BOYS TRACK AND FIELD: Andrews' Marquez taking talent to West Texas A&M

ANDREWS Running always has come naturally to Lucas Marquez, which makes sense considering his bloodlines.

The Andrews High School senior, though, never has felt burdened by being the son of a Texas distance legend.

Rick Marquez still owns the Class 1A state record in the 1,600 meters, a time of 4 minutes, 13.8 seconds he ran for Sanderson in the 1975 UIL Track and Field State Championships.

He was a proud papa Wednesday, watching Lucas Marquez sign a full scholarship to run both cross country and track and field for NCAA Division II member West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

“I’m real proud of him,” Rick Marquez said. “Seeing how he’s developed, and I know there’s so much potential still, I’m anticipating the college level now to see what he can do.”

Lucas Marquez has a few months left as an Andrews athlete before heading to Canyon, and what he’s done to raise the profile of the Mustangs’ running programs is impressive in its own right.

Marquez is coming off a ninth-place individual finish in November’s UIL Cross Country State Championships while also helping the Mustangs to a seventh-place team finish. That was a week after leading Andrews to the Region I-3A team title in Lubbock.

In previous cross country seasons, Marquez was an individual state qualifier as a freshman and junior. In track and field, he was a state qualifier as a sophomore in the 1,600 meters and as a junior in the 3,200.

“The most pressure that comes to me about running and filling my dad’s shoes is from myself,” Marquez said. “My dad puts no pressure on me at all. That helps a lot because he just supports me and I put all the pressure on myself.”

In Canyon, Marquez will join head coach Darren Flowers’ program in both sports.

West Texas A&M’s distance runners include 2011 Water Valley graduate Dylan Doss, who finished seventh last fall in the Lone Star Conference Championships as a freshman.

“We are trying to establish a tradition here at West Texas A&M of having great middle distance runners and Lucas Marquez is the kind of runner and individual who can contribute to that,” Flowers said Wednesday in an e-mail. “I know that Lucas is passionate about his craft and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep getting better and that is what it takes to be successful in collegiate track and field. 

“He will bring us great depth on an already young and talented cross country team and I believe he has the ability to be a very versatile athlete on the track.  We are excited about what the future holds for Lucas and the young talent he will be surrounded by.  He will be a great addition to the West Texas A&M family.”

Marquez said he is good friends with Doss and also expects a comfort level at West Texas A&M while rooming with Seminole’s Tanner Moore — who also signed Wednesday to play football for the Buffaloes — in addition to several Andrews students who are planning to attend the school.

That includes fellow senior Jake Higgs, who signed Wednesday as a preferred walk-on for the Buffaloes football team.

“Ever since middle school, I wanted to get a full ride,” Marquez said. “It was my main goal, and it’s an awesome feeling just to have it actually come true. I’m excited for next year to see what I can do with some college training under my belt.”

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