With a major increase in participation going into the 2023 track season, the boys track team aims high and expects results this year after having only 17 and 29 competitors in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

With the team now reaching over 60 members, head coach Delbert Ellerton believes this is the most athletes in the team for over 40 years, and he is expecting results.

“The number of kids we have is the largest number we’ve had in all my years coaching,” Ellerton said. “Our teams usually topped out at 30. There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for the team. We have a lot of new ninth and tenth graders.”

With a growing number of underclassmen joining, the seniors have had to take a bigger leadership role.

“[Seniors] Jordan Taylor, Kyron Parker, Devin Tabourn and Ricardo Lewis, they are the people this year,” Ellerton said. “They are seniors, and so, I expect the seniors to lead the team.”

Senior distance runner Devin Tabourn said he has a bigger role this year as a senior.

“As one of the very few upperclassmen, I feel as though there is a responsibility that comes with being older,” Tabourn said. “There are times where I need to step up and be a leader and help the younger guys when they need help and encourage them and push them to be the best.”

A lot of underclassmen talent can be credited to the high participation levels at Howard Middle School, which feeds into Midtown.

“The middle school had a lot of participation last year,” Ellerton said. “They had over 100 kids who came out for track. The athletic director told me that they can’t come to practice until he cuts people because they have too many people. There’s a lot of interest, all of a sudden.”

Senior Ricardo Lewis is currently ranked first in the state in Class 5A in the triple jump.

“My expectations for the year is to see progress, not just with myself, but with the team, as well,” Lewis said

Senior Kyron Parker hopes to succeed this year after falling down on the last hurdle of the 300 meter hurdle race at the Region 6-AAAAA meet despite leading for the whole race.

“I think that it made me more determined to win it because I knew I could’ve last time; so, I know I can this time,” Parker said. “A personal goal of mine is to win state in the 300 hurdles this year.”

Ellerton has been conditioning the team for the year since November 14 of 2022 and said being on time to practice and being disciplined are some of his most important ideals.

“If you don’t come to practice, that means you will have a difficult time moving to the next level.” Ellerton said. “Track is very planned out from the last meet [of last season] to the first practice. Everything has to fit together or you won’t see progression. We stress discipline, and it is very important that the athletes are serious about what they are doing.”

Sophomore Prince Williams said the team is really talented this year and should place high at state.

“I believe that we have great talent this year,” Williams said. “We’re really consistent, and if we just work together, we can win state and bring a trophy home.

The team was ranked as the 15th best team in class 5A at the start of the season but expectations and goals are high.

“I am confident that we will do very well,” Ellerton said. “We have people that are really buying into it. The last team that had this kind of potential is the team in 2017, where we were the favorites to win, but we finished third overall in the state meet. This is one of those teams that I think can do very well.”