One Wins, One Loses

Donique Flemings and Destiny Lumas can each make a case for being the fastest hurdler in the in the state, but it's debatable whether either is actually the fastest hurdler on her own team - and in her own family. That's because Flemings and Lumas are cousins and teammates on the Saginaw High School girls track team. The juniors are eyeing a return trip to Austin in May. Both advanced to the state track meet in 2007 in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and both finished in the top four in the two events. This time around, however, just getting there isn't good enough for the pair of New Orleans natives, said Rough Riders girls track coach Corey Baird. Each athlete wants to win state titles, Baird said, and more than that, each hurdler believes she can run faster in those events than any 4A hurdler every has. "They're pretty dedicated," Baird said. "They're both going for state records. They're going for 1-2 at state and they have a shot." To reach their goals, Flemings and Lumas will have to try to beat their toughest competitors - each other. But, then, that's nothing new for the cousins. Sometimes Flemings gets the best of Lumas. Other times it's the other way around. For example, at the District 6-4A meet in April, Flemings beat Lumas in the 300 hurdles, winning with a a time of 42.18 seconds to Lumas' 42.21. In the 100 hurdles, however, Lumas knocked off Flemings, 13.15 to 13.41. They finished 1-2 in both events and also were on the winning 4x400 relay. "We're capable of beating each other," Flemings said. Added Baird, "Destiny's won just as much as Donique. It just depends. It's just very back and forth between them." Lumas said her mindset is to perform at a high level and hope that's good enough to earn a victory. And no matter who wins or loses, there will be no hard feelings between the two, Lumas said. "If I run my best and she beats me, there's nothing you can do," she said. That's not to say they aren't intense competitors. They will celebrate each other's accomplishments when a race is over, but at the starting line, it's all business. "I don't say anything," Lumas said. "Good luck. That's it." If they seem like good sports despite racing head to head, perhaps it's because they live in the same house and hang out with each other in their spare time. When they're on the track, they push each other to achieve better times than they've ever run before. "We make each other better instead of just running on your own," Flemings said. Lumas has been running track for 10 years, while Flemings grew up playing a variety of sports in Louisiana. But after relocating to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, they both became singularly focused on track. Their talent was evident immediately. As freshmen at Haltom High School they advanced to state. They made a return appearance last year as members of the Saginaw track team. Although their performances at state improved from 2006 to 2007, neither seems particularly pleased with last year's showing. In the finals of the 100 hurdles, Lumas finished third with a time of 14.11 seconds, 4 hundredths of a second faster than Flemings, who was fourth. In the 300 hurdles, Flemings got the best of Lumas, finishing in second place with a time of 44.32, about 3 tenths of a second faster than the fourth-place Lumas. Lumas admits she felt a bit uneasy at Texas' biggest meet. "I was nervous, but I hope to keep my nerves in check this year. I'm still going to be nervous [this year], but not as nervous. I know what that feeling is." To make sure they are at their best the next time around, Lumas and Flemings spend their summers running for elite Amateur Athletic Union and national club teams coached by Flemings' father, Dwayne Lawrence. Their improvement since last spring has been apparent in both obvious and subtle ways, Baird said. "They've gotten so much quicker through summer and indoor," she said. "They're so much more focused, more driven." The duo has worked to perfect the little things that can shave fractions of a second off their times. "You look at the little stuff," Flemings said. "Are your arms right? Are you jumping too high? Is your trailing leg right?" When it comes to the technical aspects of racing, Flemings and Baird agreed that Lumas probably has the advantage. She glides gracefully over the hurdles and keeps her arms and legs in almost perfect position. She's also probably the more versatile performer, advancing to state last year in the triple jump. Flemings, on the other hand, believes she has her own strengths, namely her blazing dead-ahead speed. "I may have more speed than her," Flemings said. So, who has the advantage head to head? Baird isn't quite sure, but she is certain of this: She's proud to have the pair representing her track team. "It's a coach's dream to dream to have two outstanding athletes," Baird said. "They bring notoriety to themselves and their school, which is still so new. They're both extremely talented young ladies and kind of modest about their talent." Who is fastest in the state will be decided on the track. The cousins hope the final results will show them in first and second. "One wins. One loses," Flemings said. "As long as you run according to your best time, it doesn't matter."