After winning the 2025 state championship, what is the overall outlook for your boys team this season? Our overall outlook for this season is to maximize our growth and development with the goal of competing for another team championship.

How has the team responded in the offseason after reaching the top last year? The team responded well during the off season. They understand that there is a standard set by the previous teams and in order to uphold that standard, they have embraced the physical and mental demands of preparation.

What lessons from last season's championship run are you emphasizing this year? We are just emphasizing our intent during our preparation. We must prepare with the mindset of getting better.

Tell us about how the boys and girls team work together at practice and meets. Our girl and boy teams operate as one. They practice, lift, and compete together.

Top Returners

Who are some of your top returning athletes and events from last year's championship team? We return a strong group of kids who competed well in the 400m, led by Jamie Brown who was the 2A 400m Champion. Jamie is joined by Kenyan Douglas (3rd place at state 400m), Da'Qwan Kelly (4th place at state 400m), Brenton Mack (state qualifier). These four student-athletes were also the 2A 4x400 Champions.

Which returning athletes do you expect to take on bigger leadership roles this season? Jamie Brown is expected to carry the responsibility of team captain. Jamie has been in our program for 5 seasons now and understands the process of preparing to be at your best when it matters most.

Photo by Logan White for MileSplit SC

New Athletes / Breakouts

Who are some new athletes that could make an impact this season? Ty'Quarius Shannon is expected to make an impact this season. He joined the team last season as a sophomore and was the 3rd leg on the 2A state champion 4x100 team and was also a qualifier in the 100m and 200m. He is expected to build and grow from what he was able to do as a first year track and field athlete.

Team Strengths

What events or areas of the team do you feel are strongest this year? Our strongest area is our sprints, particularly the 400m. We had four state qualifiers (all returning) in the 400m last season, finishing 1st, 3rd, and 4th.

Are there any events where you are looking to build depth or develop athletes? How do you work on areas to build depth? We are looking to grow and develop depth in all of our field events. In order to build depth here, we specialize training and workouts that facilitate growth in each.

Season Goals

What are the main goals for the team this season? Our main goal is to develop habits that are influential in our daily process of progression. We understand that if we create good habits, we will be able to put ourselves in position to be at our best when the moment calls for it.

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What would make this season a success for the team? A successful season for the team will be a season in which we were intentional in our daily habits, represented our school and community in a positive light, competed to the best of our ability, each time we stepped off of the bus, and had a good time while doing it.

Team Culture / Mission

What is the mission or theme for the team this season? Our theme each year is "Fruit after labor." This means we must do the work before we are able to achieve the outcomes we desire.

How do you keep athletes motivated after winning in 2025? We keep them motivated by encouraging them to set new marks and raise the bar for themselves and the team. These marks and bars are in our habits and preparation. We remind them that what occurred during the 25 season, doesn't dictate what will happen this season.

What do you want this group of athletes to be remembered for? We want this group to be remembered for enjoying the process. Sometimes the grind can get overbearing with expectations, outside noise, and school-sport-life balance. I want this group to be remembered for preparing the right way while having fun doing it.

Are there any key meets or invitationals your team is particularly excited about this season? Each meet of every week is the 'key" meet because it's the next one. We use each meet to prepare for the qualifier meets at the end of the season.

Is there anything unique about this group compared to past teams?

Anything we missed? Our coaching staff, Coach Miller, Coach Letthand and Coach Peake has done a tremendous job with keeping our student-athletes ready to compete.

What's something behind-the-scenes in your coaching philosophy we may not know? There's nothing special I do. I just aim to keep the team accountable and create a healthy environment that promotes each kid's overall growth.

As a coach, what drives you to keep going? The kids keep me driven. Not much compares to the joy you receive from watching a kid grow and be excited about the results from their growth.