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By Bret Mitchell
HCC Sports
Information
Friday, January
18, 2008
National champion sprinter Teddy Poole will garner plenty of attention this
season, but the 2008 Hutchinson Community College men’s track and field team
is more than the explosive sprinter from Florida.
The
HCC men return several national qualifiers and regional champions. Veteran
HCC head coach Pat Becher and his staff also recruited one of the stronger
incoming freshman groups this year. As a group, the 2008 Blue Dragons could
be in line for some special things this season.
“The
men’s team has a lot of sophomore leadership,” Becher said. “We have a very
talented team.”
Poole returns for his sophomore
season with incredible credentials, winning both the NJCAA indoor and
outdoor 200 meter national championship as a freshman. The school record
holder in the 200 also qualified for the 100 meters and indoor 60 meters
last season as well as running on HCC’s sprint relays.
But
several other returning sophomores had wonderful freshman seasons at
Hutchinson in 2007.
Jordan Teeter was third in the nation in javelin last season Gavin Wuthrich
was also a weight qualifier. Dylan Jenne also returns as a Region VI pole
vault champion and Dustin Jones is back as the reigning regional high jump
champion.
The
other returning national qualifiers came on the track.
Chase
Thompson is back after qualifying in the 3,200 last season. Hutchinson High
School product Chris Powell and Justin Riggs in the 4x800 relay, Carlton
Whitney in the 4x100 and 4x400, and A.J. Ishim qualified in both indoor and
outdoor relays last season.
Another key returner is Shawn Britton, who coach said was “much improved” in
both shot put and hammer.
Many
freshmen will be counted on to contribute in 2008.
Some
key newcomers include middle distance runner Chris Copeland, weight man
Tyler Drake (javelin), Melton Diggs (sprints and hurdles), former Salthawk
Chad Frasier (relays), Taz Hawthorne (shot put) and Ben Kruse (pole vault).
Becher calls Hawthorne “one of the best in the United States” in the shot
put.
Other
Reno County products include Jacob Yates from Central Christian, Harley and
Levi Ewing from Hutchinson High and Taje Livingston, also a former Salthawk.
Two
Blue Dragon football players also lend their talents to the track team,
Markish Jones (sprints and jumps) had a decorated high school career in
South Carolina. Brandon King, another South Carolina native, participates in
the high jump, long jump, and triple jump.
The
Blue Dragons will have a challenging indoor schedule with trips to Highland,
the Jayhawk Classic and Missouri Southern.
“Highland has a very nice facility,” Becher said. “It will be a good first
meet.” |
