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Sports

Ferndale Boys Varsity Track Team Off to Quick Start

The Eagles looking to reload not rebuild after outstanding 2010.

The Ferndale boys varsity track team is no one trick pony.

Looking up and down his roster, Eagles coach Scott Collins has high expectations for this year’s team.

“I think this year’s squad is going to do really, really well,” Collins said. “Depending on how things go, and track is always such a questionable thing. You never know how things will work out until it happens, but we could potentially have someone in almost every event at the state championship. That’s potentially of course." 

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But not unrealistic. Ferndale was co-champions of the Oakland Athletic Associations Blue division with North Farmington last year and won the league championship meet. The Eagles had nine individuals qualify for the state finals last year as a team that finished fourth in Division 2.

Quite a few of those state qualifiers are back this season like senior twins Jamrius and Jamael McTear. Jamael McTear finished sixth in the 400-meter run at state and Jamarius McTear was eighth in the 100 dash.

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“The whole team is trying to build the idea of reloading every year instead of rebuilding, we did graduate quite a few seniors, but we have several athletes back from last year,” Collins said.

The McTears are competing in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races this year and Jamael McTear might also compete in the 800-meter. Collins also expects Kaiman White to do really well in the 100, 200 and 400. 

In shot put and discus, Collins said the sky is the limit for Jon Dozier, Brandon Allen and Dave Anderson. Nathan Hood and Julian Goudy are the key high jumpers. And in distance events, Leo Kopeck and Quinn Chintis should be solid.

The group is already off to a strong start. The Eagles won their first meet against Southfield Lathrup 85-42 and on Saturday finished second place in the Elks Relay against eight schools from the area. Last year, Ferndale finished fifth.

Collins said the main focus going forward is on steady improvement. Adding that the key during the track season is getting prepared for the regionals at the end of May.

“Unlike swimming, with track you have to qualify at regionals,” Collin said. “With knowing our goals, it's really important to peak right at regionals, but be able to hold through the state finals.”

For throwers like Dozier and Allen that means trying to speed things up as the season goes along. They’ll start by using a heavier implement and as the year goes on make it lighter and lighter. 

Runners will run high quantity and lower quality to start the season and then as regional’s approach, run higher quality and lower quantity. That allows the body to rest more.

Ferndale’s next test will be Berkley, a new OAA Blue divisional opponent. Seaholm and North Farmington moved up a division so the Bears and Groves joined the Blue division. The Eagles host Berkley for a meet at 4:30 p.m. on Monday and a road meet at Troy on April 20 (4:30 p.m.), host Groves on April 26 (4:30 p.m.).

“The two new teams are both very good programs,” Collins said. “They are going to run tough against us.”

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