By Hodge                                              H.R. No. 1088

         75R16416 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, James Madison High School's girls track team has

 1-2     captured the 1997 Class 3A state championship, and this fine group

 1-3     of young women is to be commended; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, In winning its first Class 3A title, the team earned

 1-5     six  medals  on  the  day,  including a gold medal in the dramatic

 1-6     4 x 400-meter relay finale; freshman Brandy Sabbath, running the

 1-7     anchor leg of the race, edged her opponent in a photo finish to

 1-8     grab the gold; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Led by first-year coach Charletta Gaines, the

1-10     Trojans boasted strong showings in almost all of the running

1-11     events,  winning   silver   medals   in   the   4 x 100-meter  and

1-12     4 x 200-meter relays, the 300-meter hurdles, and the 100-meter

1-13     dash; for good measure, sprinter Tonya Brooks added a bronze in the

1-14     demanding 800-meter run; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Coach Gaines has schooled her young charges in the

1-16     finer points of track and field, while also emphasizing

1-17     sportsmanship and teamwork, and she has been capably assisted in

1-18     her efforts by Assistant Coach Lisa Hilburn; in addition, Athletic

1-19     Director Sam West and Principal Leon Hamilton have provided the

1-20     requisite moral support necessary for developing a championship

1-21     team; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Dedication to excellence both individually and as a

1-23     team has been a hallmark of the Trojans, whose team members include

1-24     Tamara Bateman, Teshai Bogar, Thressa Brooks, Tonya Brooks, Shay

 2-1     Richardson, Brandy Sabbath, Lashcoka Thompson, Marcia Wingo, and

 2-2     Shemeka Wilson; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, These talented young women have instilled a feeling

 2-4     of pride in the hearts of the students and faculty of James Madison

 2-5     High School, and it is a privilege to join their many supporters in

 2-6     the community in honoring them at this time; now, therefore, be it

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-8     Legislature hereby congratulate Head Coach Charletta Gaines and the

 2-9     James Madison High School girls track team on their first-place

2-10     finish at the Class 3A state championship and extend to them

2-11     sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness in the

2-12     years to come; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-14     prepared for the team and coaching staff as an expression of high

2-15     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.