For the first time, Richmond Foster senior Devaren Staples is headed to the UIL State track meet. Staples qualified for the UIL State meet after running 14.31 in the 110-meter hurdles at the regional meet.
“Devaren is a remarkable athlete. He is dedicated to his craft, always working, he doesn’t have to be forced to do anything. He loves the sport and has put everything into it to get where he is,” said Foster track coach Miguel Pedesclaux.
Staples completed the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.31 at the regional meet. This was a new PR time for him, but in Texas, you can’t be good, you have to be great.
“Competing in Texas is tough. Initially, I wasn’t a short-distance hurdler, I was more of a long-distance hurdler. So being able to get faster in the short distance and seeing my work pay off feels good,” said Staples.
With a time of 14.31, Staples sat in third place in the back of Killeen Shoemaker’s Malik Esquerra, who finished first with a time of 13.81 and Lamar Fulshear’s Maki Jacobson, who finished second with a time of 14.28. A third-place finish meant Staples would be at the mercy of the wild card.
“I felt I didn’t perform at my best when it mattered most and I remember repeating to myself, ‘There’s no way.’ Being in that moment where it mattered most really hurt me mentally. My friend Maki got second place and I was glad for him, but it was a lot of mixed emotions all at once,” said Staples.
Devaren Staples
IG: @ Devaren.Staples
Twitter: @Devaren_Staples
Races: 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles
Height & weight: 5-feet-11, 160 pounds
Runners he studies: Rai Benjamin (Olympian), Daniel Roberts
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite artists: J. Cole, Ken Carson, Lucki
Favorite subject: Science
Shout-outs: Family, The FastU family, Justin Gatlin, Coach Marlon, Coach Will, Coach Jack, Coach P, and Coach Carolyn Todd.
Staples now a senior at Foster High School, had hoped to go out on top, just like all other senior athletes. His freshman track season was impacted tremendously by COVID-19 and both his sophomore and junior seasons were plagued by a hamstring injury that lasted two years keeping him from competing at his highest ability.
“I injured my hamstring in my left leg my sophomore season and it was a nagging injury that would come and go throughout my junior season,” said Staples.
With hard work and a determined mind, Staples vowed to himself to rest his body and then once fully healed work extremely hard for his senior season. The result was a third-place finish at the regional meet. Good, but would it be good enough for advancement to the UIL 5A state track meet?
“I didn’t want to believe it, but I felt like this was how it ends. Through all of this, the support I received from those around me and those who cared about me from the beginning was unbelievable. Without them I don’t know how I would’ve managed the whole situation,” said Staples.
After patiently waiting, Staples was informed that he had indeed won the wildcard and would be going to compete in the UIL 5A State track meet.
“I felt ecstatic. I was walking into the auditorium when Coach Jack stopped me and gave me the phone that had my dad on the other end saying ‘You got it man. Keep your head up my guy.’ I knew he was talking about the wildcard since we had been discussing it all weekend. I found myself in shock again and knew the job wasn’t finished,” said Staples.
With the wildcard in place, Staples’ journey will continue as he competes again at the 5A UIL State track meet. Staples is still undecided about where he will attend college but hopes to have an opportunity to compete in track and field while majoring in computer science.
“I’m looking for a school that will allow me to grow and improve both academically and on the track. As a kid, I’ve always liked computers and games, so I plan to follow my dreams while in college,” said Staples.
When looking back to inspire the next set of athletes who may not have gotten the results they strived for, Staples recalls the wise words given to him by coach Marlon Odom.
“No race is a loss as long as you can learn something from it,” said Staples.
