hurdles (13.73).

About Spurlock: He has signed a track scholarship with Southern California. Spurlock clocked the nation's second-fastest wind-aided time in the 110 hurdles this season of 13.52 and the nation's fourth-fastest non-wind-aided time of 13.72.

Did you know? "I like to cook. My best dish is pork chops."

Billy Walker, Lancaster, Sr.

At state: Second in 4A 300 hurdles (36.78).

About Walker: He has signed with Abilene Christian for football and track.

Did you know? "I won most talented at my school. I can sing and play the piano. I can do it all."

Tyler Washington, Cedar Hill, So.

At state: Third in 5A discus (173-0).

About Washington: Had the nation's fifth-best discus throw this season of 198-6. Washington is expected to start at nose guard for Cedar Hill's football team next season.

Did you know? "My mom and dad competed in the shot put and discus in college at Southern University in Louisiana."

Corwin Pace, Red Oak, Jr.

At state: Second in 4A discus (180-11).

About Pace: Competes for the Texas Throwbacks summer team under the direction of Michael Carter, a former Olympian in the shot put.

Did you know? "My dad was the world's fastest policeman. He worked for the Dallas Police Department and participated in the Police Olympics – he won the 100 meters."

Marquise Goodwin, Rowlett, So.

At state: Won 5A long jump (25 feet), finished second in triple jump (49-6¾).

About Goodwin: Goodwin's leap of 25 feet was the best non-wind-aided long jump nationally this season.

Did you know? "I like to draw. I do it almost every day."

Grant Lindsey, Mansfield, Sr.

At state: Won 5A high jump (6-11).

About Lindsey: He has signed with Kentucky. Lindsey had the nation's second-best high jump this season by clearing 7-3. Plans to compete at the Nike Outdoor nationals and the Junior Pan-Am Games in Brazil this summer.

Did you know? "I'm on the debate team."

Demetrius Tryels, Little Elm, Jr.

At state: Third in 4A high jump (6-6).

About Tryels: He ranked second in the area this year with a personal-best high jump of 6-10.

Did you know? "I like collecting rocks. I have maybe 50. They're all different kinds."

Monte Willett, Grapevine, Jr.

At state: Fourth in 5A pole vault (15 feet).

About Willett: Tied for fourth in the area this season in the pole vault with a personal-best 15-6. Competes in summer for Keller Polecats, coached by Hal Theodore.

Did you know? "I've worked for Southwest Greens for five years. That company puts in artificial turf at football stadiums."