Meade County track team’s youth arrive on the big stage By Zach Greenwell It’s been three years since the Meade County track team sent someone to the state track and field championships. But times are changing. Meade sent three runners – two freshmen and one 8th-grader – to the state meet at Paul Dunbar High School last weekend, and head coach Larry Garner said the event was a great learning experience for his three qualifiers – Sean Breeds, Shelbi Jenkins and Tiffany Brown. “To get three kids in that are so young when we haven’t had anybody the past three years, it’s a positive step for us,” said Garner. “For all three of them, the main goal was to get there this year and get some experience so that they can go back and do some damage. The first year is always rough.” According to Garner, Meade’s young talent doesn’t end with the three state qualifiers. The entire team is led by a wealth of students just now entering their high school years. “It’s great that even once you get past those three, most of our top runners are 7th- through 9th-graders right now,” said Garner. “A lot of that is attributed to the kids coming out in middle school and working for us for longer, and we’re starting to see rewards for that.” Freshman Sean Breeds, who finished second in the boys 3200-meter run in the Class 3A Region meet last week, finished 11th overall in the event during state competition with a time of 10:11.60 – over 12 seconds off his region time. According to Garner, after Breeds led the race for the first three laps, the freshman began to feel ill and fell back into the pack. “He ran the first three laps exactly like he was supposed to and he just started feeling bad,” said Garner. “I talked to him after the race, and he doesn’t really know what happened, but he just started feeling really bad and dropped back. He was in the lead for the first three laps, but that’s one of those things for a distance runner – there are days where you just don’t have it. Unfortunately for him, it was at the state meet.” Freshman Shelbi Jenkins competed in the girls’ 800-meter run after taking second place in region with a personal best of 2:25.09. Jenkins improved on her personal record with a 2:23.95 at state, but finished ninth and was held out of placing by only a fraction of a second. “She ran great and over a second better than her personal best – but the girls were flying,” said Garner. “She did exactly what she was supposed to do – she ran a fast first lap, closed in at the end, and was only six hundredths of a second away from placing. She has improved over the past month from being a good 800 runner to being one of the elite 800 runners in the state. She should be excited about next year and getting even better.” Garner said it is astounding how much Jenkins has improved in only the last month. “Less than a month ago her best time was about a 2:32, which is a good time, but you’re not going to run against the big girls with that,” he said. “She has had almost a nine-second improvement in a month which is crazy for a race as short as the 800.” Eighth-grader Tiffany Brown was the only middle-schooler to compete in the girls 300-meter hurdles at the state championships, and finished 14th with a time of 50:26. “Tiffany was super nervous and she knew she was the only middle-schooler running in the field,” said Garner. “If she had run her best time, she would have ended up placing, but I think nerves got to her more than anything. She got her steps off a little bit on the third or fourth hurdle and never could get back on track. I think next year she’ll be a lot more confident.” Despite not having a runner medal at state, Garner isn’t ashamed to admit that having a successful team overcome with youth is a personal dream come true. “It’s what I’ve always wanted,” he said. “As coaches, we are all a bit selfish ourselves. We love the glory, we love the kids that do well, and we love the notoriety. These kids have worked hard, and this is all a tribute to the middle school program and getting these kids out at a young age.” However, Meade isn’t expecting just a three-person showing next year. Garner said he expects several other individuals and relay teams to join Breeds, Jenkins and Brown at state next season. “Cody Hager just missed qualifying in the boys’ 800-meter this year, so he should definitely go,” said Garner. “We have some throwers at discus and shot put, and Lindsey Andrews should have a shot in the girls’ 800. Both of our boys’ and girls’ 4x800 relay teams ought to be fighting for a spot, also.” According to Garner, getting to the state tournament creates an excitement in the team for the future – one that is not lost with him. “We have one week off right now before we get ready for cross country,” said Garner. “At this time of the season, you’re usually thinking that you’re glad it’s over, but right now I can’t wait for cross country to start. We have the chance to have our best two teams ever and that’s exciting – especially thinking that I have all of these kids coming back for the next four years.” Click Here to Go Back
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