High school track in winter?
{Lexington Senior High School Track Coach Demetrius Robertson. Contributed photo}
During the winter, many places in the world are not able to compete outdoors in track and field due to cold weather.
Because of this, the first track season of every year is held indoors during the indoor track season. There is a highly competitive indoor track team right here in Davidson County. That team is the Yellow Jackets at Lexington Senior High School.
Last year, 2023, the girls 4 x 200 relay team won the Indoor State Championship. This year, 2024, the team is doing great.
“We have a lot of athletes who are young and new to running track,” said Coach Demetrius Robertson. “However, that is what I love about coaching, the ability to see a track athlete develop over the years and drop time and set records.”
Coach Robertson is in his second year as head coach at LSHS. His previous teams have made 1A/2A high school state championship appearances in 2018, 2019, and 2020 before COVID hit. And, as mentioned before, the Indoor State Championship with Lexington Senior High School in 2023.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to lead this team to greatness,” said Robertson, who generously gave shoutouts to many on his team.
“Ayanna Curry, Unique Wall, A'Noah Henderson, Kaylee Torrence, and Jordyn Lindsay have been great additions to the female team after losing two seniors last year,” he said. “Jeremiah Quarles, Micah Wallace, Jucere Marsh, Defiance Sifford, and Damourion Thomas-Wright have been great additions to the male team.”
Girls 2023 Relay State Champion track team. Contributed photo.
The team's veteran athletes have the experience, and Robertson's expectation is for them to hold the team together. “Work hard, Have fun, Be Great,” is the team motto and what Robertson expects from them.
Robertson praised Daquan Creamer, who “is close to qualifying for the state meet in the long jump and in the 500 and helping in the 4 x 400 relay. Qwazir Craven is .11 seconds from qualifying for the state meet. Montese McDuffie, Tianna Elam, Nykia Hilton, and Isla Wall, who is a senior, all have experience and are expected to finish well.
“I expect them to be competitive on and off the field, to be leaders in their community,” he continued. “Working hard is a skill that tells a lot about an individual's character. I expect the athletes to continue and finish the season strong, especially with a lot being new to track and field this year.”
When asked about the future of Indoor Track at LSHS, Robertson said “The track team at Lexington Senior High School is one to watch out for. We are strong now and can only get stronger as we continue to grow the culture of track and field at the Hive! As long as we can stay consistent and continue to put in the work, success, record breakings, and championships are the things to expect from this group in the next year or two.”
If there's a sport that demands the utmost self-belief and inner confidence in yourself, it has to be track and field. In a sport where you, and only you, can affect your performance, a great deal of responsibility and pressure can weigh on your shoulders. Former LA Dodgers baseball manager Tommy Lasorda said “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in determination.”
That determination certainly appears to be true and present with this coach and this team.
