Clarksdale High School’s track teams may be young, but first-year coaches Westley Love and Kenya Arnold are taking 15 boys and girls to the Class 4A state meet at Pearl High School on Saturday.
“There are no seniors on the track team,” Love said. “All of the kids have worked hard and been dedicated. This year, with moving the eighth graders up, going into district, we had 50 plus kids. Out of the 50, only five girls and one boy ran track last year.”
The North state meet was in Pontotoc last Saturday. The boys and girls won the district at Mississippi Valley State University. The girls won the regionals at Center Hill High School, while the boys were the runner-ups.
Queston Skipper was second in the 100-meter run and fourth in the 200-meter run last Saturday in Pontotoc, Tommy Washington was fourth in the 800-meter run, the boys were fourth in the 4x400-meter relay, while the girls qualified in the 4x200-meter relay and Khaleyla Gamble was fourth in the 800-meter run.
Four eighth graders qualified.
Passion Porter was fourth in the 100-meter run, Tauri Lofton was second in the 400-meter run, Terrance Hodges was third in the 300-meter hurdles, and Michaela Johnson was third in the 100-meter hurdles.
“I haven’t ran track since eighth grade and, at first, I wasn’t feeling it, but I kind of got the hang of it and I like it now,” Skipper said.
Tamari Marbley competed in the 200-meter run and was surprised she performed as well as she did.
“I was nervous,” she said. “I didn’t think I was going to qualify because their times were faster than mine.”
Love feels the team’s future is bright with a new track coming to Clarksdale High School. The track will be at the new football stadium scheduled to be completely built sometime in 2020.
“With the plans of building the stadium and the track, we’re just hoping that the participation and the success that we’ve had this year will continue to build on and will continue to make track another sport at Clarksdale High that’s thriving along with all the other sports that have done well.”
“Even though all the students didn't advance to the 4A State Championships, all the coaches are proud of the entire team and their efforts this season. Students such as Jgemarriyah Evans, Brianna Hughes, Ty'reaunna Jackson, Kania Monix, Kasiya Williams, DK Bays, Q. Lester, Sammie Ray and many more all made major contributions to help win district titles for the boys and girls. There were other 8th graders as well that were moved up after their Junior High season. TreveonFryer (3200m), Aliyah Thomas (4x8,4x4 Relays), Maya Chesnut (3200m, 1600m), and Jamesha Perryman (Long Jump) all advanced to the 4A North State in their first season falling just short of qualifying for the 4A State Championship.”
