SpicyTricks

Starting on February 19, spring track here at OHS kicked off with their first practice.  Despite the very cold, rainy weather, our Panthers practiced hard, and started conditioning for their first meet, which is on March 7, at home against Cardinal Gibbons.  The Panthers have some major talent this season, and athletes ranging from freshmen to seniors have the potential to break some spring track records.

Returning head coach Sarah Roberts, assistant coaches John Brigham and Clifton Davis, as well as new assistant coach Mark Williamson, are leading the team with passion, and are looking forward to post-practice team gatherings at the center of the football field, to get the team fired up for the season.  

When asked about his expectations and thoughts for the season, senior SaiQuan Clark said, “There aren't nearly as many people as we've had in the past, and the majority of the people on the team are underclassmen, so we have a young team.  Since we have such a young team this season, I'm not expecting us to win the conference championship or anything like that. I think we just need to work on honing the talent that's here.”  Clark said he hopes to run the 1600 meters, 800 meters, and 4 x 800 relay this season, and his main individual goal is to run the mile (1600 meters) in under 5 minutes.  

As for some of the younger talent on the team, freshman Daniel Mulligan, who finished 5th in the 200 meters, and won the 400 meters in 56 seconds at last year’s middle school OPAC Conference Tournament, said he hopes to run the 400, and maybe the 800 this season.  For his individual goals, he said, “In the 400 this year my goal is to get below 54 seconds, and for the 800 my goal is to run it in under 2 minutes and 15 seconds.”  Although he did not mention it in the interview, he has tremendous potential of breaking 50.5 seconds in the 400 meters, which is tied for the longest standing OHS track record to date, set by Russell Woods in 1975.  When asked about his potential individual impact on the team this season, Mulligan said, “It feels good that I may be able to help the track team this year, and I hope it will be a great season for everyone.”

Senior Indy Reid-Shaw and junior Will Henderson hope to shatter some records this season, as they are both the fastest women’s and men’s cross country runners in OHS history.  Reid-Shaw has school records in the 5000 meters and 3200 meters, and is only 2 seconds off the 1600 meter record, and 8 seconds off the 800 meter record.  

As for Henderson, the junior already has the school record for the 5000 meters, and is only 4 seconds off the 1600 meter record, and 6 seconds off the 800 meter record.  These improvements could make them the most decorated male and female running athletes in OHS history.  Clearly, Reid-Shaw, Henderson, and Mulligan have the potential to break some records within the next few years, and hopefully they can propel us to a great 2013 season.  

The Panther track team may not perform as well as they have in the past, but within the next 2 to 3 years, the team will definitely be contending for a conference championship.  As senior leader SaiQuan Clark said earlier, if we hone in on the younger, underclassmen talent, and let the upperclassmen guide them and push them to perform, we might be able to do some great things this season.  As mentioned earlier, the Panther’s first meet is on March 7, at home against Cardinal Gibbons, so come out and support your Panther spring track team.  You can find the full team schedule by clicking here (look for the green boxes).