Natchez High tracksters go for state titles on Saturday

By Jeff Edwards (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, May 8, 2008

NATCHEZ — The Natchez High boys track team has been burning up the asphalt this season, and coach Larry Wesley expects that trend to continue Saturday at the Class 5A State Meet in Pearl.

The Natchez High 100 and 200 meter relay team, consisting of Wesley Pendleton, Rico Richardson, Willie Newman and Jeremy Davis captured first place in the South State meet last week, as did Richardson in the triple jump, Pendleton in the 200 meter dash and Ernest Jones in the high jump.

Wesley expects all of the track athletes, with the possible exception of Jones in a tough high jump field, to duplicate that feat in the State meet and bring home the championship.

“All of those guys should win,” Wesley said. “If they don’t win, something is wrong. I’ll stake my reputation on it. We’ll win those (events).”

While this weekend will be an exciting one for the Bulldog track team, Wesley is also looking forward to next season.

None of the aforementioned runners are seniors and several of them are in just their first year on the track team.

“All these kids will be coming back,” Wesley said. “It’s very exciting. I feel good that all these guys were able to pull together this year and do well.”

Pendleton, in particular, has had an outstanding year. He is in the running to win the Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year award after posting one of the fastest times in the state in the 200 meter dash last week at the South State meet.

He only began competing on the track team this year just as a way to stay in shape for football, but quickly found out that he was a natural.

“At first it was tough, but then I started getting into it got easier,” Pendleton said. “All the hard work and practice have paid off.”

Pendleton said that even he was greatly surprised by the success he has enjoyed.

“It’s been a big surprise,” he said. “At first I was just training for football but then it turned into something entirely different. Winning (the state championship) would cap off a great season.”

Richardson is also looking to cap off a wonderful season with a state championship in the triple jump. The junior has not been defeated in any meet this year.

“It’s all about the technique,” Richardson said. “If you don’t have the technique it’s not going to work out good.”

Richardson is only one great jump away from accomplishing what has only been a dream.

“I never thought I’d be a state champion in anything,” Richardson said. “It would be great.”