RCS track and field runs into new season

“We won in both boys and girls,” explained track and field coach Chris Boatwright of the Feb. 27 meets, “for a cumulative win with 22 medals place finishes. This is huge for our team, as we have more than 50 athletes on the roster that are competing for top place finishes.”

Lourdes Ellis, one of the new middle school athletes in seventh grade, grabbed a second-place finish in shot with a 27-11 throw.

EJ King, a new senior track athlete, won gold in the high jump and silver in the boys’ 400-meter dash. “He’s exceptional in basketball as well,” Boatwright said. “He jumped 5-8 in high jump during the meet and ran 54.80 in the boys 400-meter dash.”

Cash Crumpton, a junior multi-event athlete who has grabbed indoor state qualifying jumps in both high jump and long jump, grabbed silver in the Feb. 27 meet with a 19-10.50 jump. Crumpton has signed to play with the University of Cumberland to continue his track career following his senior season.

Senior javelin thrower, Tait Barnes, will compete for a state title again this year, following his junior season 156-0 throw at state. He placed second in the Feb. 27 meet with a throw of 135-0 ft. and plans to qualify and shoot for top three at state this year. Barnes is a multi-thrower, throwing for javelin, shot put and discus.

Cesar Felipe snagged gold in the boys 3200-meter run. Felipe pushed the limit of trying to break the school record in the event but came out about five seconds shy. Connor McFall set the record last year, as a freshman, with a time of 12:23. Felipe grabbed first in the Feb. 27 meet with a time of 12:27.

“Our plan is to prepare for our first road meet at Muscle Shoals March 7,” Boatwright said. “Having more than 50 athletes on the roster, I was a little intimidated, but they are very driven, and I think they feed off of us coaches, so our players get a lot of pump from us, and they use that to go compete.” He explained several senior leaders are setting the tone for the team, noting the season is “starting off great with everyone wanting to be a part.”

Boatwright said he’s optimistic about what the season will bring, adding, “We have got everyone in the place where we want them. Our middle school roster has grown this year, and we have many students in seventh and eighth grade wanting to be a part of this team, and several are on our varsity roster as they compete at a higher level.”