Four the last time: Trinity senior wins quad of titles to finish outstanding career

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 17, 2018

Trinity Episcopal’s Dee Fleming isn’t surprised he ended his high school athletic career with a bang.

After claiming two individual and two team state titles last year for the Saints track team, Fleming did the same for his senior year.

Fleming repeated his championships in the triple and long jumps, while aiding this year’s 4×100 and 4×200 meter relays to titles, too.

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“The bad thing is, last year I went into it not knowing what the competition level was,” Fleming said. “This year, I don’t think I jumped as far as I could. I didn’t really have anybody pushing me.”

After last year’s performance in MAIS Class AA, Trinity moved down to a Class A school in which Fleming said he was confident of his chances to repeat his titles.

Others on the state title relay teams were Jakarius Caston, Cedric Daniels and TJ Peyton.

“My biggest competitor was my teammate, Jakarius,” Fleming said. “It’s funny because I’m jumping against him at every meet.”

With the wins, however, Fleming was still shy of his personal bests on the jumps. He said he looks forward to working toward becoming an even better jumper during his time on the track team at Ole Miss after committing this past April.

“I need a good few months to exceed even my own expectations,” Fleming said. “The SEC is a different ball game.”

With the four titles, as well as additional finishes on the podium for the Saints, Trinity placed third overall as a team.

Not only is Fleming’s all-star career with the Saints coming to a close, so is his school.

Fleming will walk as a part of Trinity’s last graduating class next week and will forever hold the title of the last person to win a state championship for the school.

Adding a few more medals before venturing off, Fleming said, is a special feeling.

“I’m happy. It feels good,” he said. “I’m just ready to see what’s next.”