IN THE LONG RUN

Sports

Staffer Kendarius Butts talks with CCHS boys varsity track and field athlete Jamir Hall, a freshman, about this passion for the sport.

STORY BY KENDARIUS BUTTS Sports Staffer LAYOUT BY WYATT MEYER Sports Editor

Sports Staffer Kendarius

Butts: What things about track do you enjoy?

Clarke Central High School boys varsity track and field athlete Jamir Hall: It’s just the best feeling in the world. You always want to be better than somebody else and just watching people that are probably better than you is hard. But then again, you take it and you work to get better than that person.

KB: What CHallenges do you anticipate havinG DURING THE SEASON?

JH: Last year, I was doing track for the first few weeks (and) I did pretty well, but there was this one runner at this meet at Jefferson (High School). It was my turn (and) my personal record was 17.8 feet. (This runner) jumped like 18 feet with ease. I was just devastated. I don’t even think I placed, (but) I took that (and) tried to get better and make it where that wouldn’t happen again.

FOR THE BEST: Clarke Central High School boys varsity track and field athlete Jamir Hall, a freshman, poses in the Competition Gym during the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Spring Media Day on Feb. 4. Hall found his passion for track through his desire for competition. “It’s just the best feeling in the world. You always want to be better than somebody else and just watching people that are probably better than you is hard,” Hall said. “But then again, you take it and you work to get better than that person.”

Photo by Aza Khan

KB: What things are different for you from Middle School?

JH: (It’s) a lot more work. If you expect to come here and do things (the same as in middle school), it’s basically going to be very different. (CCHS track is) a lot more challenging and you have to stay humble.

KB: What workouts have you done to prepare for this season?

JH: I came here a lot in the spring. (Last year), working on conditioning. I did a lot of lifting for my legs to keep working on getting my technique better.

KB: What’s your opinion on the team this year?

JH: I feel like we have a pretty good track team. I think that we’re strong in a lot of our events. I’ve seen a lot of people run, like one of our best runners, (CCHS boys varsity track and field athlete) Shavique Bascus, (a senior), I know that they are at the top when it comes to the things that they do.

KB: WhAT are your goals this year?

JH: I’m really just focusing on my (personal records and) trying to do things that I couldn’t do last year. I definitely expect to help score points for our team and this track season, and definitely place in some of these games I do.

KB: How prepared do you feel for the season?

JH: I think that it seemed like over the summer I couldn’t prepare as much just because of other sports that I played. I feel like I have to do much more than the next person to try to be better.

Featured: CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Clarke Central High School head varsity baseball coach Jerry Boatner poses inside A.B. Weathersby Field on March 6. Boatner was a distinguished baseball coach during his time at West Lauderdale High School, but he is now tasked with righting a historically unsuccessful CCHS program. “We know what it takes to turn a program around and we’re willing to put in the work and put the time into it,” Boatner said. “It may take two or three years, a little bit longer than I thought, but we definitely will turn it around.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly