Leading the way was Freshman Lady Gladiator, Jimesha Reed. Jimesha qualified for Regional in the Shot Put. She faced some excellent competition at Palestine , where 39 feet would be needed to advance to State. This year those two spots will be filled by Seniors from this Region. On this steamy Friday afternoon, in front of her family, friends, coaches and fans, Jimesha recorded her best throws of the year with a 4 kilo shot. The Freshman left the event with a great feeling of pride, and a determined vow to return to finish the job next year.

On Saturday morning, John Isaac strolled out the front door of his house at 5:15 a.m. and began his journey toward Palestine to compete in the Triple Jump. After stoking his fires with waffles and a sausage and egg sandwich at Waffle House in Corsicana, John arrived at the Palestine jumping pit earlier than any of his competition. He took his time jogging and stretching, focused on what he must do to advance. He earned his spot in the meet due to an injury to the Dawson jumper who edged him at Area, but would certainly make the most of this opportunity. His very first jump landed him in the lead of the first flight in the competition. He would not relinquish that spot until he entered the Finals of the event.

After having much difficulty in hitting the toe-board with consistency all year, Isaac was dead-on on all day. All six of his trials had perfect takeoffs, and his first jump of 42’ 10 3/4” would hold on to gain him the Fifth Place spot in the meet. Had he been able to start jumping earlier in the season he may have been able to gain the distance to advance to State, but the success he helped the Basketball Team achieve meant his Track Season would have to wait. Next year he will begin to knock the rust off his spikes a bit earlier, despite how far the Hoops Team advances. He left with a great feeling of pride, and the respect of his competitors, two of whom had beaten him at the Area Meet, but could not defeat him this day.

After a break in the action due to a furious thunderstorm, the next Gladiators to compete were the 1600 Meter runners. About an hour behind schedule due to the weather, Kaitlin Rossa was feeling the nervous anxiety any Freshman would feel. She just wanted to RUN! That is exactly what she did. In a field of Seniors, the Freshman Rossa held her own, taking 17 seconds off her all-time best, and breaking 6 minutes for the first time in her life. In front of a huge, screaming crowd she blistered the track at a pace which earned her a 5th Place Finish with the time of 5:50.06. The entire region took note of the young girl with the long blonde ponytail who will be back several times to improve her lot.

The final Gladiator to perform for the crowds on the track this year was Sophomore Ryan Ashcraft. Ryan had been blazing a path in the outfield grass at Italy’s Baseball Field, between the grueling hours in the weight room and the arduous practices catching for the playoff-bound Gladiator Baseball Team.

At times feeling worn a bit thin, but always striving to keep in competition shape for both sports, Ashcraft had gotten his times down by several seconds when he met with near tragedy. On one of his last practices for the race he stepped in a hole in centerfield and hit the ground hard. He rolled an ankle, and immediately began icing and treatment on it. It responded well, but he had lost some of the gains in time he had worked so hard to make. He, too, left Palestine with the steely look in his eye of a man seeking an opportunity to avenge his plight next year. He is considering moving to the 800, and adding the 400 Dash and 1600 Relay to his menu in the future.

With so many young competitors, and a District Championship at the JV level, the Gladiator Track Team looks to be one of the Empire’s strongest legions next year. They came a long way toward that goal this season.