Winning a team title in regional track would certainly be better than a poke in the eye with a sharp pair of cleats, but mostly regionals are for getting kids to state or getting them ready to go there in the future.

The A&M Consolidated girls will compete in the Class 5A Region II meet in Waco next week, and coach Rodney Wellmann and the Lady Tigers will focus on what it takes to get to Austin rather than where they are in the team standings.

"In the old days, I would go up to the regional meet and try to score as many points as I could," Wellmann said. "The older I'm getting, the more I realize that the regional meet should be an opportunity for the young girls to get experience, or to advance to the state meet if they're your junior-senior stars."

Whitney Harris is one of the stars. She qualified for the regional meet in four events by winning the 100- and 400-meter sprints and finishing second in the 200 and the long jump.

Harris plans to run the 100 and 400 at regionals.

"I left it mostly up to her," Wellmann said. "I also looked up where she stands in the region in all those events. The 100 and 400 are both races that she's got a shot to get to state in.

"Maybe if I was really smart, she would just run the 400. I kind of left it up to her, and she said she wants to run the 100."

Wellmann said running the 100 should not take too much out of Harris before she runs the 400, which is considered her best event.

Cubettes rolling into regionals: The Brenham girls have the potential to score more than 100 points at the Class 4A Region III meet next week in Huntsville.

The Cubettes cruised to the District 18-4A title, scoring 142 points. Waller was second with 117.

Brenham's regional entries are led by a pair of seniors who qualified for state last year: thrower Chantel Bratton and pole vaulter Lindsey Lechler. Bratton won district in the discus (111 feet, 10 inches) and the shot put (40-3) at the district meet. Lechler cleared 10-6 to win the pole vault competition.

"We're taking a strong group of girls," Brenham coach Donna Williams said. "We have a couple that went to state last year who have a great opportunity to get back. We have some other girls who could also get there."

The Cubettes' other top contenders for state include Erika Williams in the 100 meters, distance runner Haley Preddy and the 400 relay unit of Williams, Taylor Boeker, Kierra Green and Jasmine McDonald.

"Last year, that [400] relay got to the [regional] finals, and they've had a goal to work and make it to state," Williams said. "I have five seniors, and this is a good group of kids. They want to work."

Preddy, a senior, broke the school record at 1,600 meters with a time of 5 minutes, 24 seconds at the district meet in Montgomery.

Bratton has received several scholarship offers, Williams said.

• Larry Bowen covers girls track in the Brazos Valley. If you have something of interest to report, e-mail him at larry.bowen@theeagle.com.