ORLANDO - If Marcus Postell had it his way, he'd be in the drum line, playing along to the rhythm instead of
running to a stopwatch.
Postell, a senior at Orlando Evans, is one of the state's top sprinters and enters the 2006 season
as the top returning male in the 300 hurdles. But Postell is also a runner with a chance at
something far greater than a Florida state title. He has Olympic aspirations, but he is also interested in
making sure than the halftime shows at Evans football games are as good as it gets anywhere.
\"I love playing percussion,\" Postell said. \"I tried to play football at first, but I had more fun with
the band. I loved it, but I also know I want to continue my running career.\"
Postell made a name for himself as a junior at Evans last year after transferring from Orlando Olympia.
Coach Greg Thompson found a place for him amungst the talented Trojan team, and Postell blossomed quickly,
and while a false start at district kept him from competing in the 100 meters at state, he came still put
up a wonderful showing in Gainesville at the State Finals.
Postell completed a difficult triple, anchoring the third place 4x400 team and he and his 4x100 relay teammates
took home the state championship, despite a series of bad handoffs. The team posted a time of 41.18, then Postell
won the 300 hurdles with a time of 37.72.
Following the regular season, he competed in a number of meets, including a 10.56 100 at AAU Nationals.
Postell said he is hoping to crack 10.30 by the end of this season, when he definitely plans to run in the
100 at state.
Evans coach Greg Thompson said Postell is only one of several runners that make his team a strong contender,
right up with Miami Central, for a state championship in 2006.
\"We have put together a great program at Evans, especially that last two years,\" Thompson said. \"We have a hard
time getting kids to stay for four years, with all their other commitments, but they are starting to stay now
and that gives us a chance to compete.\"
Thompson said that Postell has the work ethic that can take him as far as he wants to go.
\"The only we he knows is to go hard,\" Thompson said. \"We have a good looking team his year, and he is going to be
a big part of it.\"
Thompson said he has three other runners who can go 21.5 or better in the 200, and sophomore Chris Ward has already
been clocked at 21.37. He is also an AAU national champion with a 46.97 in the 200. Samdi Fraser has been timed at
21.5 and 48.25, so Thompson said his team can win states once again if it can win find some help in the field events.
\"Miami Central is loaded in places where we aren't loaded,\" Thompson said. \"If we can come out well in the filler
events, we can win it again. Nobody can beat us in the running events.\"
Postell, meanwhile, has future plans in mind. Beyond this track season, especially after his success in AAU last summer, but
he's also thinking about college opportunities.
Still, Postell said he thinks about being in the percussion line at Evans football games. He said track is now
the top priority, but he'll never miss those halftimes.
\"I love playing percussion,\" Postell said. \"You can't get hurt.\"