Primed for the short run
With dazzling times, Rancho relay teams building school legacy
Former Rancho track and field coach David Eldridge attended Rams practice Monday afternoon, and shared tales of local lore as the school’s sprinters circled the artificial infield.
Those sprinters will soon be part of that same legacy. That is, if they’re not part of it already.
Rancho runners Gizelle Reid, Teleda Williams, Jordan Davis and Amir’a Edmond form one of the fastest quartets in the country and have spent the spring establishing state records at track meets near and far.
A Rams sprinter has posted fastest the time in Nevada this season in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes. Their 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relay teams are the best in the state, too, with times that challenge the best in the country.
“This is a different group of girls. When I say humble — humble,” Jackson emphasized. “I teach them ‘You stay ready to keep from getting ready.’ They’re prepared all the way around.”
Academically and athletically.
The preparation Jackson speaks of dates back several years for the four, who began running club track in elementary school. The group arrived at Rancho ready to run for former Jamaican sprinter turned Rams assistant Fredrick Morrison, who fraternizes regularly with the some of the best sprinters in the world.
He implemented a college-caliber program for his athletes that includes weight training, pool work, hill and stair sprints and weighted runs.
The results were more or less an expectation.
“I knew this was going to happen,” Morrison said. “They’re running very fast, almost college times. If you want to develop the right way like pros, or semis, you have to put in the same time.”
Morrison’s vision helped yield Class 4A state championships for the Rams in the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays last season, and additional