The Marshall Buffs have another one on their hands.

Another elite level, dual-sport athlete who calls Thurgood Marshall High home. He’s the next big thing on Buffalo Run.

His name is Dominick Houston-Shepard.

He’s made his name on the football field, torching defense all the way to the Region III title game last season. After an early transition to wide receiver, he hasn’t looked back.

“My freshman year I switched from defensive back to wide receiver because I love to score,” said Houston- Shepard.

Believe it or not, football isn’t even his primary sport.

No one in the nation has the combination of speed, flexibility, drive and natural ability that Dominick displays when he runs the hurdles.

Entering the month of April, Houston- Shepard was ranked No. 1 in Texas in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 36.76 seconds. That time was also good for third fastest in the country.

“I started as an 11-year-old,” Houston-Shepard said. ”My summer track coach was a hurdler herself, so she told me she was going to train me. That same season I won gold at the AAU Junior Olympics.”

That coach knows a thing or two about hurdling, considering she’s the three-time Big West 100-meter hurdle champion Tanya Davis Moore.

Moore runs a club track team that saw the potential of a young Houston-Shepard. He’s more than delivered on the promise Moore saw in him all those years ago. He still has loftier goals in mind as he eyes the state hardware.

After a fourth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at state last year, Houston-Shepard has run with a vengeance in 2018.

In the 110-meter hurdles, Houston-Shepard has five first place finishes, including running a 14.16 at the Victor Lopez Classic. In the 300-meter hurdles, Houston- Shepard has reigned in three first place finishes, including a personal record at the Victor Lopez Classic.

But winning these meets in the hurdles aren’t the ultimate goal this season.

“My goal is to win state in both hurdles,” said Houston-Shepard.

So what’s the magic ingredient that FB Marshall has built their track legacy on?

“We consistently have some of the best athletes because of our work ethic,” said Houston-Shepard.

This article appears in the April Issue of VYPE Magazine. Pick up your copy at any one of our locations today!

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