As the snow began to melt last week, Rockdale High School track and field teams made their way out to the football field for their first practices of the 2021 season.
Workouts weren’t long, due to cold weather that lingered between the mid-40’s and high 50’s.
“We wanted to get in and get out,” said Lewis Edmonson, RHS boys’ head track and field coach.
This year’s team has many familar faces.
Kesean Raven a n d Cam’Ron Valdez, known primarily for being Division I football recruits, are the two remaining members of a sprint relay team that finished sixth at the 2019 state meet. They had a lot of momentum in 2020 especially with only 2019 grad Will Storey leaving.
Unfortunately, after the slightly altered relay team beat Class 5A Elgin’s sprint relay team by a second-and-a-half on March 12, 2020, the season was postponed and eventually canceled due to COVID-19.
After the graduation of the Class of 2020, Edmonson has replaced 2019 RHS Male Track Athlete of the Year Qua’Shawn Crawford and Jabez Dunn with seniors Cederic Mitchell and Anthony Dansby.
Other returning athletes are senior Ty Mayberry, who placed ninth at regionals in the shot put his sophomore season. Senior Albert Silva made it to the area meet in the 800-meter run his sophomore season as well placing sixth.
Sophomore Emma Whitsel won her last track meet when she took gold at Caldwell in the 100 meter hurdles. Edmonson is very optimistic about her prospects this season.
Pole vaulters Taytum Young and Saige Robertson also finished 2020 on a high note when they placed first and second at the same meet.
Edmonson also spent time convincing this year’s freshman class to run, which broke the 4x200-meter relay record at RJH.
In addition to COVID-19 causing constant uncertainty for their season, Edmonson also has another hurdle to jump this season. Edmonson teaches one-on-one special education at the intermediate school, which keeps him occupied during the high school athletic period.
The season begins Feb. 25, in Lago Vista. The Rockdale Relays are on March 1, with Hempstead, Caldwell and Lago Vista being who they compete against.
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