To hear Springfield High School track coach Michael Davis say it makes you do a double take, much like when senior Quincy Scott unleashes one of his electrifying long jumps.
The Springfield Wildcats didn’t win a track meet during the regular season. This, despite qualifying four athletes in five different events to the Division I state track and field championships on Friday and Saturday.
“We were content with that because our main goal was to win district, regional or go to state as a team, taking more than one individual,” Davis said.
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The Wildcats accomplished two out of three by winning the D-I district and sending those four athletes to Columbus. The Wildcats finished third at regional behind Wayne and Centerville.
Scott leads the charge into state qualifying in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, the long jump and is a member of the 4x100 relay. Junior Austin Tyree qualified in the 300 hurdles and is also on the 400 relay with senior Jacob Yost and junior Mike Brown.
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Scott’s goal is to place in all four events and bring home a state championship in at least one of them. He finished second in the long jump in 2017.
“I think he understands the expectations,” Davis said of Scott, who won the D-I indoor state long jump championship in March. “I think he has a great chance to win it. The beauty of the state meet is it only takes one jump to win it. … He has a little bit of an edge being there two other times and jumping against some great competition all year round.”
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Scott enters state with the second-best leap from the four regional meets at 23 feet, 5.25 inches. Vandalia Butler senior Daiton Sharp won the Huber Heights regional with 23-11.
Scott was the regional champ in the 100 (10.80) and finished second in the 200 (21.61). His 100 time ranks him third among all regional qualifiers and his 200 time ranks seventh.
“He is a track and field guy through and through,” Davis said. “It’s kind of like icing on the cake for what he’s been through and what he’s put into it for four years. It’s a great way to go out as a senior.”
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Tyree makes his first state appearance and his 38.34 at regional ranks him seventh.
“We’re excited for Austin. He’s worked extremely hard,” Davis said. “He was kind of cast in the shadow last year because we had another good hurdler. Austin got focused in the off-season and got really dedicated to it and it showed this year. He’s been one of the top 300 hurdlers in the state all year. He’s excited for his first time at state outdoor. He wants to prove he’s one of the best hurdlers in the state.”
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Brown, Yost and Scott were all members of the 400 relay team last season. The team had state aspirations but a dropped baton at the district took them out of contention. With newcomer Tyree to the team the Wildcats are hungry for a strong state finish.
“They’re probably one of the top four teams in the state in the 4x100,” Davis said. “They’ve kind of got a chip on their shoulder.”
“Jacob works hard. He’s determined. He runs the third leg which is the essential leg. He holds it together pretty well. He’s pretty much the leader of the team as far as leading by example,” Davis added. “Mike is probably one of our better starters. He’s a very explosive athlete and he brings a lot to the 4x100 team.”
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Last season Springfield took two boys athletes to state. This season it’s four. Davis is looking for an even larger group next season.
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“The goal is to build the Springfield track program back up to where it used to be during the South and North days,” he said. “I think this group right here has really helped out. We knew as a group what the expectations were. The goal from the beginning was to go to state.”
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