Wednesday was our last varsity track workout of the year before state. As practice came to an end, I just remembered how the year started. We were all optimistic and anxious for the season to begin. Getting our two new transfers from Calvary Christian, the girls knew that we were going to be contending this year. As for the guys, they came so close last year to winning, and made the changes needed to be in that first place podium spot. The girl’s team hasn’t won a state championship since 1987 so we are definitely determined. The boys won five years ago, but for both genders these are the best teams we’ve had in a long time.
Both teamas practiced their hand offs for the 4x100 and the jumpers made sure they had down their marks. Being a 1A school, we leave on Thursday and run on Friday. The nerves are settling in for most of us, as some haven’t made it to state before, while others are just nervous about rising to the occasion. Some of my teammates like Ebony Brown, have been to the state meet since her freshman year, and she says she really isn’t nervous at all. When we run summer we perform at slightly bigger stages. For me, I can surely say that the nerves haven’t settled in yet, but when they do they’ll come in full blast. For defending state champion, Andrew James he’s told me he’s already feeling nervous, I mean going in as defending champion in the 400m and runner up in the 200m, why wouldn’t you be?
For those who weren’t on a relay or in any jumping event, which includes myself, Brandon Bejarano, Andrew James, Casey McCraken, John Luke, Sanders Desir and Terrell Phillips as well as Andrew Carrie; we worked on turnover and made sure we were ready for the rounds or finals we were about to compete in. Bejarano took part in an all out 600m, coming through at 1:23, which makes his 800m look very promising. AJ and I did 3 x 60ms and 2 x 120ms running each like a 400m or 200m. For the girls only pole vaulter, Karin Sastre she worked on her vaulting, practicing various heights to make sure she’s ready to claim her number one spot. For our throwers, Jerome Grey, Isabella Luke, Hozie Hankerson, Mitchell Etienne and Micah Smith they got in a few throws to fine tune their technique.
Most of the kids that Westminster Academy is taking to state are ranked in the top eight in the state and hopefully will all place in their respective events. The guys are definitely going up with expectations to win the whole thing, but First Academy will give them a great fight. As I predict the boys championships will come down to the 4x400m relay. The girls are also going up with high hopes, as we are ranked behind Holy Trinity going into the state serie. Now we are in a close second, but were not going down without a fight, because everyone knows states never go as planned.
Coach's Corner: Ken Key - Track & Field Director, Assistant Coach (By Todd Grasley)
Coach Ken Key founded the boys cross country team at Westminster Academy in 1973 wih the girl's cross country and track teams throughout the next three seasons. The girls went onto win their first state title in 1976.
How did you get your start in coaching?
I was a distance runner in high school and at Calvin College in Michigan. When I got out of the army in 1972 and went back to grad school, I met up with a college teammate of mine coming home from the Peace Corp in Africa. He asked me to help him in an effort to become a national level decathlete. I worked jumps and fitness with him, while he taught me his skills in throws and hurdles. We went to the USTFF Championships in Wichita in 1973, and I've been hooked ever since.
What is the key factor in the school's success this year?Hunger. Some got a taste of success last year, some a dose of disappointment. Coach Doria Rickel and I were involved with the 2008 state champion boys team and have been steering conversations for two years in the direction of "let's go stand on the top step again." Our returning boys went scouring the hallways and the football team and brought out three or four friends who have made an impact on our "hope" to stand on that top step.
How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
I am an encourager. Every single coach I have had since 7th grade has been a teacher first, a Christian model second, a mentor third, and a coach of skill and success fourth. I found that attractive to me, and model myself in that direction.
Both the boys and girls teams are well balanced scoring points in a wide variety of events. How crucial is that versatility?
One of the joys of cross country coaching is the homogeneous nature of doing one thing all together. One of the great joys of track and field is the wide variety of skill and gifts that can be utilized by a significant variety of athletic characters and physical makeups from little girl distance runners to giant hulks of throwers, from free spirited hurdler/sprinter/pole vaulter types to the perfectionist scholarly distance runner. Everyone can play a role on a successful track team. In 1978, our boys team was state runner-up by a single point. We found a thrower and a sprinter on the basketball team and came back to win big in 1979. In the small school setting, you have to be able to score points across the board. Our boys team may score a point in every event except the long jump this year. Each of our assistant coaches (including our wonderful Nova Southeastern University connection) want to contribute points to the team effort.
Are there any athletes that have stepped up or surprised yout his season?
Jordan Mansour has been a huge lift to our team. His first day of pole vault ever was in mid-January this year. He has a chance to win it all. Mitchell Ettienne also only learned to throw this January and is leading our division in shot put. On the girls side, it was the transfer of two families into WA (Karin Sastre and Ebony Brown) during the summer that has surprised us and given us the boost of points to compete for the state title.
Do you work on anything specific this week or is it just fine tuning?
This week is just fine tuning. Monday is a very intense work day, but only half the usual total meters. Tuesday and Wednesday are starts, handoffs, jumps work, and short sprint work. Wednesday is another "half day" for our distance and middle distance kids -- plenty of speed, but half or less meters. Mentally it is about preparing to give everything to climb onto the podium steps -- in our individual and relay events, and then as a team together for the trophy. All season long the emphasis has been "get on the podium." Coach Doria worked diligently with our assistant coaches the last three weeks "mistake proofing" our skill sets, perfecting the lower opening heights in high jump and pole vault, "safeing" our relay exchanges and longer holds on our blocks starts, throwing far without fouls, getting our approaches fine tuned for consistency in jumps, and allowing a bit more speed and rest for our distance kids.
I know virtual meets are just that, but it's going to be close between the girls and the Holy Trinity girls and the boys and the First Academy boys. What are the keys to getting on the podium and winning?
Everybody needs to go get one more point than they have on paper. Andrew James will be fun to watch (100, 200, 400). Brandon Bejarano has to score in 16 and 8, Sanders Desir in both hurdles, our gang of throwers could score 40 points. We have the opportunity to set new school records in the boys 4 x 8 and 4 x 4. On the girls side, we have only a few elite girls who can not afford to miss an opportunity to score big points. It has been great fun going to practice since day one, talking about "the top step", and now we have a chance this week to go get it done.
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