Seniors and co-captains Tanilya Clark and Maurice Hunter are leading the MSMS track team to success despite not having a coach.
So far, the team has competed in meets at Starkville High School and Tishomingo County High School, and Clark secured first place in the girls’ 100-meter dash and girls’ long jump at TCHS.
The MSMS track team has been left without a coach since Dedrick Burnett, the head coach of MUW track and field, lost his assistant coach at the W. Due to his limited availability, Burnett chose to focus solely on the track program at MUW.
The co-captains now oversee important aspects of the team’s preparation, including scheduling practices and workouts. They meet weekly with Stacey Holmes, the MSMS director of student affairs, to ensure the team is registered for meets and events.
Senior and team manager Judy Hung has also taken on a more prominent role, handling logistics including organizing equipment, bringing water and pursuing first-aid certification.
“As a manager, last year we didn’t have much to do besides helping here and there with the coach,” Hung said. “But now, without the coach, we’re basically behind the practices.”
With managers organizing the team, Clark plans workouts by consulting a Division III coach and her former Amateur Athletic Union coach. Team members train with workouts tailored to their individual events, with Tuesdays specifically reserved for endurance building.
“I felt like there was so much going on here academically that you never got a chance to breathe, and the only time I was able to fully was when I was running,” Clark said.
The demands of MSMS track are no small feat. Meets often last up to 12 hours, and the team frequently returns to campus late at night, cutting into valuable studying time.
“Staying disciplined is very extreme, but understanding it’s a sacrifice I wanted to make [has helped],” Clark said. “Making sure you have your goals in mind will help you go through rigorous situations for a student-athlete here.”
Junior and first-time runner Christian Butler said he hopes the season will help him improve his physical fitness.
“I like to be physically active throughout the year,” Butler said. “I don’t want to just be dormant for some part of the year.”
Despite the obstacles, the team members remain optimistic and dedicated to their training. With co-captains, managers and athletes working together, the MSMS track team is determined to make the most of the season ahead.
The team competes in the Brave Classic at Tishomingo on Mar. 18.
