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SPORTS
Dent, Bailey named this week's tracksters
Robbie Gordon, left, MS, ATC, CSCS at Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc., presents the Trackster of the Week award to Alex Dent.
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Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc. and the Putnam Herald are pleased to present this week's "Tracksters of the Week" awards to Alex Dent of Hurricane High School and Andrew Bailey of St. Albans High School.
The Hurricane High School lady Redskins track team has had a torrid and successful year thus far for the 2009 season. The Lady Redskins are defending their girls AAA State Title from last year, and look to be one of the forerunners to win it again in 2009.
One of the girls that have stepped up to lead the charge this year is junior distant runner Alex Dent. Last week at the West Virginia Gazette relays, Alex scorched the track by winning the mile in a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds. She also placed second in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:09. Her 4/8 team also placed first with a time of 9:32.
When asked about her success, Alex said, "I have a problem trying to hold back at the beginning of the race. My coach tells me that if I kick too early, I will go into oxygen debt and lose at the end. I try to pace myself with the other girls, and then hopefully kick towards the end and win the race."
Alex knows that her team has a huge shot at repeating and winning the AAA girl's track title. Alex said, "I want to help my team in any way I can. Last year I placed fifth in both the mile and the 2-mile, and my times are a lot better this year. Hopefully, I can contribute some points in the state meet and allow us to repeat as champs."
The St. Albans High School boys track team is also having a very successful year for 2009. Much of their success has to do with junior mid-distance runner Andrew Bailey. Last week at the Gazette's, Andrew took first place in the 400-meter run with a time of 50.19 seconds. He also won the 800-meter with a time of 1 minute 56 seconds. His 4/200-meter team placed fifth, and his 4/800-meter team took first with a time of 8 minutes and 8 seconds.
When asked about his success Andrew said, "I train really hard in the off-season. I want to have the success that I have seen others have, and contribute to my team's winning."
Andrew gives a lot of credit for his success to his accepting what his natural gifts are.
"When I was young, I realized I wasn't fast enough to be a sprinter, so I took up mid-distance and was able to use the speed that I did have and carry it out over a longer distance. This enabled me to have a lot of success at the 400-meter and 800-meter runs."
Andrew has big expectations for his team for the rest of the year. Andrew said, "I feel like when we get everybody in the meets and qualifying, we have a shot to legitimately contend for the AAA boy's title."
Look for Alex, Andrew, and other local area high school athletes to be named Tracksters of the Week sponsored by Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc. and the Putnam Herald.
Robbie Gordon, MS, ATC, CSCS, works at Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc.
