The Natchez High School track team got help from some familiar faces Tuesday.

The Bulldogs are preparing for their first indoor track meet of the season at LSU Friday.

Natchez High School alumna Janice Davis, who is a senior on the Stanford University track team, was on hand to offer some pointers and positive suggestions to sprinters on form and technique

Travis Washington, who is also a Natchez High alumnus and a sophomore on the Hinds County Community College track team, worked with the members of the relay teams, offering tips on how to improve baton passes.

Both offered insight and shared their personal experiences of competing on a higher level to help their former team prepare for Friday’s indoor meet.

“Many people are unaware that we have an indoor track program at Natchez High,” head coach Larry Wesley said.

Wesley said the sport is bigger in Alabama and Louisiana, but is limited in many places in Mississippi because of a lack of in facilities.

He said the Bulldogs have done very well in previous indoor meets, and added that Davis and Washington set the standard for the team when they competed in the indoor meets while they competed for Natchez High.

“It’s good to come back every year and help out,” Davis said. “I get satisfaction out of helping someone get better. Plus, it is an opportunity for me to teach some things that I acquired in college that I was unable to learn while competing in high school.”

Washington said he too gets enjoyment out of coming back to help out.

“It feels good to come back and help. It’s also fun to come back and hang out with coach Wesley,” Washington said.

“It’s kind of funny because when I was in high school coach Wesley was always on my case about getting better. Now I am starting to see that the things he told me back then were right.”

Davis said another reason she helps out is because as an athlete she has always heard, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” She said part of what is expected is giving back.

She said that is something she has realized as she has matured as an athlete, adding that part of being the best is helping make the people around you better.

“If I have the ability to be the best, why not go for it,” Davis said.

And going for it is what she intends to do. Davis said after she completes her final season at Stanford and graduates June 17, she plans to travel to Indianapolis to qualify for the USA Senior National World Championship Trials.

“I hope to have a contract by then, and will be running professionally.

From there she said she would like to move to Miami or Los Angeles and continue competing on the professional circuit. She said she hopes to make enough money running so that she can donate a new track to her former school.

“The current track is horrible. I would like to come home and train sometimes, but that track makes it impossible,” Davis said.

Washington said his immediate goal is to make the indoor and outdoor Nationals in May for Hinds Community College. He said from there he would like to transfer to a four-year university and continue to compete.

“I have not decided on a school yet, but I have been talking to my coach about it,” Washington said.

Both said coming back to help out coach Wesley brings back several fond memories from when they were at Natchez High School.

“Its also good to come back and be the teacher for a change,” Davis said.