MORGAN COUNTY
Morgan County’s track and field team is ready for its first meet this weekend under a new coach.
The Bulldogs will travel to Mill Creek High School for the Jerry Arnold Challenge, containing 30-plus teams from across the state.
Morgan County head coach Kelan Fraise said he’s feeling great heading into the season.
“We want to win, but the main thing I want is for these kids to set PRs (personal records),” Fraise said.
Fraise believes this team is well-rounded rather than having one strong group. He is excited for his athletes to get out there and see what they can do.
“We have a lot of good numbers in all events,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we compete.”
The Bulldogs will now put those numbers to the test in Fraise’s first meet as the team’s head coach.
Fraise ran track and played football at Dacula High School. He believes those past experiences allow him to connect better with his athletes. This Bulldogs team is very young, but Fraise likes that factor.
“I know what it takes to get to the higher level,” Fraise said. “We have a lot of young talent that sets us up for the future.”
Morgan County hosted a time trial event on Feb. 16 in which that young talent shined.
Sophomore throwers Jack Morris, Bordy Jenkins, and Cooper Pittman put on a good showing. Morris and Jenkins placed first and second in discus, while Pittman finished first in shotput.
Another sophomore set for a big season for the Bulldogs is Dallas Dickerson. Fraise called him “the anchor of the sprinters.”
Latravious Lumpkin placed second in the 110-meter hurdles, while Lila Catterton placed second in the 100-meter hurdles.
Brady Cousins is a freshman long-distance runner for Morgan County. In the time trial meet, he placed first in the 3200-meter run and second in the 1600-meter race.
In practice, the team’s focus has been working on its mechanics, power, and speed. Fraise’s biggest thing he’s trying to teach these kids is the ability to run.
For sprinters, the most crucial time is the take-off. Seconds can be gained and lost with how they start. Fraise wants to assure his runners know how important that is heading into the season.
Fraise is now passing that knowledge down to his track and field team.
“We use the weight room a lot to work on explosiveness,” he said. “My runners have learned a lot.”
The Jerry Arnold Challenge is one of the more highly respected track meets in the state, and the Bulldogs will have their chance to make a statement early in the season.