Tracy boys’ track team fueled by young runners
Junior Nate Jones finishes the 100 meter race.
April 17, 2014
Tracy High’s boys’ track team is running well behind the speed of junior Nate Jones. The Bulldogs are 1-1 in league meets and 2-1 overall.
“Nate Jones is obviously our number one sprinter,” coach Mauricio Martin said, “but it is the culmination of good runners that makes our team good.”
The Bulldogs took on Bear Creek at Tracy High and lost, 69- 66, on April 10.
Jones took first in the 100 meters (11.04) and 200 meters (22.18).
“I think we have a lot of possibilities to a lot of great things,” Martin said. “We are definitely making strides to building a better team.”
Sophomore Jacob Spencer won the 3200m in 10:50.01, and took second in the 1600m in 5:00.93.
Jenkins took first in the 300m hurdles in 43.12, and second in the 110m hurdles in 16.52.
The Bulldogs won big in a dual meet against Liberty High on March 13.
Senior Grant Kuczma placed first in the 200m in 23.69.
“I was excited to win,” Kuczma said. “All the conditioning I have done was worth it.”
Junior Evan Savage placed first in the 800m (2:21) and tied for second in the 1600m (5:00). Senior Jabril Muhammed placed first in the 3200m race in 13:09.
Senior Davis Jenkins took first in the 110m hurdles in 16:09.
“It was one of my fastest times,” Jenkins said, “but I plan on better.”
The Bulldogs placed third with 79 points in the Port City Invitational at Bear Creek High School in Stockton on March 15.
Junior Nate Jones won the 100m dash in 11.20 seconds. Jones also anchored the first-place varsity boys’ relay teams in both the 4×100 (44.03) and the 4×400 (3:33.73).
“Our relay times are good,” Jones said, “but we need to keep improving.”
The 4×100 team included senior Eric Hawkins and juniors Brandon Russell and Jason Nelson. The 4×400 team included Hawkins, Nelson and senior Chris Garcia.
“The varsity boys have really come together,” Martin said. “They are really gelling.”
Jenkins took third at the 300m hurdles in 42.88.
“Invitationals have all the athletes,” Jenkins said. “It’s great competition.”
The Bulldogs placed third with 66 points in the Jaguar Relays at Kimball High on March 22.
Kuczma filled in to the 4×100 team due to an injury to Russell; however, the Bulldogs still won in 44.55.
“It feels good to contribute to the team,” Kuczma said. “I’ll be ready again next time they need me.”
Jones won the 100m dash in 10.94, 1/100 of a second ahead of Kimball’s Damon Jackson (10.95).
“It was a close finish,” Jones said. “He (Jackson) is really fast.”
Jenkins took fourth in the 300m hurdles in 43.10.
“I wish I would have done better,” Jenkins said. “There is always the next track meet.”
Senior Dennis Nguyen placed 16th in the 3200m in 12:02.33.
The Bulldogs’ next league meet is against Franklin on April 17 at Wayne Schneider Stadium, and six of the Bulldogs will travel to Los Angeles for the Mount SACs Relays on April 18.
“As we go to Los Angeles this weekend,” Martin said, “we will see how we do against bigger competition.”
