Coming off of one of the best years JHS track has seen this year’s team has a tough expectation to live up to. A state champion 4×1 and several other state competitors last year added up to one of the top state placements in the history of JHS track. Last year’s seniors Reggie Bratton, James Jackson, Andy Mills, and Ricardo Nieves, will be tough to replace. However, the track team will be putting in every effort they can to not only maintain the level of competition but bring it up even higher. “We may have lost some of our top competitors, but that just means we have a chance to really bring up the intensity at practice. After all, putting in work means just as much as a strong legacy.” Said senior Ethan Toney.
The season is already off to a great start, and it really looks like this year’s team might be going the same places as last year. Senior Devante Clark has already gotten a new personal best high jump at six feet, eight inches, bringing home first place at the IC indoor track meet along with two first place wins from fellow senior Tavion Brown at IC and U of I indoor track meets. “I think we will be very strong in our field events this year,” Brown believes. “Three of our seniors have been competing in their field event for years, and we’re pretty rounded out in those areas.”
Despite losing a few top members, this year’s Crimsons have found a new runner in an unexpected place. Junior wrestler Dillon “Walt” Miller has made this year the first year of his track career and is already breaking down some of the top times on the team. With dedicated new athletes like this and hardworking experienced athletes coming back there is no telling what the team might do this year. But they have a lot to live up to.