CCMS track team drops some jaws at Laidley Field

By Allen Hamrick

Thursday evening was the time for the CCMS track team to make their mark once again after years and years in solitary.  Head Coach Phil Dobbins called out muster for students to participate, and they came out in droves, I honestly can’t remember the last time there was a CCMS track team.   As most folks would, you kind of figure a new team with a new coach would take some time getting the wheels grinding, maybe a couple of years of just getting by before the team could be a force in the track and field world.  If you thought that, then you way underestimated the power of the CCMS Mustangs and their coaching staff.   They didn’t take the easy road and get into a couple of easy competitions; no, they hit the track running at one of the biggest middle school track events under the big lights at the Let’s Move Invitational at Laidley Field.   Here they would run, jump, and throw their way into CCMS track history.   It was like BAM in your face big dogs. The Clay County Mustangs are here, and we are bringing the biggest steak to the table.

The evening was cold enough to ask yourself if global warming took a powder and only came out when a politician needed it.  The wind blew in a chill that was just sharp enough to cut through your skin and shake your bones.  However, the Mustangs made their opening stand against the cold, 13 teams and 250 formidable athletes.   It didn’t take long into the event for the Mustangs to heat up the track and watch as fans had to pull their chins up off the floor and no longer ask “who are the Mustangs?” The Mustangs will soon have runners, jumpers and throwers that will pass into legend as the season’s progress.

Sawyer Dobbins and TJ Quinn both scored the most points on the team with 20 each.  Dobbins took the 3200 meter race to a new level, leaving the other teams’ runners sucking the cold wind and looking for a easy chair after the first mile of the two mile event.  He did it and broke his own record with a time of 12:26.39.  He also placed 2^nd in the 800 meter, less than a second behind first place, but its just a matter of time.  TJ Quinn not only ran but jumped his way to first place in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 22:39. He also placed 5^th in the high jump and 3^rd in the 200 meter high hurdles.   Following right behind him was Kane Nida, who also ran like the wind and jumped like a deer, placing 2^nd in the 200 meter hurdles, 3^rd in the 100 meter hurdles and was also a runner on the 4×400 relay team.

The boys’ relay team, consisting of Daymian Pappas, Logan Lautzenheiser, Eli Metheny and Kaden Fitzwater, placed fourth in the 4×200 meter relay.  The team of Adrian Davison, Alexander Davison, Logan Lautzenheiser and Kane Nida placed 3^rd in the 4×800.  The team of Mason Wray, Luke Scarbro, Adrian Davison and Alexander Davison placed 4^th in the 4×100 meter relay.  The team of Sawyer Dobbins, Kane Nida, TJ Quinn and Brody Scarbro was 2^nd in the 4×400 meter relay.  The team of Logan Lautzenheiser, Kane Nida, Eli Metheny and Kaden Fitzwater took first in the 4×60 shuttle hurdle relay.  Shane Tracy was 4^th in the 1600 meter run, and Luke Scarbro was 4^th in the shot put and 6^th in the discus throw.    On the girls’ team, it was Lexi Phillips placing 4^th in the shot put, Tristina LaFever 2^nd in the discus throw and Jana Adkins 4^th in the discus throw.  All in all, the boys took their game to Charleston and came out on top, outscoring their opponents with 91 overall points.  They came in and kicked some butt on their first meet and will be a force in the track world all season.   The Lady Mustangs did really well, and now that the nerves are unwound, it is hard to tell from this point just how good this Mustang team will be.  The Mustang team is pumped and will be on the road next Tuesday at Laidley Field once again.  Come out and support the Mustang track team.