SCS track athletes excited to get back to competing
Marius Steward never stopped training. Not when the Whitehaven senior missed last year's track and field season because it was canceled due to COVID-19. Not when it looked like his senior season might not happen. And not even when the recruiting attention began to slow down.
"For Marius, I've been calling coaches for the past year saying 'I have a kid who I promise you'll want. Just believe me.'" Whitehaven coach Nate Kirsch said. "And they're like 'well, I don't know.' Last Saturday he threw down two major times and I had phone calls, text messages, DM'S on Twitter within 24 hours."
Steward's times of 10.81 in the 100meter dash and 21.71 in the 200-meter dash are currently the fastest in the state, according to Milesplit.
"It's crazy to think what would have happened to him if he never had that chance. His life might be totally different because we're able to run," Kirsch said.
Shelby County Schools did not play fall or winter sports, but is now competing in spring sports. And track teams who missed the 2020 season are excited for the chance to compete for the first time in two years.
Kirsch said that he arrived to the team's first meet two hours early because he just couldn't wait to get back out there and see the runners compete.
"We've been dreaming about this spring for two years now," Kirsch said. "It's awesome to be back. It's just great to see kids have opportunities to show what they can do. They've been working so hard they just deserve to have a chance to show what they can do."
One of the big reasons Steward kept pushing is because he dreams of breaking former Whitehaven star Emmanuel Bynum's state record of 10.76 in the 100meter dash.
"That's one of my big brothers, one of my role models," Steward said. "To be able to beat one of his records would mean a lot to me and a lot to him too."
Donhovon Hunt, who won the long jump at Central's first two meets, said that he cross-trained by doing football workouts and going to camps. He lifted weights on his own with a setup he has at his house. But he missed the competition
of being out on the track.
"I think my favorite thing about track, of course, the fans make everything better. And it's just an in-the-moment thing," Hunt said. "Like in the moment, you never know what to expect. And if you lose, it's your fault, you can't blame it on a team or nothing. Whatever you put in, that's what you'll get out."
Whitehaven parent Natalie Stephen,
said it was emotional watching her daughter Ashleigh run for the first time in two years.
"I missed watching my baby run." Stephen said. "Not just watching my baby, but all the athletes being out there and having a chance to compete. Seeing their faces at the end knowing that they did something they've been working so hard for."