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Scott competed Friday in semifinals for the 100- and 200-meter run and as anchor for Springfield’s 400 relay team. The finals are Saturday and he also competes in the long jump Saturday starting at noon.
“I’ll just be praying that the injuries stay away like they have all season,” Scott said. “And I’m just going to pray that I do my best.”
Scott placed second at state last year in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 11.5 inches and seventh as a sophomore. It’s his favorite event, and track is his favorite sport.
“From the time I step on the runway until I’m walking off the sand, my mind is focused on that and I’m not focused on anything else,” Scott said.
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Scott was a good football player for the Wildcats, and he earned all-conference honors as a defensive back and had three interceptions his senior year. But the night before a football game never cost him sleep.
“Whenever football season comes I just dread it,” he said. “I think football season just makes me more hungry for track season.”
He played football at his parents’ request – something he appreciates now – to be a backup plan for college in case track didn’t work out. But he has earned a track scholarship at Division II Tiffin University and will study exercise science and sports medicine.
“He’s going to do some serious things when he gets to college,” Springfield track coach Mike Davis said. “I don’t even think he’s peaked yet.”
Scott’s ascension as a sprinter to become a four-event state qualifier began last season. He placed fifth in the 100 and 200 at regionals to miss state by one spot. He knew he had been labeled as just a jumper and decided to become a better sprinter. This year he won the 100 at regionals in 10.80 seconds and placed second in the 200 in 21.61.
“It’s not anything cocky and I don’t really have anything to prove,” he said. “I’ve been working for this moment since my freshman year. It’s about putting everything together and just going out and doing all that I can do.”
Scott’s work ethic throughout high school has gone further than practicing with his team during the indoor and outdoor seasons. He’s also been trained by Wayne May, who operates the Speed By Faith training facility in Springfield.
“The focus this year was to get out on the track and show that he is one of the best sprinters in Ohio – and he did,” Davis said. “He worked on that all during the offseason, during practice. He’s just a driven kid.”
Scott’s drive isn’t just for himself. What he and fellow senior Jacob Yost do to lead the 400 relay team that includes juniors Mike Brown and Austin Tyree is just as important.
“I like the bond that our team has,” Scott said. “It’s just us four and we know that everybody has to come together in order for us to do what we know and everybody else knows that we can do.”
The belief that the Wildcats have a good enough relay in them to overtake regional champion Wayne and all others at state comes from Davis’ constant reminder to his athletes to never quit on a race.
“When I got the baton I don’t even remember what place I was in, but that clicked in my head that we have a chance to really win state,” Scott said of the regional final race. “So I just really pushed it through and I’m ready to carry the team to a gold medal.”
Scott may well go home Saturday night with four medals around his neck. And finally get some sleep.
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