Track champs prepare for spring
BY JENNIFFER WARDELL
Clipper Staff Writer
KAYSVILLE — There’s nothing like a national title to get you ready for spring track season.
The Davis High girls’ 4x800-meter relay team nabbed the top spot in their race at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York earlier this week, but victory hasn’t slowed them down any. Ellie Child, Joanna Boyd, Taylor Cox and Shea Martinez are all members of the school’s outdoor track team. The season is set to start soon.
“We are going after a third straight state title for both the girls and the boys in outdoor track, and these kids are our leaders,” said coach Corbin Talley. “We will be working hard to be ready to run well in May when the races count the most.”
It will be nothing new for these runners. They finished their relay with a time of 8:56.57, the third-fastest time in the event’s history. Shea Martinez, who ran the final leg of the race, ran the fastest split of any competitor with a time of 2:08.
“She ran very relaxed for about 500 meters, and then took off hard and fast and there was no looking back and no chance for anyone to respond,” said Talley. “There were 3 teams close to Shea with 400 meters to go, and she blew them away.”
The other runners showed similar toughness. All four have been focusing on the race since December, when the cross country season came to a close.
“These kids have been successful because they are willing to spend the time it takes to be great,” he said. “They push their limits in practices and races. They’re not typical teenagers.”
Talley, however, considers the girls’ training even more important than their speed. Davis High track has always emphasized the importance of teamwork, a philosophy that the 4x800 team especially took to heart.
“They work very well together and have been very unselfish as they have trained together for this relay,” he said. “Each of the girls had to do their part, and each of the girls really came through for each other.”
The rest of the girls’ and boys’ teams cheered them on from home.
“They believe in each other, and they support each other,” said Talley.
He believes that support will carry them all the way to the state title.
“This type of a group does not come along very often for a coach,” he said. “We wanted to take full advantage of our opportunity to do something amazing.”
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