Campbell's Track Teams Continue Pursuit of Excellence

Every evening is the same.

Two hours of hard training. Rain, shine or even snow, it doesn’t matter. Athletes are expected to be on the track, punctual and braced for a demanding workout. No laughs or playacting. Then comes homework, which must done in order to maintain good grades. Otherwise the invitation to stay ontrack team is revoked.

“We train just as hard as some colleges,” said Shaina Walker, one of the team’s many champions. “Our only break is Sundays.”

For that, 16-year veteran coach Mike McCloud makes no apologies. Creating one of the metro area’s top track programs, whose athletes have graced state and national events, is, he says, “A challenge. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but over the years, we’ve become respected as a solid relay, hurdle and sprinting culture.”

Consider the stats: Trey Fluellen recently placed in the top three in hurdles at a top-10 national event. Last year, the program finished third in the state. Allen Frye set a county record in the 300-meter hurdles. And in the recently held county championships, Campbell competitors placed first in the high jump, long jump, 110 hurdle, 300 hurdle, and boys 4x400 relay events.

With the region championships set for Saturday and Monday at McEachern High, the program should pick up more accolades. McCloud expects no less.

“We’ve always been successful but this has been an outstanding year,” he said. “Each year our goal is to win a region championship.”

Those charged with delivering that goal find the program’s environment conducive to achievement, regardless of gender.

“There’s no such thing as going easy,” said Walker. “We’ve even practiced in the snow before. They give females the same opportunities; they don’t baby us because we’re female.”

Male teammate Corey Ashbourne, who aspires to run professionally one day, believes the collective demands on athletes give the program a definitive competitive edge.   

“When the whole team’s motivated, it’s a good charisma,” he said. “It’s motivated me to do better; it’s improved me.”

A good showing at the region championships will allow some athletes to advance to the state meet next month. Last year, the team finished third overall, a tremendous achievement, given the number of private schools represented.

Can Campbell match or better that feat? “It depends on how many advance to the state meet,” said McCloud. “Then it’s all about scoring in the top four. Our weakness has always been field events. That’s something we’re working on.”

Realistically, a state championship may still be out of reach, but given the school’s reputation for cultivating talent, the Holy Grail may be a viable long-term prospect.

McCloud points out the depth of talent. The program has won several junior varsity events and its current top athletes aren’t all seniors. Frye, for example, is only a 10th grader, despite breaking a county record.

And once raw talent has been spotted, the program’s pedigree of developing potential will keep it chasing awards.

“We have a lot of good athletes,” said Walker, who hopes to compete at state. “But we build talent, too.”