Gator track team aiming high

BAKER – Expectations are high for the Baker track and field program.

Gator coach David Oglesby doesn’t want to come off as being overconfident, but he believes district championships are well within the reach of both the boys and girls teams this year.

“If the kids come out and work like they are supposed to, and do what they are supposed to, we have a chance of winning both of them (boys and girls district championships),” he said.

Oglesby, who is now in his fifth year with the program, has a right to feel good about his team.

Many of the athletes on the squad, who have been on the team since they were in middle school, are now juniors and seniors. And even the freshmen and sophomores on the team are seasoned veterans, having competed at a varsity level for three years or more.

The Gators should be especially strong in the middle distances and middle-distance relays.

“Our middle distance and distance people are going to have to help us out,” Oglesby said. “Our 400 (meters) runners, our 800 runners and our 4x800s and our 4x400s (relays) are some strong teams for us and they are all returning.”

The girls 4x800 relay team of Bethany Chestnut, Haley Wagner, Cassidy Anderson and Cassie Cooper is back having turned in a time of 10:08 at the state meet last spring.

Oglesby smiles knowing that the relay team is comprised of those young veterans who earned their stripes while competing as middle schoolers.

“I’ve had them for four years and I’m going to have them for four (more) years,” he said. “I’ve had them since middle school when they could start running track.”

The boys 4x800 team of brothers John and Dylan Scott,  and Devin Scott, who is not related, and Justin Shaw is also back after having just missed qualifying for state last year with a fifth-place finish at the regional.

Oglesby also thinks they will do well in the throwing events.

“We are going to try and be strong in the shot and the discus and we have some returners,” he said. “Mason

Doggette is coming back and he went to regional last year.

“I think he has a chance to go state this year. His first meet he threw 126 (feet), so that’s not bad for your first meet.”

Morgan Jones threw the discus 101 feet in her first meet of the year and Oglesby thinks she has a shot at state this year as well.

“Morgan Jones is a good discus thrower for us,” Oglesby said. “She has a chance to do the same thing. Her first meet she threw 101 feet and she hadn’t thrown that all of last year.”

Eileen Brown went to region in the shot-put last year as a seventh grader and big things are expected from her. Kathy Cooper has come out of nowhere in the field events.

Tim Smith finished ninth in the region in the high jump last year as a freshman and is off to a strong start this year.

There is one area in the field events that could cause the Gators some problems.

“We don’t have pole vault so that concerns me quite a bit,” Oglesby said. “The meet we had over in Jay (to start the season) I lost 15 points right there in beginning. So you can scratch those 15 points off right there.

“So you have to make them up somewhere else and we are going to try to fill up all the other field events with good athletes.”

Baker should be improved in the sprints with the return of Ivory Smith, who didn’t compete last year.

Two years ago, as an eighth grader, Smith made it to state in both the 200 meters and the 300-meter hurdles.
Oglesby is hoping Smith returns to form and can help in the 4x100 relay as well.

Freshman Adrian Smith could have an impact on the sprints and in the long jump.

“He’s got all the raw ability,” Oglesby said. “He just has to learn to work hard.”

The track team picked up several additional athletes when basketball season ended. The basketball players will compete in numerous distance, sprint and field events.

And so the chase is on to meet the high expectations.

“We have the ability to do it,” Oglesby said. “This is what we’ve been building for, to win double district championships.  

“At Baker our track program is growing and our facility is one of the best in Okaloosa County. We hope people will come out and watch us and support the team.”