The Spartan Track Team opens the season with an early state-qualifying performance.
Photo by Rebecca Holt
TJ track sprinted with confidence straight into the books to start their Spring 2010 season. Placing 3rd out of 14 teams, TJ is certainly not a team to be over-looked this season, as they plan on hitting the track hard at every meet. “We have obviously already started off our season well with our boys’ team potentially qualifying for state in three events, with large increases in everyone’s times,” senior Paige Wilson said.
And the increases really are fairly significant. Senior Jared Lewis bettered his winning time from last year by 0.35 seconds to win the 100 Meter again, and potentially qualify for the state tourney already. The 4 x 100 mens’ team ran a 43.67, a faster time than they ran in the State Tournament last year, which is the second event Jared Lewis may have qualified for state, already.
“Our girls team is certainly going to continue to build in confidence with more practice, for our young team. With the addition of Senior Monique Kuykendoll, we have not only added a new leader but a strong competitor in all arenas,” said Wilson.
Though the tale is usually of the top contenders at each event, the story of this past week’s tournament read a bit differently. The 4 x 800 Meter Relay Team consisting of Raycell Rush, Ben Makovsky, Rovel Berhe and Jordan Shelton placed 2nd at the meet. Though finishing only fourth for the 100 Meter Dash, Senior Matt Averyhart improved on his time from last year by almost thirty seconds to 11.42 seconds, certainly working towards contention for the state tournament in the event.
Though they placed only 11th out of 14 teams, the womens’ team ran their best, and hope to move up from here. Head Coach Dave Cohen said: “We have a lot of newcomers, some trying out events for the first time, and I was very impressed with how the women stepped up and pushed themselves out of their comfort zones.” Freshman Solanna Johnson was one who tested her limits at the event. Volunteering to run a distance event and placing fourth not only surprised her, but her coach as well. “Sometimes it is nice to discover that you have an ability or a talent to do something that you never realized you had before, just because you gave it a shot,” Coach Cohen said.
Senior Leader Jared Lewis said, “We are a team in transition; a lot of us are heading on to start bigger and better things. Before we leave, we look to impart as much knowledge to the next generation as we can and, for me personally, win as much as I can before the final cleat leaves the track.” Starting off at this speed, the Spartans will only continue to hit the ground running on their way to another victorious season.
