Meets are another matter. When both teams compete on the same day, the coach hopes softball finishes quickly and stays away from extra innings — and that traffic isn’t an issue.
“I heard that Maddy’s mom drives really fast,” Lau said with a laugh. “They actually had a game one night at Northeastern that didn’t start till 5:30, and we had a meet at Greeneview. Maddy made it in time for the two-mile run, and Leslie made it for the (1600 relay).”
The Southeastern girls have a young team, but they finished second in their first two multi-school meets thanks to contributions from McKee and Flores.
McKee is in her first season of track and has clocked a 13:40 in the 1600.
“She’s an athlete. She’s competitive. She’s got it,” Lau said. “I haven’t seen a whole lot of teams yet, but I would say that (time) would have her doing pretty well at districts.”
Flores is talented but doesn’t have a specialty.
“I can put her anywhere, and she’ll do well,” Lau said. “She’s got those long legs. She can run a mile and run a 100 and still do well.
“They both want to win, and they’re competitive in whatever they want to do.”
The girls team has only one senior, but the underclassmen are loaded with potential.
Freshman Laney Mills was first in the two opening meets in the shot put. She broke the Miami View Middle School record in the event last year. And classmate Kyla Tuttle is a point producer in distance races.
“I see Mills placing in the top three in the (Ohio Heritage Conference). She’s going to do well,” said Lau, a 1988 Southeastern grad and former track star.
Cami Mitchell, Evey Cessna and Aubrie Hartman lead a stout sophomore class. Among the juniors, Madison Carver is the team’s best sprinter, Laney Hudson gives the Trojans a potent duo in the field events, and Sydney Lau, the coach’s daughter, is the Trojans’ long-jumper.
The coach also was a long-jumper and produced better distances in her high school days, but she admits Sydney has her beat in the attitude department.
“She’s the total opposite of me — quiet, hard worker and doesn’t complain,” she said.
Lau shares coaching duties for the boys and girls with Nicole Clem and Matt Locke. Lau concentrates mostly on sprints, while Clem handles the distance runners, and Locke, a full-time assistant, is the hurdles expert.
The boys also finished second in their two opening meets. Sophomore Charlie Bertemes has been the standout so far, winning the long jump and high jump.
Freshman Bryce Grimm prevailed in the 300-meter hurdles. Sophomores Ben Shuler and Luke Barclay and junior Joe Sulfridge have the distance races covered. And the 1600-meter relay is one of the Trojans’ best events with junior Dathan Clayton, Grimm, sophomore Dan Myers and junior Hayden Toops.
Senior Jay Connor is probably the team’s top sprinter. He and Shuler also play baseball, giving the Trojans four athletes splitting time between sports.
Having so much youth on each team means the future is promising.
“I think we’ll be competitive in the OHC this year,” Lau said, “but next year, watch out.”
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