LADY EAGLES SPRINTER Derekia Coleman is joined by family and coaches as she signs a letter of intent to accept a track scholarship to Tarleton State University in fall. Pictured are: front l-r, Carla, Derekia, Derek, Sr., and Derek, Jr., Coleman; back l-r, coaches Darrell Piske, Dennis Johnson, Stephen Heers and LaDonna Brackens. Fairfield Lady Eagles sprinter Derekia Coleman converted her speed to a college scholarship by signing a letter of intent to accept an athletic scholarship to Tarleton State University.

An official signing ceremony was held Tuesday morning at Fairfield high school and was attended by family members, teammates and coaches.

“Tarleton will make you better and will make you smarter,” girls athletic coordinator and TSU graduate Stephen Heers says.

Miss Coleman, a senior student is the daughter of Derek and Carla Coleman of Fairfield.

A 1-sport athlete, she has specialized in track and won top honors during her high school career.

A DOZEN WORTHAM high school thinclads qualify this spring to advance to region competition. Pictured are: front, Kimberly Johnson in long jump, 100- meter dash and the 400- and 800- meter relays; middle l-r, Jasmine Bailey in 400- and 800- meter relays, Dee Dee Johnson in 400- and 800- meter relays, Ashley Rhodes, Amber Libhart, Kennedy Vogel in 400-meter dash, Tori Sullivan and K’Undrea Smith in 400- and 800- meter relays; Chris McDaniel in 400-meter dash and mile relay and Hance Spencer, Jake Jones and Blake Ridge in mile relay. Crowning achievement, so far, is winning the Class AAA state championship in the 200-meter dash last year.

The sprinter ran the race in 25.09 seconds to win the gold medal at Austin and is posting similar times this season.

In fact, Miss Coleman has not lost a 200-meter race this year.

She also runs the 100- meter dash and finished fifth with a time of 12.19 in the 2009 Texas Track and Field Championships.

Last week at a high school meet in Ferris, Miss Coleman won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and helped the Lady Eagles 1,600-meter relay team to a first place finish.

She signed the letter to Tarleton just prior to the District 20-AAA meet that started Wednesday and concludes Thursday evening. Fairfield is hosting the meet.

She was recruited by several college track teams, including Eastern New Mexico, Alcorn State and Angelo State.

With her state win last year, Miss Coleman joined a list of Fairfield athletes who have starred in Austin over the years.

In 2008, Gavan Bass took gold in long jump, Nanceen Perry won 100- and 200-meter races four consecutive years as well as other events, Tony Brackens won shot put in 1993 and Robert Thomas won the 200-meter dash in 1989.

The only state team championships that Fairfield high school has ever won are in track—-the Lady Eagles accomplished that in 1992 and 1993.