Coach Guy Thomas' Dunbar boys track and field program has come along way. Last year the team placed 15th with three athletes accumulating 16 points. Ezekiel Rose placed 2nd in the high jump, Rudy Alverez placed 4th in the triple jump, and LaJuan Preston placed 5th in the triple jump. The team lost standout sprinter and jumper Seneca Milledge just two days before qualifying for states in three events. Thomas gives us an inside look at this year's squad.
How big was the loss of Seneca last year?
He was released by family doctor two weeks after the state meet. He was predicted to accumulate a total of 36 points, adding to the team total of 46 points and finishing as state champion runner-up.
Who are your top returners this season?
Seneca Milledge is a returning sophomore, currently ranked #2 in the 100 meters with a time of 10.47, ranked #3 in long jump with a distance of 22-9, and 200 meters ranked #11 in the 200 meter with a time of 21.94. Seneca also runs second leg on the 4x100 relay team which is currently ranked #5 with a time of 41.80. He is an awesome sprinter, but a natural jumper. He is quick, powerful, and explosive-all the qualities of a good jumper. He attempted the triple jump for the first time in practice and jumped 47'! He recorded a vertical jump of 40'' during the Army All American combines in January 2017.
LaJuan Preston is returning as a senior and is currently ranked #4 in the triple jump with a jump of 45-6. His goal this 2017 season is to jump in the 47' range. He also runs 1st leg on the 4x100 relay and will be retuning ranked #5 with a time of 41.80.
Rudy Alverez is returning as a senior and is currently ranked #3 in the triple jump with a jump of 45-11.75. His goal for this 2017 season is to jump into the 49' range.
Deismond Davis is returning as a sophomore and is a member of the 4x100 relay. He will contribute greatly in the 100 meters with a time of 10.85, the 200 meters with a time of 22.04, and the 400 meters with a time of 50.04. He recorded all those times as a freshman.
Ralph Claude (junior), Trevor McDaniels (senior), Terrell White (Sophomore), and Damien Simmonds (sophomore) will contribute greatly in the 800 meters and the 4x800 relay. All four athletes are coming off an awesome cross country season and are responsible for Dunbar's Cross Country team qualifying for the state championship for the first time in school history.
Do you have any key losses from last season?
We are losing only one athlete, Ezekiel Rose, who placed 2nd in high jump at state finals. He now attends Alabama A&M on a track scholarship.
Are there any impact freshmen coming in or transfers?
Deven Thompkins transferred to Dunbar High School as a senior and will provide extra depth in the jumps, sprints, and relays.
Rahkeem and Shyheem Jacques-Louis, referred to as The Twins, are football standouts who transferred as juniors will add depth in the sprints, jumps, and throws this season.
What has the preseason training been like?
Preseason is going better than expected. The positive energy and the competitive level is at an all-time high. We are a very young team, mostly consisting of sophomores, but we realize the position we are in as a team and the opportunities that exist.
What are you focusing on and what have you been the most impressed with?
This preseason, we are focused on cardiorespiratory and speed endurance training. Our goal this preseason is quantity over quality and as the season progresses toward post-season, our focus shifts to quality over quantity.
What meets are you keying in on this year?
We are keying on three highly competitive meets this season that I feel will prepare our team for a successful post-season and a bid for the state championship. We will attend The Louie Bing Classic during the earlier part of the season, Bob Hayes during the middle of the season, and the Florida Relays during the end of the season.
What are the goals of this year's squad?
Our goal for this 2017 season is to accumulate 70 points at the state finals and win our first state 2A Track & Field title.
How would you describe this year's team?
I would describe our team as young, energetic, athletic, talented, and very competitive.
Is there anything else you want to add?
This 2017 season is very important and instrumental to building a successful track and field program for years to come. As mentioned earlier, we are only a sophomore team and will be retuning most of our athletes for the next three years.