Five Hills Track & Field Club

The Five Track & Field Club returns from their Games of Texas experience with three records, 7-Golds, 2-Silver, 3 Bronze Medals, and 15 top twenty finishes. The host City in the Dallas area of Grapevine witnessed great form and sportsmanship from the athletes they referred from “The Cove”. Donald Buckram established the intensity by which one record in particular would be broken. Donald’s preliminary 200m time of 22.67 seconds served notice and weighted heavy on the mind of his competitors as he lowered in it the finals to 22.42 seconds for Gold. Donald recovered from a tight start in the 100m Dash blazing to the tape in 10.90 for the Bronze Medal. Robert L. Griffin, III (14) came to Games of Texas with one purpose, and that was to eclipse the 2-year old 110m hurdles record held by his fellow Jack Rabbit Donald Buckram of 14.98 seconds. The Jackrabbits over the last five years has produced accomplished, aggressive and skilled hurdlers like Johnathan Woods, Alphonso Powell and Donald Buckram. Donald like Renaldo Nemaha, the first man to go under the magical 13 seconds barrier in the 100m High Hurdlers (42-inch), Donald proved a 14-year old could drop below the untouched 15 second barrier in 2002. Anyone who knows Robert, will tell you the “Hurdles” is his love, strength, and focus in Athletics (Track & Field). We had two weeks to increase his rhythm and height approach from the 100m low hurdles (30 inches) in AAU to the 110m High Hurdles (36-inch). His form took shape and now it was up to him to hold on to his focus and drive. On July 24, 2004, in the preliminary his was out early and fast to a blazing 15.16 seconds, to him a bit disappointing. An hour later he ran the 400m and broke the record of 51.78 and moved it down to 51.21 seconds. He wanted to challenge that record in the finals, but his preliminary race was a little faster that he had anticipated. So, now his focus was back on the 110m hurdles records for Sunday, July 25, 2004. He applied all the principles in stretching, eating and rest in his approach to eclipse the 15-second barrier. On Sunday, at or about 10:00 am, he lined up in lane number four only focus on his lane, the gun, and 14.98 seconds. The gun sounded and out Robert sprinted over the first hurdle, by the 6th hurdle, Robert was at 8 seconds and the crowd knew something special was going to happen. He crossed the line and the clock read 14.81 seconds. He thanked GOD to a stadium applause for his accomplishment. Robert secondary goal was to break the High Jump Record at 6’2”. His anticipation nearly got the best of him at 5'10", where for the first time of the season he missed that height, not once, but twice. He gathered himself from the advice of his coaches, and toppled 5'10, 6' and new University Interscholastic League (UIL) record at 6' 2 3/4". He had concluded the Games of Texas competing in 3-events, 3-records, and 3-Gold Medals. The Jack Rabbits Prince of the Sprints, Steffin McCarter (7) was challenge in all three of his events. He soared 12’8” to win Gold in his Long Jump competition. He recorded the fastest preliminary times in the both the 100m (14.26 sec) and the 200m Dashes (30.82 sec). In the finals his was tested, pushed and then pursued as he crossed the 100m final line at 12.26 seconds. A little fatigue, Steffin ran a blazing curve sitting up a true nail biting finish. He could not maintain his forward momentum at that pace, as a larger youth outpaced him to the end. Steffin ran his personal best 200m Dash in 30.72 for a Silver Medal. Donovan Johnson (12) was simply a trooper on a mission. Primed to soar over 5’ in the High Jump, but the competition was suspended from Saturday to Sunday due to lighting and inclement weather. This change provided a conflict in him starting the 80m hurdler, which his prelim time was the fastest at 12.95 seconds, and the start of the High Jump. Donald had to leave the High Jump, and line up for the hurdles finals. The sounded and off he sprinted cleanly for the first seven hurdles. He relaxed a bit over the eighth hurdle tapping it a bit, finishing in 12.82 for the Gold Medal. He had to runback to the High Jump and start jumping immediately. He may not admit it, but the hurdle race took a bit out of him. He missed his first two jumps at 4’4”, before getting his rhythm to clear that height, 4’6” and 4’8”. His jump was good, but his technique gave way, and he finished 3rd for Bronze. Dejon Griffin (15) was our first 2005 Games of America qualifier with a throw of 33 feet 10 inches sending the round weighted metal ball into orbit. She achieved the Bronze Medal for the Shot Put. Jasmine Clarke (15) had been running at or near the 2 minute, 20 seconds record pace was paired up with the slowest heat. So she would have to go along and fight for the record. Her first lap was a very encouraging 1 minute 5 seconds. She noticeable slowed down tremendously on the back stretch, after encouragement, she regained her form and sprinted in at 2 minutes, 28 seconds. The second heat had to young ladies eclipse her time place her third overall with the Bronze Medal. She ran the 400m a day earlier and placed 10th overall with a time of 1 minute flat. The Jack success didn’t stop with the medal winners, as 14 Jack Rabbits finished in the top twenty of their respected division. 1) Dejon Griffin (15) was fourth in the Discus Throw with a 102’ top attempt. 2) Daniel Ruff (9) the Jack Rabbits pint sized rocket won his timed finals 800m heat in a time of 2:44.21. He placed sixth overall in a tough final analysis, because he didn't get the chance to run against his faster peers, who several he beat heads up. 4) Jasmine Williams (14) recovered from a slow start in the 100m finals to earned sixth placed with 12.88 seconds in a highly contest race of power and technique. 5) Troy Vital (14) placed sixth in the 400m finals with a time of 54.02. 6) Casey Stephens (15) place 8th in both the Long Jump (16’ 1”) and the 100m Hurdles (16.09). 7) Michael Griffin (12) ran a person best of 14.48 in the 80m Hurdles to finish 9th overall. 8) Khristina Ruff (14) clocked a 17.36 seconds in the 100m Hurdles to finish ninth overall. 9) Kelsey Sloan (12) finished 10th in the 1600m with a personal best of 6:03.9 and 13th in the 800m with a time of 2:42.46. 10) Jasmine Williams (14) finished 11th in the 200m Dash in a 27.09 seconds. 11) Donovan Johnson (12) finished 12th in the 200m Dash in 27.92 seconds. 12) Alexandria Norris (11) finished 12th in the 80m Hurdles in 15.99. 13) Brandin Byrd (12) finished 16th the 100m Dash in 13.52 seconds. 14) Bobby Martinez (8) finished 16th in the Shot Put with a throw o 12’ 3”. 15) Demitria Pace (14) finished the 800m run in 2:48.22 seconds. Other meets results were: Sabrina Martinez (7) was fifth in the 800m run in 3:35.02. Bobby Martinez (8) was seventh in her heat of the 800m in a time of 3:25.77. Troy Vital (13) ran a 26.04 in the 200m Dash good for seventh place in his heat. When ask about the TAAF experience, Kelsey’s mom, Mrs. Silva Sloan stated. “I liked it. I thought it was decent. The meets were nice at Baylor University and in the Dallas area. These meets seem to run much smoother than AAU.” The Texas Amateur Athletic Federation has always been a great track circuit to extend our summer track experience. It’s no knock to AAU, as our Jack Rabbits must continue to pursue a competitive edge. The Five Hills Jack Rabbits leave what the Dallas folks called, “The Cove” enroute to De Moines Iowa on Friday morning. Coach Griffin says, “This week practice is all technical and advance execution of drills with progressive stretching throughout each session.” He expects his Jack Rabbits to eat plenty of green leaves, lean meats, drink plenty of water, and sleep a minimum of 8 hours in support of having their bodies perform at an optimal level.