Slow and Steady Works For Northwestern Girls Track

Lady Bulls Prepare To Defend State Title

By J.T. Wilcox

SFHSS Correspondent

Slow and steady wins the race.

A popular adage and the coaching mantra for Northwestern girls track coach Carmen Jackson.

Jackson's method of slow and steady team development has translated into eight state titles, including five of the past six Class 4A championships -- three consecutive from 2009 to 2011.

This upcoming season, which will kick off next Friday and Saturday with the Louie Bing Invitational – an event that Northwestern's girls team has won eight years in a row, the Lady Bulls have arguably one of the deepest teams in the state.

Jackson, entering her 22nd year of coaching girls track, said that her team has a long road ahead of it.

“We're young and we have a lot of girls that we need to get accustomed to high-level competition,” Jackson said. “It's always my plan to bring the girls along slow and make sure they develop all the skills they need to be successful at this level and the next one.”

“They have to be ready because wearing 'Lady Bulls' comes with a lot of pressure and expectation,” Jackson said.

Northwestern will have a number of contributors from last year's state championship team returning, most notably juniors Yolanda Springer and Altoniece Williams. Springer and Williams were a part of the state champion 1600 meter relay team and Springer placed third in the 300 meter hurdles.

To take more of a leadership roll are seniors Kededra Middleton, who specializes in jumping events, and Ravontrani Gage, who is key cog on the sprinting teams.

In years past, the Lady Bulls have also dominated the throwing events behind strong hurlers Amber Monroe and Shehara Parmer. Now sophomores Lloydricia Cameron and Akassja White will have to step up to continue Northwestern's expectation of big points from the field.

Cameron showed the tools to be a force in the throwing events – finishing fourth and sixth in the shot put and discus respectively in last year's state meet.

Putting the pressure on Northwestern in Class 4A will be two teams from Broward – Boyd Anderson and St. Thomas Aquinas. The Lady Cobras finished second behind Northwestern in last year's state championship meet and St. Thomas was fourth.

Aquinas, who Northwestern tied for third most total team championships in state history with eight, brings back a lot of talented athletes. Senior sprinters Allison Richmond and Alexandra Payne along with standout sophomore Kendall Ellis, who won the 400 meter run last year, gives the Lady Raiders a formidable team.

Boyd Anderson's Shayla Sanders and Kali Davis-White are the top returners from a senior-laden Cobras team.Last year Northwestern dominated the final meet, totaling 112 points, 68 points ahead of the second place finisher. Jackson says that while that's impressive, she's more focused on making sure her athletes are prepared for the next level.

“Its about the two A's – academics and athletics,” Jackson said. “Athletics is a wonderful tool to get the girls into college and have a chance at making a better life for themselves and their families. I try to instill in them an attitude that will help them in the classroom and on track. Making sure they're the best student-athletes they can be.”