While Sexton’s track team continues to dominate the Capital Area Athletic Conference in dual meets and out distance many of the state’s top teams in invitational relays, coach Dan Boggan’s concerns about what promised to be his most successful season continue to grow.

He’s watching the times of some of his most promising performers climb to alarming heights.

“It’s frustrating,” Boggan said. “Without the use of the track, 0ur kids aren’t getting the work they need to get ready for the state meet and it shows.

“Tymal Dodd is a good example. He could be a national recruit before it’s over.

“He ran :14.3 in the first outdoor meet. It was cold and windy. We thought he was going to have a fantastic year. Since we haven’t been able to use the track, his times have gotten slower. He’s running :15.00 now.

Boggan and his runners look out at the empty Sexton track and the frustration grows.

“What hurts the most,” says Boggan is they aren’t doing any work.”
Sexton has been prohibited from using its track while workers put the finishing touches on renovations to the football facilities. They are expected to complete work and turn the facility over to the district any day now. But that’s been the word for a month now, and time is running out.

The Big Reds will take the first step towards a state championship in just one week competing in the regional meet in Charlotte, May 18. Sexton finished second in the state meet last season and with all but two point winners returning this looked like the year the Big Reds would reclaim the crown last won in 1987.

The 1987 group did it with speedy sprinters and hurdlers, standout performers in the middle distances and precision exchanges that spawned points in the relays. This year’s team hopes to use that same formula to capture the crown that eluded it last year when a leading relay team was disqualified.

The inability to access the track hurts most in those events the Big Reds depend upon for points. “The hurdles, long jump, pole vault and relays are hurt most,” said Boggan. The hurdles must be placed just right or it ruins a runner’s steps and timing. Long jumpers and pole vaulters have similar problems. “Middle distance and distance runners can get the work they need, but it’s tougher for sprinters,” Boggan said.

It’s even tougher for those who compete in relays. “Valuable seconds are gained or lost in the exchanges,” said Boggan. “The timing is important and kids have to work on it. “We really only get a chance to work with the exchange zones at the meets. We try to get to the meets early so the relay teams can work on their exchanges.

What makes the Sexton situation so difficult is its potential impact on this year’s senior class. Seniors dominate the Big Reds roster. Long jumper Jon Allen, sprinters Jacob Wyatt, Kevin Lawson and middle distance runner Bryan Merrill provide major points. Jon Boles in the shot put and discus and Kevin Jackson in the pole vault add field event scoring potential.

There is hope for the Big Reds. After several lackluster showings, things perked up May 10 when the Big Reds topped Eastern, 121-40 and Everett 112-54 in dual meets. Dodd, a senior was clocked at :14.9 in the high hurdles. His :42 in the lows is a far cry from the :39 recorded early in the year but indicates movement toward the level of performance needed to score in the state meet. Boles won the shot put and the discuss, and Wyatt won the 400 and ran legs of the winning 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. The 4x400 relay team of Merrell, Wyatt, Marcus Cousins and Jerrell Blackwell ran 8:21, one of the top times in the state.

“I’m confident that these guys will get the job done in spite of the circumstances,” said Boggan. “I told them it will make it that much sweeter.” Whether or not the Big Reds can bring their performance up to the level needed may depend on a pair of long time rivals, East Lansing and Waverly.

East Lansing has allowed Jackson to work on hid pole vault on Thurdays and Fridays. That’s allowed him to improve to 12 ft. “He needs to clear 12-6 to compete in the state meet, and he’s almost there,” said Boggan. Boggan is asking Waverly to allow access to its track after the Warriors finish each day. If Waverly allows it, the Reds may be able to get in the work needed to sharpen up and take their best shot in time for the big event.