Relay teams, Sheppard hoping for medals at state track meet

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never quit - Edwin Louis Cole

That quote echoes in the mind of every athlete who has ever laced up a pair of shoes.
Athletes carry a “failure is not an option” chip on their shoulder, and sometimes that can translate into something that’s almost golden.
Atlanta’s 4x100m relay team, 4x200m relay team and triple jump star TeShuna Sheppard perform today at the Texas State Track and Field championships, which began Thursday inside Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas.
Sheppard made her second appearance to the state meet in three years.
The young leaper, as a freshman, broke a school record of 36 feet, 3 1/2 inches at regionals with a leap of 36 feet, 7 3/4 inches and paved her way to state.
With that amazing stat the quiet athlete beat out some of the best, experienced jumpers Texas had to offer.
In her sophomore year she placed first at area, but just missed out on another trip to state after placing third at regionals with a leap of 36 feet, 10 1/2 inches.
This year she blew the competition away at regionals after setting a personal best jump with a mark of 40 feet, 9 inches.
Going into the big meet she has a two-foot advantage on the second best jumper in the state, and Head Coach Jarrick Farmer believes she can increase that before the day is done.
“TeShuna has progressed tremendously and matured over the course of the track season, Farmer said. “I feel she’s very focused and capable of jumping a low 42 feet or better.”
Farmer’s motto is “hard work pays off” and that couldn’t be more true especially in this case.
“She works hard and it has paid dividends for her,” Farmer remarked. “There were times I could be working with someone else and she would be through her workout routine when I checked on her. She understands her job and what she needs to do.”
The trip to state is Farmer’s first as a head coach.
On the boys’ side the objective is simple: show up, compete, do what you do and win gold.
Head Coach Nick Miller said that the guys told him after last year’s third place, bronze medal finish they were going to win gold next year.
“Our goal every year is to win district, area and regionals and get to state,” Miller said. “This year we won district over a tough Liberty-Eylau squad and almost won area.”
Miller, having been on the state championship teams in ’02, ’03 and ’04 knows what it’s like to have that desire to return.
“This is my second year as head coach and returning to state is something the guys told me they were going to do,” Miller said. “It’s been 13 years since Atlanta won two gold medals at the state meet in both relays and 12 years since they won a gold in just one.”
“I can say this with out a doubt and truly believe that if my guys run the way they are capable of doing that no one will beat them,” Miller said.
The 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams are identical in that the same athletes are involved, and also share another honor and amazing stat.
Trin Taylor, Jeremy Smith, Kelton Young and Tyrell Phillips have been a force to be reckoned with, and actually enter the state meet with the fastest times in both events throughout Class 4A.
Four-year track veteran Smith knows the scene all too well.
This will be the fourth consecutive year the speedster has traveled to Austin with a relay team and the special thing about this year for the senior is he gets to run twice.
“I was afraid after I hurt my shoulder during football season that I wouldn’t be ready in time,” Smith said. “But I got better and I’m ready to win a gold medal. I’m very proud to have been able to go to the big meet all four years.”
Smith also shares a fondness for having correctly foretold of their success.
“Our goal has been to win a gold medal at the state meet and I told the guys we needed more teams or individuals to get to state so we could win a championship,” Smith stated. “I’m glad we accomplished something I said to everyone this year.”
Smith also wanted to add, “Till the wheels fall off”.
Phillips was on the team who finished third last year and echoes what words were spoken after the third place finish.
“At every meet I did what I have to do to help the team, and I will run as hard as I have to so that we can win a gold medal,” Phiilips proclaimed.
Young, also in his second year, had this to add, “I never get nervous and know what to expect. Anything less than a gold medal is unacceptable.”
Taylor made his first trip to the state meet but he was sure that the big stadium, large crowd and tough competition was not going to shake his focus.
“I block everyone else out and focus on the team and what I have to do. I’m doing this for my track family, my town and my school and I want to make them proud,” Taylor said. “I enjoy achieving this honor with people I care about, and we care about bringing the gold home for everybody who sacrificed time and put in a lot of hard work.”
Why not?
This is the same Tyrell Phillips who broke the school rushing record in football, the same Trin Taylor who obliterated players on the defensive side of the football, the same Kelton Young who left everyone in his dust when he ran the pigskin, the same Jeremy Smith who left defenders grasping for his ankles and the same TeShuna Sheppard who could pull a rebound away from Wilt Chamberlain.
Breaking through to the state meet makes all of the blood, sweat, tears, aches and pains worth it.
As a sports writer I can actually relish the opportunity to interview athletes who get the chance to win a gold medal even here in our neck of the woods.
But as history shows, or the past four years I’ve been employed with the Journal, this won’t be my last chance to interview a hopeful athlete looking for gold.