OHS Track Team off to great start

Track Team striving for the best for a new and improved season
by Bena Hanyard

            OHS’s2009 Track Team has kicked off and had its first meet on March 4th, located at Paulding County High School. It was a Quad-Meet, which is when the team goes against multiple opponents.
            At the meet, the throwers did exceptionally well. Darnell Moore, an OHS senior,  placed 2nd in discus for the boys, throwing 114 ft., 5in. For the girls’ discus competition, Damesha Boney, an OHS junior, placed 1st and Dominique Stringer, an OHS junior, placed 5th. In the boys Shot Put division, Moore placed 5th. For the girls’ Shot Put, Boney placed 3rd and Stringer placed 8th. Moe (needs a last name and what class they are in) threw 28 ft and Coach Tedder said, “That is exceptionally good for her because that is the farthest she has every thrown.”
            The High Jump went well also. OHS triumphed with three of jumpers placing in the top two spots. Justin Browner, an OHS senior, placed 1st for the Triple Jump, jumping 42’ 9”. Joshua Henderson, an OHS senior, and Roland Assinzo, also an OHS senior, placed 2nd in High Jump, jumping 6’ 0”.
            OHS is truly proud of the effort that the Track Team gave at this meet and we all hope that they can continue this winning attitude throughout the entire season.
            The coaches for this year are: Coach Chris Wilson, Coach Sasha Tedder, and Coach Melanie Garland. Wilson and Garland coach the running, while Tedder handles the throwers. The coaching staff is hoping for an immense turn out of support for this season. The coaches optimistically believe they go to the State tournament this year, where they will compete against other top runners and throwers. The goal for the State tournament, according to the coaches is to try to be ranked in the state as one of the top runners or throwers.
            To prepare for this huge event, the team runs the OHS 3 mile-trail everyday and practices throwing Discus and Shot Put. They have been working hard to get in shape for this first meet. Browner, our victorious Triple Jumper, said, “We run a lot especially on the trial and we do stairs to get in shape.”  Henderson, our outstanding second place High Jumper, added by stating that, “We work out in the weight room doing things like rockets and Mario jumps to get our vertical hops better.” Two of the senior jumpers Josh and Justin said, “we did our best and we came out with a pretty good standing for that to be our first meet and hopefully everyone can do better next time.”
            In regards to the throwers’ practice Boney exclaimed, “We throw a lot everyday and we work hard at trying to get better and we also work out in the weight room to build our muscles.” Placing 1st in the shot put is great for her first competition every in this sport and the coaches were very proud of her and think she did her best. “I did try my best and I actually came out on top of everyone and I am happy that I did that,” Boney said gladly.
            Each player hopes that they will do better next time or at least get the same standings. The next track meet will be March 14 and will be held at South Paulding. OHS will compete against South Paulding hoping to get good rankings in each race so they can get closer to their goal to making it to state.

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