Young Pioneers heading to state
The WCMS 4x100 relay team has already proven it can run with anybody in the state. Now the Pioneers want to see if they can bring home hardware too.
Kingston Judkins, Hutsen Morris, James Mietling and Royce Morrison will represent Warren County Monday at the TMSAA State Meet at Tom Black Track in Knoxville after qualifying with a blazing 47.5 at the sectional meet at Riverdale May 2. Since then, the quartet has continued sharpening its exchanges and building chemistry while also helping the Pioneers capture a fifth straight CTC championship.
Warren County’s qualifying time puts them in the top 10 of all teams in the event, with the top 10-12 teams all being separated by less than 2 seconds. The path to the podium could come down to the teams with the best exchanges, quickest starts and best closes.
The Pioneer quartet believes it can excel in all phases, especially with the training cranking up over the last two weeks.
Morrison, who is the anchor leg and brings it home for the Pioneers, said the mentality going into state is simple: If you ain’t first, you’re last.
“You have to stay confident,” said Morrison. “Every time I get the baton, it gives me adrenaline. It feels good.”
Morris kicks off the relay team, something he’s been doing for two years for the squad. He notes that the teamwork built over the last few seasons has built a strong bond - “our teamwork has been excellent,” said Morris - and his focus will be on a quick start that hopefully can get the team in medal contention.
“My goal is to not false start, get off the blocks hard and set up a pretty good lead for my second leg. I feel like we can get to the podium,” said Morris.
His handoff will be with Judkins, who will be pulling double duty at the state event. Judkins also qualified individually in the high jump, but for the 4x100 relay, his focus will be on keeping it clean on handoffs - both receiving one from Morris and giving another to Mietling.
“Hutsen’s hand-offs are really good. We’re pretty set on those. And then my mission is just to try to get it to James with the lead,” said Judkins.
Mietling has enjoyed his time with the relay team, where he sets up Morrison with speed and power to finish strong.
“I get it to Royce and let him take it home,” said Mietling about his job on the team - one he wanted from the moment he knew he could join the track program.
“The 4x100 is why I joined track - I really like it. It’s a short race and we do really well at it,” said Mietling.
Before the guys can run for gold in the 4x100 Monday afternoon at Tom Black Track in Knoxville, Judkins will try to forge his path to the top of the podium in the high jump. The event is scheduled as one of the early morning kickoff events for the TMSAA state meet at the University of Tennessee and Judkins could be in contention for a medal.
He already has a height in mind that he’s hoping to reach next week.
“I’m going to try to get to 5-foot-10. If I can do that, I’ll be good. I’m hoping I can make the top 3,” said Judkins, who has built his confidence in the event with win after win throughout the season.
More medals are the goal Monday for a WCMS program that has spent all spring stacking up wins.
