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Western Tech sophomore Rebeka Holt, shown winning the 800-meter run at the Baltimore County track championships, also won the 800 and 400 and was part of the first-place 1,600 meter relay for the Wolverines at the Class 1A state track championships. (Staff photo by Brian Krista / May 31, 2012) |
Western Tech coach Shedrick Elliott calls sophomore outdoor track standouts Rebeka Holt and Sharon Dorsey his 'clones.'
While Dorsey battled through a hamstring injury at the Class 1A Maryland State track and field championships, held Memorial Day weekend at Morgan State University, Holt turned in a dynamic performance that left her with three state championships.
At the pace the young Wolverines are progressing, they could be a candidate for a state title in 2013.
The Wolverines now have two state finalist plaques outdoors with the first coming in 2008.
They have won state titles indoors twice (2010 and 2011) under Elliott.
Holt's victories in the individual 400 and 800 meters, and a joint triumph in the 1,600-meter relay, with seniors Taylor Folk and Ashley Linton and sophomore Tori Taylor, helped the Wolverines (86 points) earn second place behind state champion Boonsboro (99).
Holt's time of 2:15.63 in the 800 set a new Class 1A state record, bettering the previous mark of 2:17.89.
"We had high expectations in the 800," said coach Elliott, who plans to let her rest over the summer and come back stronger next season.
Holt was prepared to set the mark because of her work ethic and ability to maintain speed no matter what the distance.
"She works hard in practice and she had an amazing amount of endurance," Elliott said. "She has amazing speed as well."
Holt had run track before she got to Western Tech, while her classmate Dorsey had only been running track for under two years at the school which has no track of its own.
"Sharon has had hamstring injuries," Elliott said. "She was only running at around 75 percent."
That didn't stop Dorsey from placing third in the 400 and running anchor on the victorious 3,200 relay squad with junior Jayla Gaines, Linton and Taylor.
The 800 meter relay won its race, but was disqualified when a runner was ruled to have interfered with another runner after a handoff of the baton.
While the success of the super sophomores means increased expectations next season, freshman Daijana Revell and sophomores Morgan Prioleau and Taylor, along with several other underclassmen, provide even more optimism.
Revell was third in the 100 and 300 hurdles and Prioleau placed third in the 200.
Taylor (4th) and senior Lena Titanji (5th) also scored in the 300 hurdles.
"Three girls scoring in the hurdles was the difference," said Elliott, who only expected Taylor to score in the event.
That made it closer than the coach expected.
"We weren't even trying to win a state championship," Elliott said. "We were just running fast against the clock."
