Midland's Lucas signs with Texas

By Craig Craker

ccraker@oaoa.com

MIDLAND Victoria Lucas’ first love was soccer.

Thankfully for her she became burned out on the sport after her sophomore year of high school.

Giving up soccer gave her more time to compete in track and field and that paid off with a full-ride athletic scholarship to the University of Texas.

The Midland High senior signed a letter of intent with the Longhorns on Wednesday at the high school.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Lucas said. “They are great in all sports and play in the Big 12. It’s great.”

Lucas competed in both soccer and track and field her freshman and sophomore years. She went to the Class 5A State Track and Field Championships as a sophomore and finished sixth in high jump.

That showing in Austin convinced her to give up soccer.

“I did awful, it was really embarrassing,” she said. “When I played soccer I wouldn’t show up until the district meet, without soccer I got eight more meets in and had a lot more preparation.”

So, Lucas gave up soccer, concentrated on high jump and the rest is history.

She won the Class 5A state title in high jump last year, clearing 6-feet, 1-inch.

That mark was the best in the nation for any high school female athlete and 13th best of any female in the US in 2007. She is also just 1/4 of an inch away from getting a paid trip to the Olympic Trials this summer.

“I want to peak at the Olympic Trials,” she said. “I’ve already won a state title and I have bigger things to look forward to.”

Starting with setting a new personal best.

Lucas cleared 5-9 in practice last week and is hoping to go at least 6-3 this year.

“There’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “I just don’t talk about (having the highest jump in the nation). I just keep my fingers crossed on going higher.”

Her track and field coach Tekeira Strambler thinks anything is possible for Lucas.

“She’s aged and matured physically and psychologically,” Strambler said. She’s growing into the event and is very coachable and listens well.

“She’s one of those blue chipper athletes that was blessed with great athletic ability.”

Lucas almost wasn’t going to compete in college, but her recent success helped change her mind.

“I told most people my sophomore and junior year that I wouldn’t do sports in college,” she said, “because it’s like a job, but this is just such a great opportunity.”