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“I” can fly, IHS competes at District track meet

Barry Byers Italy Gladiator Track

Image: Justin Buchanan throws for the Gold — Italy competed in the District track meet in Hubbard Wednesday and Thursday putting in strong performances all around the Hubbard stadium. Two Varsity Gladiators and two Lady Gladiators advanced to Area and the JV Boys won the 2009 District Championship.

Justin Buchanan throws for the Gold — Italy competed in the District track meet in Hubbard Wednesday and Thursday putting in strong performances all around the Hubbard stadium. Two Varsity Gladiators and two Lady Gladiators advanced to Area and the JV Boys won the 2009 District Championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Awaiting the results — Brandon Souder and John Isaac glance over Italy Coach Kyle Holley for their results in the triple jump.
Image: Let it fly — Justin Buchanan and Jonathan Nash watch the discus fly from teammate Bobby Wilson’s hand. And they keep watching and watching…
Image: Nash’s discus says it all — Jonathan Nash is ready to prove Italy can fly.
Image: Discus groupy — Every event was exciting to watch at the District meet. Even Discus had a number of Italy fans looking on.
Image: Did you see that — Nash and Zach Hernandez and Eddie Garcia can’t believe how far Bobby Wilson’s discus flew.
Image: Zach attack — Zach Hernandez prepares to launch in the discus throw.
Image: Wilson spins — Bobby Wilson tries to break into the top spots in the discus event.
Image: John can fly — John Isaac just leaps past teammate Heath Clemons for 5th place to represent Italy in the triple jump at Area.
Image: Bales and the boys — Italy’s Junior Varsity shot putters Estrada, Lopez and Roldan are ready to unleash their fury.
Image: Ivan settles in — Feeling the cold steel against his jaw, Ivan Roldan prepares to throw the shotput for the Gladiators.
Image: Kyle Jackson — Sprinter Kyle Jackson relaxes before his race.
Image: Corrin Frazier — Corrin Frazier had a big day at the District meet in Hubbard.
Image: Grand standing — Grand standing, and sitting, are the Italy Gladiators’ Track Team members.
Image: Who’s #1? — We are! Kaitlyn Rossa shows the track world who’s #1.
Image: Relaxing before Relays — Getting their stretch on are the four horsemen from Italy, Heath Clemons, Deandre Sephus, Darrin Moore and Desmond Anderson.
Image: Desmond stretches — Desmond stretches out the hams.
Image: Looking back — Deandre Sephus checks out the competition before the relays.
Image: Frazier shows poise — Corrin Frazier displayed poise and confidence as he turned in a strong performance finishing 1st in the 800m.
Image: Curtis Cole — Curtis “The Stallion” Cole after his race.
Image: Anthony Johnson — Johnson didn’t need his Gladiator cape in this event…he was plenty fast without it.
Image: Jimesha Reed — Jimesha Reed is on her way to Area after dominating in the shotput with a throw of 32 feet. Yes, Jimesha, your future could be bright indeed.
Image: We did it! — Italy’s JV Boys squad pulled together and finished the 2009 track season as DIstrict Champions.
Image: Leading the way — Representing the Italy Gladiators’ Track Team at Area will be Kaitlyn Rossa, Ryan Ashcraft, Darrin Moore and Jimesha Reed.

Italy was challenged by fierce competition at the District track meet in Hubbard this year. A 2-day event, Italy competed against Dawson, Cayuga, Itasca, Dallas Gateway, Crossroads, Wortham, Waxahachie Advantage, Dallas Faith Family and Hubbard. But after the discus landed and the triple jump sand had settled, the Mighty Gladiators had left their marks.

The entire Italy coaching staff was on hand to help urge on the athletes and coordinate some of the events ensuring each track athlete would have a great “time”.

The Italy track athletes that qualified to represent the Old Gold at Area are:

• Kaitlyn Rossa – 1st Place, Gold Medal – 1600m (1mile)
• Kaitlyn Rossa – 1st Place, Gold Medal – 3200 in 6:15
• Jimesha Reed – 1st Place, Gold Medal – Shotput, 32’ 8"
• Ryan Ashcraft – 4th Place, 1600m 5:21
• Ryan Ashcraft – 4th Place, 3200m
• Darrin Moore – 4th Place – Triple Jump 40’ 5 1/4"

• John Isaac – 5th Place – Triple Jump 40’ 5" (Area alternate)

The Italy JV Boys became the 2009 UIL District Champions even though the only 1st Place finish was turned in by Corrin Frazier in the 800 meters. However, the JV Boys finished in 2nd, 3rd and 4th in almost all of their events earning enough points to claim the overall championship.

The fact that the Italy JV Boys accomplished this bodes well for the Italy Gladiators football program next Fall.

Coaches gage the quality of their upcoming football teams based on what the JV track team accomplishes in the off-season according to Coach Robert Sollers, Italy’s Defensive Coordinator for the Gladiators.

Points to keep in mind for Gladiator Football fans: #1 The Gladiators football team fell short of the District Championship last season by only 15-points #2 The JV Boys just won the District Championship in track #3 Italy has assembled a dedicated coaching staff which Italy has lacked for several years #4 A young team last season, Italy’s will have experience under their chinstraps #5 And finally, the Gladiator Football team will be sporting new jerseys in the Fall.

If you add up all the points, we should come out on top next Fall.

Special thanks to Coach Sollers for all the insight and input on the articles this track season.

The Area track meet will be held in Hubbard, starting at 1:00 p.m. sharp on Wednesday, April 14.

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