Dunbar's Stallworth on fast track
Unbeaten in 100, 200 and 400, sophomore will show off her speed at this weekend's Roosevelt Memorial.
Friday, May 02, 2008
DAYTON — Shanekqua "Bama" Stallworth is "shocked and amazed" she can burn a lap in less than one minute.
But there are plenty of area sprinters who can attest to the Dunbar High School sophomore's speed.
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"I just like to run with fast people," said Stallworth, unbeaten in the 100 (12.50), 200 (25.40) and 400 (57.76) meters midway through the track and field season.
"Fast people will help me speed up and help me grow more."
The Alabama native will get her wish in this weekend's 33rd Roosevelt Memorial at Welcome Stadium.
The annual event draws some of the best runners from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee.
Stallworth was an early standout last season before leaving the team for family concerns. Now, she's a legitimate triple postseason threat.
"I'm going to try my best," she said of the rare sprint triple. "I hear it can be pretty tough."
"She's one of the best girls I've ever seen around here for the last 10 years," said coach Paul Saine, who inherited the Wolverines girls team this spring when Chad Miller switched to Meadowdale.
"I've seen some top-notch girls, and she's right up there with them."
• Sixty boys teams and 55 girls teams will be at the Roosevelt. The boys include four-time defending state Division I champ Cleveland Glenville, Cleveland Heights, Detroit Mumford and Oak Ridge (Tenn.).
But the best unit may well be Trotwood-Madison.
"It's one of the better teams I've been associated with in 30 years of coaching," said Roosevelt meet director and T-M assistant Randy Waggoner.
"When I mean good, they constantly surprise me in some of the things they do. The sky's the limit for these guys."
• Put hurdler Jackie Coward of Knoxville (Tenn.) West on your must-see list at the Roosevelt. The senior sensation owns some of the nation's top times in the 100 hurdles (13.11), 200 (24.38) and 400 (56.01).
• Many area teams that aren't at the Roosevelt will run in today's Wayne Relays, including the mighty Mason girls.
Among the highlights should be a showdown between 15-foot pole vaulters Tommy Marks (Wayne), Kevin Leland (Greenville) and Graham Morgan (Lebanon).
Top-end sprinters are Demoye Bogle (Wayne) and Travis Jackson (C-J).
In the hurdles, it's defending 300 Division I state champ Michael Willey (Miamisburg) and Jordan Goffena (Sidney).
Contact this reporter at 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com.
