North shore puts together team effort
No one could ask for better weather at the U.S. Coast Guard 60th Annual TSU Relays. The two day event was surrounded by blue skies with white clouds and an average high of 78 degrees.
A standing room crowd of nearly 16,000 got their money’s worth at the long running event. The vociferous energetic fans showed their appreciation reacting to most of the races on the day.
A strong head wind erased any chances of records to fall on the track.
As usual, many athletes from the professional level down to middle school, surfaced from in and outside the state for the early season meet. Those who were on hand view the meet as a high impact early season meet to measure the benefits of long hours of hard work.
“Well since no one showed up all I you could do is work on technique. I pushed from my drive faze and chilled and tried not to get any injuries. I was really expecting everyone to show up so I could get a good time and compete but it didn’t turn out that way so I still ran,” said Ravyn Hayward USA Track.
Some of the state’s best were on hand. 100 Meter Dash Champion from a year ago, Sprinter India Daniels of Westfield picked up where she left off. She was a double winner in the 100 Meter Dash and the 200 with times of 12.26 and 24.61.
Westfield’s Sprinter India Daniels said, “It was kind of hard because the wind was blowing and I didn’t get out to good so I had to pick it up. I really had to dig to get back in it because I didn’t get a good start.”
Dulles Sheriod Evans, last year’s 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter State Champion enjoyed his first track meet of the season recording a 48.88 first place finish in the 400 Meter Dash after suffering a hamstring injury during football season which sidelined him for six games. Don’t look for Evans to compete in last year events this season; he will be running the 300 Hurdles, 400 Meter Dash, and 4×400 Meter Relay.
Kenneth Minkah, one of DeSoto’s track standouts is among the nation’s top Hurdler’s in the 110 as well as the 300. He took gold in both those races at TSU. He also competed at meets in China and New York placing second and fourth respectfully, earlier this season.
North Shore Boys and Girls had a strong showing, with the only mishap coming in the Boys 4×100 Meter Relay when Miketavius Jones strained his left hamstring midways through the race before he could hand the baton off, resulting in a disqualification.
“I had pretty good start, it was better than the one I had in the prelims,” said Jaylon Hicks North Shore’s Sprinter. “In the middle of my race I could have ran a little harder but I was trying to stay on the ground because of the wind. I finished pretty hard.”
Texas Southern’s Philip Redrick won the Men’s University 100 Meter Dash.
“I got a little slow but going up against the head wind. We had to deal with the wind going against us. I didn’t get out like I wanted to. I was slow reacting to the gun, “said Philip Redrick of Texas Southern University.
To view a full list of results of the 60 Annual TSU Relays, go to www.tsuball.com.