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08/04/2014 12:00 AMWhile the team record of 3-6 and overall season showing probably wasn’t what Valley boys’ outdoor track Head Coach Tim King hoped for at the start of the 2014 spring campaign, what transpired during those final meets of the season was more than he bargained for as the Warriors not only came together well as a team, but crowned a conference champion and saw one of their relay teams run their fastest race in recent memory.
“We had a lot of kids on the team so our numbers were up, but we were real young,” said King. “That was one of the things going in that we knew and that we’d have to develop and, by the time Shorelines came around, we developed and had a couple of good finishes.”
Valley finished eighth with 32 points at the Shoreline Championship with junior captain Evan Smith (First Team All-Shoreline) taking home first place in the 300 hurdles event (42.78). The Warriors also saw strong finishes from the 4x100 relay team of Christian Marroquin, Chris Jean Pierre, Justin Cheverier, and Smith (4th, 45.79); Smith in the 100 dash (4th, 11.64); Philip Dee in the 800 (6th, 2:11.51); and Justin Burgess in the shot put (6th, 36-11) and javelin (3rd, 148-2).
In the Class S meet, Smith placed third in the 300 hurdles (42.01) and fifth in the 100 (11.44) while the 4x100 relay team of Cheverier, Sean Hunt, Jean-Pierre, and Smith (6th, 44.96); plus Burgess in the javelin (4th, 147-10) also scored points for the Warriors, who placed 12th with 18 points.
Leading Valley’s train were senior captain Sam Rosenberg (mid-distance) and junior captains Smith (sprinter and hurdler) and Burgess (thrower).
“They were a big part of getting things done. For practice, they got things organized,” said King of his captains. “Track is a little different as it’s more of an individual team sport, but you have your own events and go there as a team. They did a nice job being captains.”
Seniors Sean Porter (mid-distance), Casey McKeon (mid-distance), and Gabriel Cusack (mid-distance) were also large contributors. Porter earned the Coach’s Award, Smith was named team MVP; junior high jumper, pole vaulter, and hurdler Alex Haughton received the Most Improved Award; junior vaulter and high jumper Cheverier was given Top First Year in Track, and Top in Field went to Burgess.
“Figuring out where everybody was going to belong was our big accomplishment this season,” said King. “For next year going in, we know where everyone will be and the events the kids will be doing. We are looking for a return to the postseason again.”