The Lexington boys’ track team has three All-State athletes returning to this year’s team, and Coach Michael Moore sees big things especially for his relay teams.
The 4x400 relay team set the school record with a time of 3:16.98 and finished third in the state. Three members of the team are returning, and there is heavy competition for the fourth spot. The three returners are Carter Newman, Will Perkins and Latrell Hughes.
Newman is a senior who qualified for Regionals in four events last year. He qualified for four events in indoor track as a sprinter, as well. Perkins qualified for four indoor events, and Hughes had a huge year that Moore sees being even bigger this spring. Hughes qualified as an individual for the state in the 400 meters as a freshman, as well as being on the 4x400 meter team.
Part of the regional 4x800 relay team will be back this year, also. He said there are high expectations, as they had two underclassmen last year who are a year older, and All-Ohio cross country runner Chance Basilone will also be joining the team. He said there are a handful of athletes who could be in the mix for this relay team.
“Our relays in general are a big focus this year,” Moore said. “The kids are really excited to see if they can challenge those records. They have been circling those records all winter and are hungry to challenge them.”
Senior Ethan Slone is an athlete to watch this year, as he was a regional qualifier for several events last spring and also qualified for two events in indoor track.
Basilone was a state qualifier for three events in indoor track, as well as being an All-Ohio cross country runner. He was All-State OATCCC for the 4x400 meters.
Bryston Hess is a junior sprinter who was All-State OATCCC for indoor track in the 4x400 meters. Terrance Corbin comes back for his senior year, and was a state qualifier for the 4x800 meters in indoor track.
Gage Devaney (distance), Lincoln Rice (distance) and Dantrell Hughes (hurdler) are a trio of sophomores who could be difference makers. Colton Yugovich, a junior, is in his first year as a high jumper.
The Minutemen had a great indoor season, sending seven athletes to the Division I Indoor State Meet in the 4x200, 4,400, 4x800, 400 meters, 800 meters and long jump. They had 30 boys on the team this winter, and Moore said they have been putting in the time and effort. This is something he wants to see carry over in the outdoor season. Moore praised his group of leaders, who said should influence the first time runners and jumpers.
“Watching those older guys pull these new guys up is a lot of fun,” Moore said.
Moore said that while track is often seen as an individual sport, it actually does revolve around the team.
“With that being said, I want to focus on building team and working together in workouts using all of our strengths to really build a strong foundation for our athletes,” Moore said. “We really try to bring our distance guys and sprinters together for workouts at least once a week to get that done.”
Moore is in his second year coaching the Minutemen track team, and said that this is a group effort coaching-wise. He said that he and Sprint Coach Dan Wittmer mesh well with their philosophies on running. Moore noted that they like Coach Ryan Banta’s approach best with the sprinters. Distance Coach Denise Benson is also the head coach of the cross country team, and Moore said her results speak for themselves. He also said when you see her interact with athletes, it is clear why she is so successful.
As Coaches they try to do their best to help the athletes succeed. Moore said that by communicating their expectations, and putting the athletes in the best situation possible, is how they succeed.
“I couldn’t ask for a better staff,” Moore said.
