Suggs isn't only standout for Belleville West girls
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| Top athletes for the Belleville West girls track team include, from left, Yolanda Suggs, Kelsey Frank and Kayla Brown. Scott Marion photo |
"In her freshman year Yolanda finished sixth at state in the 100 and eighth in the 200," West coach Paul James said.
"Last year as a sophomore she finished third in the 100, third in the 400 and fourth in the 200. She got us 20 points and we were 12th (in the team standings). We also qualified in the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relays, but we didn't make it to the finals. Basically we have all those kids back this year plus the addition of (junior) Chalsea Ewing, who has been a real surprise for us. She gives us another quality sprinter and she's also a long jumper."The girls have broken school records this year in the 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and the 4 x 400. In the 4 x 100, we have Ashley Wilson, who is a freshman, along with Suggs, (junior) Kayla Brown and Ewing. In the 4 x 200, it was (junior) Alaya Stewart, Suggs, Brown and Ewing. In the 4 x 400, it was (senior) Kelsey Frank, Brown, Suggs and Stewart. We still think we can run faster because we haven't had very good weather.
"If we can run right at 48 (seconds) in the 4 x 100, and we think we can, you're knocking on the door as a possible state medalist. The day we broke all three school records, I looked back at the times and all those of those relays would have earned medals last year at the state meet."
James has mapped out his strategy for how to best utilize Suggs at the sectional and the state meet, which is May 16-17 in Charleston.
"We're looking at her in the 100, 200 and 400 again, but we'll probably put her in the 4 x 100 this year instead of the 4 x 400," James said. "That works a little better as far as spacing things out in terms of recovery time. In the sectional you have the prelims in the 100 and the 200, so the 4 x 100 works a little better for her rather than trying to come back right after the 200 and run the 400 in the 4 x 400 relay. With the addition of Chalsea Ewing and another girl (in the 4 x 400), we think we can fill that fourth spot with someone that can still make the qualifying time."
West's strongest events should be the 100, 200, 400, 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 4 x 400 and the long jump.
"Kelsey Frank runs the 4 x 400 for us and she can run the 4 x 200," James said. "She's also been running some 800s this year. (Sophomore) Sammie Grove has a chance of being a qualifier in the 800.
"Suggs, Brown, Stewart, Ewing, Stewart, Frank and Wilson are the heart of those three relay teams and those are the kids that are going to have to get it done when it comes to possibly qualifying for the state meet.
"A lot of times you go up to state and you know you really don't have a chance to get to the finals, but now we think all three of them have a chance to run on Saturday."
Suggs, after top-four finishes in three events at state last season, is a potential champion in all of those events this year.
"I'm pretty happy with the progress I've made, but I could do better," Suggs said. "As a team, we've done a lot and we've broken some records already. I hope we get better as we go and make it to state in the relays.
"As far as my individual events, I'm not sure where I have the best chance of winning (at state). My dad says I'm better in the 400, but I don't know. I've run 56 (seconds) in the 400 and 11.7 in the 100, so time-wise I've been doing pretty well despite the weather. I haven't run the 200 very much. It doesn't matter which event, but I'm hoping to win at least one of them.
"In the relays, I'm really proud of what we've done. Having Chalsea Ewing this year has helped a lot. We were always missing a piece in the relays and she's filled that spot."
Brown, meanwhile, has proved to be a valuable member of the sprint corps.
"Individually I set a goal this year of being in the 55 (-second) range in the 400," Brown said. "I'm pretty happy with where I'm at considering the weather - a lot of times it's been freezing when we've run.
"When I was in eighth grade (at Wirth-Parks Middle School in Cahokia) I got third in the state in the 200-meter dash and I've been to state the last two years in the relays.
"I love this team and I'm pretty excited about what we can accomplish. We all get along and that helps."
Frank, a team captain, is one of only four seniors on the Belleville West roster.
"Kelsey has been in the program for four years and she's been to state for the past two years in different relays," James said. "She's been a total inspiration to this track team from day one when she started out as a freshman. I was fortunate to take over as the head coach when she was a sophomore and you couldn't ask for a better person on your track team. She's a fierce competitor who never misses practice and she never complains."
Versatility has been a key to Frank's success.
"My events have changed a lot over the years," Frank said. "I started out just being in the 100 and 200, but my freshman year I tried out the 400 and I was pretty good at it. My sophomore year I was running the 400 and still doing the 100 and 200 in relays.
"This year I began running the 800 and it started out good, but toward the middle of the year it got a little rough. I'm hoping I'll get better toward the end of the year and I'll be able to run the 400 and the 800 (at the sectional).
"I've been to state my sophomore and junior years and hopefully I'll get back again this year. The first year I felt I really did bad because I was so nervous, but last year wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking. Having that experience makes a big difference."
Frank has signed a letter of intent to compete in track at Murray State University in Kentucky.
"Hopefully I'm going to run cross country also, but I'll start out in track," said Frank, who plans to major in communication disorders. "I definitely want to run the 400 and maybe the 800 too."
