Sumner County Championships:
Hendersonville
On this week's Coach's Corner episode with Coach Davis, I
mentioned that other prominent football powerhouses like Oakland and Maryville
rarely send male sprinters to Murfreesboro in May. Another school you can add
to that list is Hendersonville High School. The last time the Commandos sent a male
sprinter or jumper to the state meet was 2011. This week I timed the Sumner
County Public School Championship. Of course, Whisper Thomas was there but I
already knew who she was and what she was capable of doing. As other runners
started to cross the finish line on Tuesday night and as Field Events were
recorded and sent to the timing tent, three athletes I'd never seen or heard
of, stood out. Hendersonville's David Johnson, Josh Ferguson, and Jameson
Wharton.
David Johnson has a short history of track and field on his profile but nothing suggests he was ever capable of long jumping a 23-2. Previously this season in his one competition he only jumped 20. The leap last Tuesday elevated him into the #2 spot overall in the event.
Josh Ferguson had zero experience prior to this season and in the final of the 100m dash, he became just the 7th runner in the state to breach the 11 second barrier.
I caught up with both of them after the meet and didn't even really know what or how to interview someone with such limited experience or understanding of the times and distances they just posted.
David Johnson and Josh Ferguson are Seniors. They have 5 weeks or so to squeeze in accomplishments it takes others 5 years. Jameson Wharton is a sophomore and doesn't know how special he is. On Tuesday he ran and 11.01 (while stumbling out of the blocks) and 22.84 in the 200m prelims. On Thursday, he didn't show up. As a former coach, it just brings back PTSD. That said, I believe one of these athletes will end the Hendersonville drought this season and if all 3 come around, a 4x100m relay could be pretty tasty as well.