Allen, track squad start over without Coach 'Spoon
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Jasper Bulldog track team opened their season with a run at the West Orange-Stark Relays this past weekend, coming in seventh place out of 11 teams. Westbrook took the top spot, followed by Nederland, second; and West Orange-Stark, third.

"We have a lot work a head of us," new head coach Tony Allen said. "We are young, but I believe we can be good. These kids want to win and they are fighters."

Allen took over after the death of long-time coach Lloyd Weatherspoon last fall. He said that the team is very young and small in numbers this year but they have a lot of promise.

"I think we have some good kids," he said. "I'm really happy to be the Jasper track coach, but it's so different without Spoon being here. He was all I knew in track and I'm going to try my best to help some kids be successful."

In field events, Jomar Cauley was third in the shot put with a distance of 43' 2.5" and fourth in discus with a throw of 123'10 1/4".

In individual running events, Tim Cauley was sixth in the 110 hurdles with a time of 17.88 and third in the 300- meter hurdles. His time was 45.72. Travon Limbrick was fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.84.

John Sells ran fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.91.

The 400 meter relay team of Sells, Limbrick, Kadarroe Rawls, and Donta' Rollins placed fifth. Their time was 45.75.

The 800 meter relay team of Limbrick, Avery Hadnot, Michael Webb, and Dante' Cauley placed sixth with a time of 1:40.2.

The 1600-meter relay team also came in sixth with a time of 3:46.5. Team members were Hadnot, Sells, Jaren Bronson, and Webb.

Allen said he was happy with the team's first test to see what they could do.

"I think they are leaning that 'These Dogs Can Fly.", he said.

If anyone can guide this young team to a successful season against the strong talent in this district, it is probably Allen. He learned his craft from one of the top high school coaches in the state. Coach Spoon was his high school coach.