Boys track seeing success without track

Track and Field is having their toughest year yet, not because of performance, but because of practice. They will not have a single track meet or practice on Taylor Field this year. 

The team has not been able to run on a track for practice. The only tracks they have been on have been when they are actually running a race. 

“It’s hard to replicate a track,” coach Matt Griffith said. “We don’t have a place to practice pole vault. It’s easy to practice running, but practicing technique is the part where we struggle to practice.”

Though the track has had irregular practices, it hasn’t stopped some athletes from performing the same as they would.  

The boys had five events with first place finishes at their Carterville meet. 

Sophomore Tony Keene, sophomore Karmello Downey, junior Luke Winkleman, senior Tysen Satterfield, and junior Cooper Phalin all came in first in their respective competitions. 

Keene came first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.39 with Downey trailing in second with a time of 18.77. 

Though Downey got second in the 110-meter hurdles, he topped his second place performance with a 38-feet-2 in the triple jump event where he placed first. 

 Winkleman ran  a 2:09 in the 800-meter race while Satterfield finished the 200-meter race in 24.5. Phalin took first with a shot put throw of 42-1. 

Satterfield is the only senior on the list of Bulldogs who took home first, leaving more space over the next few years for track to see success. 

“I knew we’d get out there and perform well,” Satterfield said. “We’ve done really well without having a track.”